Biz Markie Launches 'Just A Friend' 25th Anniversary Tour + Answers "The Questions" For OKP TV
Beatbox founding father Biz Markie (1 0f 3, Biz cites the other godfathers as Doug E. Fresh and Buff Love of The Fat Boys) is celebrating the 25th Anniversary of “Just a Friend”--the Yo! MTV Raps anthem of all time and arguably hip-hop's most enduring sing-along of all time. He's also playing a mini-tour in honor of the record's legacy (click here to see if the party will be rocking in your area).
Not that he's been playing the wall. The Biz has a storied 29-year career that started in 1985 while beatboxing for Roxanne Shante—fellow member of the Queensbridge collective the Juice Crew—that also included Big Daddy Kane, Craig G, Kool G Rap, and Masta Ace (before that he was working at an Arby’s until he was fired for eating too many of the roast beef sandwiches. True story, see below). More recently, Biz finished a 2013 tour with the Yo Gabba Gabba! live show—he assisted with the shows’ development and is featured on a regular segment called Biz’s Beat Of The Day (for those of you without kids or cable, Yo Gabba Gabba! is a program for children that includes multicultural and hip-hop and pop elements as educational resources, and often features indie artists in the community who create non-corny kid-friendly soul-infused tunes. Biz also recently appeared on an episode of Spongebob Squarepants as an award-winning sea athlete, breath holding sensation and the Square One’s obsession, Kenny the Cat.
All of which means that when he joined us in Philly for the Roots Picnic we had lots of Questions for the diabolical; about his love for the kids, DJing with Chris Rock, where he goes to get his head to shine like it does, the infamous Arby's gig and playing ball in the studio with the Beastie Boys. Check all that out below, plus find out the number one record guaranteed, according to Biz, to get the club all sweaty (it's not what you think).
