As His Groundbreaking Debut Turns 40, The Hip-Hop Icon's Influence Remains Unmistakable
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(July 16, 2026) // Today, July 16, marks five years since the passing of Biz Markie, the beloved Hip-Hop pioneer whose voice and unmistakable presence changed the culture forever. Though five years have passed, Biz has never felt absent. His songs continue to fill arenas. His image appears throughout television and fashion. Younger artists are still reaching into his catalog and finding new inspiration.
The anniversary comes during a milestone year. In 2026, Biz's groundbreaking debut EP, Make the Music With Your Mouth, Biz, celebrates its 40th anniversary. Released in 1986, the project introduced the world to an artist unlike anyone who had come before him. His beatboxing was virtuosic. His storytelling was playful and deeply human. From the beginning, Biz understood that originality was its own form of power.
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"Today is a day of remembrance!" says Tara Hall, widow of Marcel Hall and executor of the Biz Markie Estate. "5 years have gone by and I'm still keeping my promise to Biz, to never let people forget him or his contributions to entertainment. We've all been doing our part in keeping his legacy going! Playing his music, performing his songs and telling his stories! Biz's spirit is STILL bringing joy and making us laugh, and he is terribly missed!"
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Over the past five years, the Biz Markie Estate has worked to preserve his story while creating new ways for his music and cultural impact to reach the public. Recent milestones include:
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A new partnership with Downtown Music Publishing , which now represents Biz's catalog through publishing administration and sync licensing, while also administering his name, image and likeness rights. Read more in Billboard .
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The launch of The Biz Markie Experience , a living archive that debuted in New York on what would have been Biz's birthday. The exhibition displayed more than 50 estate-sanctioned artifacts from his personal collection, many never before shown publicly. It also introduced SELECT CUTS , a limited-edition collection of rare 1986 photographs by George DuBose that capture Biz at the beginning of his rise. Prints were purchased by the likes of Marley Marl, Ralph McDaniels, and more. Rolling Stone described the exhibition as "a living, breathing timeline of Hip-Hop history."
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Biz's iconic gold nameplate chain was also featured at the American Museum of Natural History as part of Ice Cold: An Exhibition of Hip-Hop Jewelry , celebrating Hip-Hop's cultural influence through stunning jewelry worn by some of its iconic stars.
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Official recognition from New York and his Long Island hometown. In 2021, South Street in Patchogue was dedicated as Biz Markie Way. Two years later, the City of New York officially proclaimed August 31 as Biz Markie Day.
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The release of the documentary All Up in the Biz . Directed by Sacha Jenkins, the film premiered at the Tribeca Festival and offers an intimate portrait of Biz through rare archival material and reflections from those who knew him best.
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A featured appearance in Netflix's Hip Hop Treasures. Episode 6 follows Tara Hall as she meets with museum curators working to preserve Biz's history for The Hip Hop Museum. The episode highlights his prized collectibles and personal artifacts while underscoring the importance of protecting Hip-Hop history.
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Continued influence on music. Rising Def Jam R&B group 2BYG recently built its single "I Want You" around a sample of "Make the Music With Your Mouth, Biz." Biz's catalog has been sampled more than 1,500 times, while his memorable appearance on Jay-Z's "Girls, Girls, Girls" remains part of one of the most recognizable recordings of the early 2000s.
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An enduring presence throughout popular culture. "Just a Friend" recently echoed through Madison Square Garden during the New York Knicks' historic championship run. Fat Joe wore a Biz Markie hat on his Joe & Jada podcast, Laz Alonso's character appeared in a Biz Markie shirt during the final season of The Boys, and Rolling Stone recently recognized the All Samples Cleared artwork.
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Beyond preserving Biz's work and influence, the Estate is carrying forward his generosity through the Biz Markie Just A Friend Foundation . The organization supports children in foster care and families experiencing food insecurity. Its work includes Biz Markie's Emergency Food Pantry at the Harlem Dowling-West Side Center, where fresh groceries and essential supplies are distributed to families in Harlem. In 2023, Tara Hall rang the Nasdaq Closing Bell on behalf of the Foundation in honor of the pantry's opening and its collaboration with Harlem Dowling-West Side Center.
Five years after his passing, Biz Markie is not simply being remembered. He is still being discovered, while the Estate continues building new ways for audiences to understand the full scope of the man behind the music.
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More news from the Biz Markie Estate will be announced soon.
