Whiskey Riff

Chris Lane Reimagines Biz Markie’s 1989 Hit, “Just a Friend,” For A Country Remix That Absolutely Nobody Asked For

Sampling is becoming increasingly popular in modern day music. If you aren't familiar with the practice, artists take existing songs and "sample" a portion of the original recording. It can be very ...
The Root

Making Love Songs: The Story Behind Biz Markie's "Just A Friend"

Making Love Songs: The Story Behind Biz Markie's "Just A Friend" When you’re thinking about love songs, I’m pretty sure Biz Markie’s 1989 hit “Just a Friend” isn’t the first one that comes to mind.
Salon

Biz Markie was the “essence of hip-hop”: Hailing the rapper who made us laugh as hip-hop turns 50

Biz Markie was hyper-animated, hilarious and larger than life. The late rapper was the best at injecting fun into his rhymes, in a way that helped me and a whole generation of young people fall in ...
American Songwriter

Who Wrote “Just a Friend” by Biz Markie?

Biz Markie said this during an interview with Entertainment Weekly in 2019 in celebration of the 30th anniversary of his smash hit “Just a Friend,” released in September 1989. Explaining that the ...
journalgazette

Biz Markie, known for classic rap song 'Just a Friend,' dies

LOS ANGELES – Biz Markie, a hip-hop staple known for his beatboxing prowess, turntable mastery and the 1989 classic "Just a Friend," has died. He was 57. Markie's representative, Jenni Izumi, said the ...