Entertainment
Biz Markie not dead but has ‘significant brain damage’ in hospice after false reports rapper had died
Biz Markie is still alive and in a hospice, his reps have confirmed (Picture: Getty Images)
Biz Markie is still alive, it has been confirmed, after false reports claimed the rapper had died.
Rumours on social media circulated on Wednesday claiming the rapper, real name Marcell Hall, was dead.
However, loved ones have now confirmed Markie is alive and in a hospice but has ‘significant brain damage’.
A rep for the hip hop star told various publications: ‘The news of Biz Markie’s passing is not true. Biz is still under medical care, surrounded by professionals who are working hard to provide the best healthcare possible.’
Reporter Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson also updated concerned fans and tweeted: ‘Biz Markie has significant brain damage per a family associate. The legendary rapper is in hospice care but is still alive currently.’
He continued: ‘Biz’s wife and family are touched by the outpouring of love and admiration from his friends, peers and fans alike.
‘At this time, we ask for your continued thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
‘Regrettably I’ll add, some within Biz Markie’s circle have shared that the rapper may not make it through the weekend.’
Presenter Roland S Martin also shared the news that Markie was still alive, tweeting: ‘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.’
Martin continued: ‘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.
‘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!’
Markie has suffered with poor health, including a stroke, over the years (Picture: Getty Images)
He added: ‘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 #BlackOwnedMediaMatters.’
Markie, 57, suffered a stroke in late 2020 after being hospitalised with Type 2 diabetes, which he was diagnosed with in 2010. His health appeared to recover after his diagnosis as three years later, the rapper said he had lost more than 140lbs.
He told The New York Daily News at the time: ‘They be seein’ me, I lost the weight, and I didn’t have to use lap band surgery or whatever. They see that I did it, and they know I was the greedy, greasy person. So if I can do it, anyone can do it.’
He also told ABC News in 2014: ‘I wanted to live. Since I have to be a diabetic, if I didn’t make the changes, it was going to make the diabetes worse.
‘I’m trying to get off [the diabetes meds]. The way you gotta do it is lose the weight. I’m off half my meds, I just got to get off the rest … [The doctors] said I could lose my feet. They said I could lose body parts. A lot of things could happen.’
More: US Showbiz news
Harlem-born Markie rose to fame in the late 1980s with the hit singles, Make Music With Your Mouth, Vapors and Pickin Boogers.
He released his second album, The Biz Never Sleeps, in 1989 featuring his iconic single Just A Friend, which reached number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Markie has also starred in movies such as Men In Black II, in which he played a rapping alien, and The Meteor Man. In 2020, he began hosting a radio show on Sirius XM’s LL Cool J’s Rock The Bells Radio.
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