LI Street To Be Named After Hip Hop's 'Clown Prince' Biz Markie

PATCHOGUE, NY — The Long Island hometown that Hip Hop's Clown Prince grew up in will rename a street — Biz Markie Way — in his honor on Saturday.

Nicknamed the "Clown Prince of Hip Hop," for his juvenile rhymes, outfits, and songs like "Pickin Boogers," Markie grew up Marcel Theo Hall in Patchogue before later moving to Harlem. He is best known for the iconic 80s dance track, "Just a friend." In the official music video, Markie can be seen playing the piano while wearing a white wig and the concert dress of a composer as he crooned the off-key words, "You got what I need. But you say he's just a friend."

Markie's career took off after "Just a friend," and he went on to act in movies like “Men In Black 2,” perform comedy, deejay, and produce music, TMZ reported. In his later years, he performed on the children's program "Yo Gabba Gabba!"

South Street will be honorarily renamed for Markie's contributions as a rapper, beatboxer, actor, deejay, and philanthropist, in an event that will take place behind 6th District Court on West Main Street at 2 p.m., according to organizers.

It will feature DJ Wade, DJ Diamond the artist, Flutist Dwayne Kerr, and Beatboxer Aaron Grant. It has been organized in conjunction with Of Colors, Tracy Todd Hunter, and Patchogue Mayor Paul Pontieri, organizers said.

TMZ reported the rapper died on July 16 from complications of Diabetes at a Maryland hospital while his wife, Tara, held his hand.

He was laid out in August at The Patchogue Theater for the Performing Arts in a service that was billed as "The Final Show.” The stage was adorned with a giant gold sign emblazoned with the word "Biz," while an artist recreated an iconic photo of him laughing.

Fans stood outside the theater for hours in the heat, listening to his music and dancing on the sidewalk.

DJ Cool V, who worked with Markie on his music, told the crowd, "We are all one family because of Biz, and I want you all to leave with one thing here today: Biz was love."

The funeral service was attended by Markie's contemporaries like Fat Joe, LL Cool J, Big Daddy Kane, Busta Rhymes, Al B. Sure!, Ice T, and Roxanne Shanté.

DJ Kool, who knew Markie since 1987, said that when God made Biz Markie, he threw the mold away.

"He is one of one. You will never, ever see another one like Biz Markie," he said.

Kevin Carter, a fellow musician who worked with Markie, said he traveled from Minneapolis to pay his respects and remarked how great Markie was with children, something he witnessed when he saw a "Yo Gabba Gabba!" performance with his niece.

"He was so good with the kids," he said, adding, "He would do beatboxing on the mic and give them an example of what to do and give them the mic. He was a beautiful man."