Hip hop legend Biz Markie is alive and in hospice care, despite reports he has passed away at 57-years-old.
Reporter Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson updated the public via Twitter on Wednesday night, adding that family says the singer has ‘significant brain damage,’ likely stemming from a stroke he suffered last year.
Markie’s representatives told DailyMail.com: ‘Biz is still under medical care, surrounded by professionals who are working hard to provide the best healthcare possible.
‘Biz’s wife and family are touched by the outpouring of love and admiration from his friends, peers and fans alike.’
Alive: Biz Markie is alive, despite reports the hip hop legend had passed
They added that: ‘At this time, we ask for your continued thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.’
Roland S. Martin also took to Twitter with a statement, getting confirmation from the rapper’s wife Tara.
‘Folks, @BizMarkie has NOT died. I have been in contact with sources who are texting and talking to his wife. My source talked to Biz TODAY.
‘Per his wife, Biz HAS NOT passed away. Please stop responding to non-credible sources. This hurts the family, friends and fans,’ he said in a tweet.
Alive: Roland S. Martin also took to Twitter with a statement, getting confirmation from the rapper’s wife Tara.
Not dead: ‘Folks, @BizMarkie has NOT died. I have been in contact with sources who are texting and talking to his wife. My source talked to Biz TODAY. Per his wife, Biz HAS NOT passed away. Please stop responding to non-credible sources. This hurts the family, friends and fans,’ he said in a tweet
Martin added in another tweet that he personally did not talk to the rapper, but his source, ‘an industry legend,’ did talk to him and his wife.
‘And my source was texting his wife ONE MINUTE before I sent the tweet. Biz’s wife have me permission to send the tweet correcting this erroneous story,’ he said.
Martin added in another tweet, ‘I am ON THE PHONE right now with @BizMarkie’s wife at 1:14 am EST. He HAS NOT PASSED AWAY. So PLEASE STOP IT!’
Legend: Martin added in another tweet that he personally did not talk to the rapper, but his source, ‘an industry legend,’ did talk to him and his wife
Certain: ‘And my source was texting his wife ONE MINUTE before I sent the tweet. Biz’s wife have me permission to send the tweet correcting this erroneous story,’ he said
‘She says this is hurtful to all of his family. Folks, I’m a JOURNALIST. I’m not gonna pass on BS. I’ll let you know what I KNOW FOR CERTAIN,’ he added, with the hashtag #BlackOwnedMediaMatters
NBA journalist Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson added more details, adding that he is alive but in hospice care.
He added a family member told him Markie has ‘significant brain damage.’
Hurtful: ‘She says this is hurtful to all of his family. Folks, I’m a JOURNALIST. I’m not gonna pass on BS. I’ll let you know what I KNOW FOR CERTAIN,’ he added, with the hashtag #BlackOwnedMediaMatters
Alive: NBA journalist Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson added more details, adding that he is alive but in hospice care
Brain damage: He added a family member told him Markie has ‘significant brain damage’
Sadly, though, he added members of his inner circle have told him the rapper, ‘may not make through the weekend,’ asking for his followers to pray for Markie’s family.
The Just A Friend singer – birth name Marcel Hall – had been dealing with health complications in recent years.
He suffered a stroke while being hospitalized for complications with Type 2 diabetes in late 2020.
Weekend: Sadly, though, he added members of his inner circle have told him the rapper, ‘may not make through the weekend,’ asking for his followers to pray for Markie’s family
Health: The Just A Friend singer – birth name Marcel Hall – had been dealing with health complications in recent years
Markie was born in Harlem and started getting noticed while performing at colleges on the East Coast.
He released his debut album Goin’ Off in 1988, featuring the hit single Make Music With Your Mouth, Biz and underground classics Vapors, Pickin Boogers and Nobody Beats the Biz.
His second album, 1989’s The Biz Never Sleeps, features his iconic hit Just A Friend, which peaked at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles charts.
Noticed: Markie was born in Harlem and started getting noticed while performing at colleges on the East Coast
Big hit: His second album, 1989’s The Biz Never Sleeps, features his iconic hit Just A Friend, which peaked at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles charts
He released three more studio albums, 1991’s I Need a Haircut, 1993’s All Samples Cleared! and 2003’s Weekend Warrior, along with a slew of other compilations.
The rapper also appeared in several movies such as The Meteor Man and memorably playing a rapping alien in 2002’s Men in Black II.
He started hosting a radio show on SiriusXM’s LL Cool J’s Rock the Bells Radio every weekday in 2020.
More music: He released three more studio albums, 1991’s I Need a Haircut, 1993’s All Samples Cleared! and 2003’s Weekend Warrior, along with a slew of other compilations
Alien: The rapper also appeared in several movies such as The Meteor Man and memorably playing a rapping alien in 2002’s Men in Black II
Host: He started hosting a radio show on SiriusXM’s LL Cool J’s Rock the Bells Radio every weekday in 2020