Documenti di Didattica
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David Ma
In the classic 1986 Dutch documentary film, Big Fun in the Big Town,
director Bram Van Splunteren captures New York City in its vibrancy, with
hip-hop wedging its way forward between dilapidated buildings and police
sirens. The film is rich with footage of young, soon-to-be titans—Doug E
Fresh, Grandmaster Flash, Russell Simmons, and others among them. It’s
unmistakably colorful, a time capsule capturing the palpable fun and
innocence of mid-’80s hip-hop innovation.
Besides his knack to make music with his mouth, he also performed
simple, funny raps and would later serve as the comic relief for the Juice
Crew and eventually given the handle of the “clown prince of hip-hop.”
As the crew sold more units, making a name for themselves outside of New
York, Biz’s talents grew—as did his small frame. He’d later follow the
legacy of other self-deprecating acts such as the Fat Boys, often making his
appearance the punch line of his songs. Though subject matter was never
profound, his songs were catchy and his choruses sung with a refreshing
lack of self-awareness. Though he probably never hit a note correctly, he’d
go on to release enormous singles with the help of Marley Marl.
After his debut, Goin’ Off, which featured great ones like “Vapors” and
“Make the Music With Your Mouth, Biz,” he released the cut that would
underscore his legacy, “Just a Friend.” The song interpolated a Freddie
Scott sample that to this day remains a classic, known across generations.
In the track’s video, Biz is depicted as heartbroken, wearing a powdered
wig, playing the piano like Beethoven. It was a massive one-hit wonder,
eventually reaching #9 on the Billboard charts, and bolstered his crossover
appeal.
Though the music on his albums had always been sample based, his next
release, I Need a Haircut, halted his career due to a lawsuit served to him
by Gilbert O’Sullivan for the usage of an unauthorized composition.
Biz’s version, similarly entitled “Alone Again,” was another narrative on his
lack of women and his weaknesses as a playboy. Said track sampled “Alone
Again (Naturally),” a melodic rock number by Gilbert O’Sullivan made in
1972. The lawsuit was a landmark that changed the structure of rap music,
forcing all sample-based songs to be cleared in advance. With a huge
record corporation like Warner Bros. on the losing end of such a major
decision, Biz’s records were pulled off shelves. Biz’s cousin, Cool V—who
appears on most of his early records—was also served a lawsuit. Biz soon
became the face of illegal sampling. Though he later mentioned in
interviews that it was just a business altercation and that he was never
personally shaken, the lawsuit marked a huge shift in his career.
Once the 2000s arrived, Biz was doing corporate gigs and cameos in Jay Z
videos. He revealed that he was a major toy collector with an expansive
collection of action figures and gadgets. He made appearances on the
popular, hip-hop-centric children’s show Yo Gabba Gabba and was
featured in movies as well. He was on reality shows like Celebrity Fit Club
and his famous saying “Oh snap!” entered the pop culture pantheon, with
T-shirts made with his image.
Hip-hop doesn’t create renaissance men anymore, but it seems that Biz
Markie was truly one of the first multi-faceted rappers to be gifted with
varied skill-sets. To this day, he still keeps a sense of humor about him, still
scrunches his face toward the camera for laughs. And he still can certainly
beatbox like he did on Big Fun in the Big Town.
You rapped, DJed, and beatboxed. What was the first hip-hop
related thing you ever did or remember doing?
Beatboxing. I mean, I was a kid and that was just the first thing I took up
when it came to hip-hop. I didn’t think about, I just sorta did it, ya know?
How was New York when you were just a young beatboxer?
Not much changed. I just became really, really popular overnight and got
more money. But, otherwise, I was the same and not much changed. I’m
always the same dude no matter what.
I can’t even tell you, ’cause they’re all different and significant in different
ways.
Where were you when you found out about the whole court case
over your sample usage?
I was driving in my car and they told me about it. Good thing is, I never
even had to go to court! It was the record company’s thing.
I actually didn’t think it affected things much. I felt real talented then, and
now too, so I would’ve just jumped into something else. I’m a survivor.
Whatever I do, I’ll always provide and survive.
But the case affected hip-hop as a whole. Did you think it’d be
that monumental?
I didn’t know then that it’d be that important. I just thought it was another
court case. Sorta like if you got pulled over and got a traffic ticket or
something. [laughs] I don’t even really think about it. I know it was
important, but I have to only think about the future. I did that during the
case, and I still do that now.
When you look back, do you think you were a highly influential
character?
Yeah. I think the way I did things were influential ’cause it’s still reflected
in people today. You know, the way people rap and have their pants
sagging, whatever. Many little things, man. Maybe I didn’t invent these
things, but I popularized it in many ways. I popularized a lot of things.
He aight. He was a manager and was real hard working in the beginning.
But when the money came into play, he wasn’t as hardworking.
Are those stories true about you meeting Big Daddy Kane at a
battle?
Yeah, I met Kane in Brooklyn, and we rapped against each other. So after
we met and battled, we got down because I used to get into all kinds of
parties and stuff. So he’d eventually roll with me.
I met G Rap through Polo. I met Polo from Marley’s house. That’s where
everybody used to record and just kick it. So I ran into Polo at Marley’s and
Polo introduced me to this cat named Kool G Rap.
Masta Ace?
He was my boy from Long Island, and we got together to do stuff. I got him
to sing with me.
Yeah, sort of. I met everyone at Marley’s house at different times. Plus, we
all would record there. Everything went through Marley. His house was the
nucleus.
Besides me being me, I was like a talent finder. I like to believe in people,
so I put Kane on. I was always a team player and that’s probably my main
contribution to Cold Chillin’.
There will never be another Juice Crew. Ever. But I’d say that the closest
thing to Juice Crew would have to be Wu-Tang. I mean, like us, they had
different rhyme styles, personalities and they all rhymed about different
things.
I have been thinking about it. I mean, I always have ideas, ya know? But I
think that the way rap is going right now, my style might be a little too old.
What do you mean by “the way rap is going right now”? What’s
your take on it?
Things are more catered to corporate now. You know, they’re just in it to
make money. I mean, of course we all are, but it’s losing its art. It’s a sad
thing, man. At least to me.
I like them all as long as they’re keeping hip-hop alive and are being true.
It’s hard to just say one artist. I know a lot of artists I don’t like though!
I like to relax! I like to watch movies and I like to play records. I also like
looking for breakbeats and stuff. I like doin’ whatever!
It was weird! But only because I didn’t know any of the other celebrities on
there. We were a bunch of strangers really. I mean, I had seen them all on
TV before. But had to get to know them. We were honestly like a big family
once we got to know each other.
How do I say this? Um, I don’t look at myself as just part of hip-hop. I look
at myself as being sorta important at different times. I was always popular
at school and that sorta carried over to my career. When I make a record, I
don’t just make it for one purpose—I do it for many different reasons. I
don’t think I’ll be remembered for just one thing, ya know?
Can you tell us some of your all time favorite rappers and
producers?
One last question: Are all those rumors true? Do you have the
“Take Me to Mardi Gras” 12-inch without the bells?
The one with no bells? Yeah, I got that! As you sit on the phone, hold on,
I’ll get people who’ve heard it and have seen it, hold on…I could put Jazzy
Jeff or Kenny Dope on the phone right now and they’ll tell you. Everybody
wants to come to my house and look through my record collection and find
it. Everyone thinks it’s a myth but it’s not.
[on hold, but still audible] Um…hold on…um…Kenny, wake up, Kenny! Oh
Kenny! Kenny wake up! [gets back on the phone] Aaaah, I can’t get
anybody on the phone, but I promise, I swear I got it!