Biz Markie, Just A Friend From The Nabe, Who 'Loved Long Island'

PATCHOGUE, NY — Marcel Theo Hall was remembered on Saturday as a down-to-earth kid his friends had met in Patchogue, and that continued even after he became a megastar as "Biz Markie."

The internationally-known hip hop artist, who made it big with hits like "Just a friend" and "Nobody Beats the Biz," surprised a friend bartending at a Patchogue bar one time, wanting to deejay to get some practice. In his later years, he would grow homesick and would inform his wife, Tara, that he was leaving their Maryland home for Long Island.

“He would say to me, Tara, I'll be right back, as if he was going to the corner store,” she said, adding, that she asked him where he was going. “I'm going to Long Island, and I'll be right back.”

Even though it was about a five-hour drive from where they live, it seemed like a short trip.

Hall laughed Saturday in his former hometown of Patchogue, as she told the story at the dedication of South Street, where he spent his childhood, with the moniker of Biz Markie Way.

“I just wanted to mention that because Patchogue and Long Island has always been a touchstone to Biz,” she said. “No matter where he came from, he would always come back here to be loved, show love, give love.”

Hall told a story about finding an old picture of Markie pointing to his old house on West Avenue, recalling how he loved Patchogue and Long Island.

“It was in his heart,” she said. “It was in his heart until the days he died.”

The tribute, which was organized by Tracy Todd Hunter from Of Colors - A Creative Collective and Patchogue village, featured performances by DJ Wade, DJ Diamond the artist, Beatboxer Aaron Grant. and Flutist Dwayne Kerr.

Nicknamed the "Clown Prince of Hip Hop," for his juvenile rhymes, outfits, and songs like "Pickin Boogers," Markie grew up in Patchogue and Brentwood before moving to Harlem. In 1989, he broke into hip-hop with "Just a friend," which was played all over the world and became a Top 40 hit in multiple countries before going platinum, TMZ reported.

His humor was cheeky, sometimes irreverent, but it endeared him to fans, particularly the fans of "Just a friend," which is still a staple on dance floors.

Hunter, a childhood friend who was part of the Grooveline Crew with Markie, recalled his sense of humor, saying that he would make someone want to crawl into a shell in a recent interview with Greater Patchogue.

“He could just make things off the top of his head, and it wasn’t even mean-spirited or anything, but it was always something hilariously funny,” he told the outlet. “Even if people were making fun of something it was all in jest, not anything where it turned into anything physical.”

The 57-year-old Markie died in Maryland on July 16 from complications related to Diabetes, TMZ reported. A celebration of his life was held at the Patchogue Theatre of Performing Arts in August as throngs of fans waited outside on the street.

The Biz Markie Foundation was formed in the wake of his death, and Hall expects to partner with local charitable organizations in the future.

Patchogue Deputy Mayor Jack Krieger said he was thrilled to attend such a celebration of Markie’s life, noting that he contributed a lot to the village.

“We’re all proud of him in Patchogue,” he said.

Brookhaven Supervisor Ed Romaine credited the down-to-earth star for helping with the town’s black history month celebration.

“He was a great icon, someone who has just a friend from around the corner, a guy from the neighborhood,” he said.

Suffolk County Legis. Rob Calarco recalled growing up as a kid and listening to Markie.

“When you mention his name, his music starts playing in my head,” he said, adding and “that is really something that's fantastic — when you think about it — because how many artists out there can say that you mentioned their name and automatically a song pops into your head?”

“Not very often, and yet Biz Marquis accomplished that, and he gave back to our community,” he said.

Ironically, DJ Diamond, said he always hated, “Just a friend,” and told him that it was trash, but Markie told him to just sit back and watch what would happen with the then-unknown song.

He was right and it became a hip-hop anthem, but Hall prefers the record, “Nobody beats the Biz,” as his all-time favorite.

“I haven't heard a hip hop record done better than this since hip hop was created,” he said.

Hall recalled how Biz not only lived in Patchogue, but also Brentwood and he only learned later that he had nearly a double life, joking that now he knows where he was when he disappeared.

He said it is appropriate for the street to be dedicated in Patchogue, but pointed out that it will only be the first one.

“How many times have you went to different cities and you drove down a Malcolm X Boulevard, or you traveled down a Martin Luther King Boulevard?” he asked. “There's more than one of them. This one is everywhere, so this is going to happen again, and again, and again. Maryland — it has to happen. It has to happen, because he spent more time in Maryland than he did in Patchogue.”