The Witzard

Biz Markie with Beastie Boys & Friends at G-Son Studios? (CREDIT: Ricky Powell) Marcel Theo Hall, better know as Biz Markie and oftentimes, affectionately referred to as The Biz, The Clown Prince of Hip-Hop, The Inhuman Orchestra, The Diabolical Biz Markie, and The Emizah-Emizah, was highly revered as one of the most genuine emcees to ever do it. Biz passed away on Friday, July 16, 2021 at the tender age of 57, likely due to complications from Type 2 Diabetes, although, no official Cause of Death has been revealed just yet. Biz Markie is most well-known for his infectious 1989 break-out single, "Just A Friend," but he was a truly multi-talented artist, as well. Biz Mark's lesser-known talents included beat-boxing, dancing, producing, DJ'ing, acting, singing, and song-writing. It was proven time and time again that "Nobody Beats The Biz," but he surely didn't mind collaborating with just about anyone; racking up genre-defying features with everyo...

Biz Markie rendering on cardboard - CREDIT: Andrew "Andy" Katz (@ajkatzart) Marcel Theo Hall, better know as Biz Markie and oftentimes, affectionately referred to as The Biz, The Clown Prince of Hip-Hop, The Inhuman Orchestra, The Diabolical Biz Markie, and The Emizah-Emizah, was highly revered as one of the most genuine emcees to ever do it. Biz passed away on Friday, July 16, 2021 at the tender age of 57, likely due to complications from Type 2 Diabetes, although, no official Cause of Death has been revealed just yet. Biz Markie is most well-known for his infectious 1989 break-out single, "Just A Friend," but he was a truly multi-talented artist, as well. Biz Mark's lesser-known talents included beat-boxing, dancing, producing, DJ'ing, acting, singing, and song-writing. It was proven time and time again that "Nobody Beats The Biz," but he surely didn't mind collaborating with just about anyone; racking up genre-defying features with eve...

Marcel Theo Hall, better know as Biz Markie and oftentimes, affectionately referred to as The Biz, The Clown Prince of Hip-Hop, The Inhuman Orchestra, The Diabolical Biz Markie, and The Emizah-Emizah, was highly revered as one of the most genuine emcees to ever do it. Biz passed away on Friday, July 16, 2021 at the tender age of 57, likely due to complications from Type 2 Diabetes, although, no official Cause of Death has been revealed just yet. Biz Markie is most well-known for his infectious 1989 break-out single, "Just A Friend," but he was a truly multi-talented artist, as well. Biz Mark's lesser-known talents included beat-boxing, dancing, producing, DJ'ing, acting, singing, and song-writing. It was proven time and time again that "Nobody Beats The Biz," but he surely didn't mind collaborating with just about anyone; racking up genre-defying features with everyone from the Beastie Boys to Spin Doctors. Biz's film and television appearances...

Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz pictured with Biz Markie puppet from Masta Ace's "Me & The Biz" music video (SOURCE: Pinterest) Marcel Theo Hall, better know as Biz Markie and oftentimes, affectionately referred to as The Biz, The Clown Prince of Hip-Hop, The Inhuman Orchestra, The Diabolical Biz Markie, and The Emizah-Emizah, was highly revered as one of the most genuine emcees to ever do it. Biz passed away on Friday, July 16, 2021 at the tender age of 57, likely due to complications from Type 2 Diabetes, although, no official Cause of Death has been revealed just yet. Biz Markie is most well-known for his infectious 1989 break-out single, "Just A Friend," but he was a truly multi-talented artist, as well. Biz Mark's lesser-known talents included beat-boxing, dancing, producing, DJ'ing, acting, singing, and song-writing. It was proven time and time again that "Nobody Beats The Biz," but he surely didn't mind collaborating with ...

Mike Park pictured with Biz Markie & Yo Gabba Gabba!'s DJ Lance Rock (SOURCES: @asianmanrecords & metroactive/activate) Marcel Theo Hall, better know as Biz Markie and oftentimes, affectionately referred to as The Biz, The Clown Prince of Hip-Hop, The Inhuman Orchestra, The Diabolical Biz Markie, and The Emizah-Emizah, was highly revered as one of the most genuine emcees to ever do it. Biz passed away on Friday, July 16, 2021 at the tender age of 57, likely due to complications from Type 2 Diabetes, although, no official Cause of Death has been revealed just yet. Biz Markie is most well-known for his infectious 1989 break-out single, "Just A Friend," but he was a truly multi-talented artist, as well. Biz Mark's lesser-known talents included beat-boxing, dancing, producing, DJ'ing, acting, singing, and song-writing. It was proven time and time again that "Nobody Beats The Biz," but he surely didn't mind collaborating with just about anyon...

Biz Markie's "Just A Friend" 12-inch cover re-created with Perler Beads by Controller 7 (@controllerseven) Marcel Theo Hall, better know as Biz Markie and oftentimes, affectionately referred to as The Biz, The Clown Prince of Hip-Hop, The Inhuman Orchestra, The Diabolical Biz Markie, and The Emizah-Emizah, was highly revered as one of the most genuine emcees to ever do it. Biz passed away on Friday, July 16, 2021 at the tender age of 57, likely due to complications from Type 2 Diabetes, although, no official Cause of Death has been revealed just yet. Biz Markie is most well-known for his infectious 1989 break-out single, "Just A Friend," but he was a truly multi-talented artist, as well. Biz Mark's lesser-known talents included beat-boxing, dancing, producing, DJ'ing, acting, singing, and song-writing. It was proven time and time again that "Nobody Beats The Biz," but he surely didn't mind collaborating with just about anyone; racking ...

Chris Daly AKA DJ Cool Chris & Biz Markie at one of The Biz's famed DJ classes Marcel Theo Hall, better know as Biz Markie and oftentimes, affectionately referred to as The Biz, The Clown Prince of Hip-Hop, The Inhuman Orchestra, The Diabolical Biz Markie, and The Emizah-Emizah, was highly revered as one of the most genuine emcees to ever do it. Biz passed away on Friday, July 16, 2021 at the tender age of 57, likely due to complications from Type 2 Diabetes, although, no official Cause of Death has been revealed just yet. Biz Markie is most well-known for his infectious 1989 break-out single, "Just A Friend," but he was a truly multi-talented artist, as well. Biz Mark's lesser-known talents included beat-boxing, dancing, producing, DJ'ing, acting, singing, and song-writing. It was proven time and time again that "Nobody Beats The Biz," but he surely didn't mind collaborating with just about anyone; racking up genre-defying features with eve...

One of Biz's Beats of The Day On Yo Gabba Gabba! (2010-13) Marcel Theo Hall, better know as Biz Markie and oftentimes, affectionately referred to as The Biz, The Clown Prince of Hip-Hop, The Inhuman Orchestra, The Diabolical Biz Markie, and The Emizah-Emizah, was highly revered as one of the most genuine emcees to ever do it. Biz passed away on Friday, July 16, 2021 at the tender age of 57, likely due to complications from Type 2 Diabetes, although, no official Cause of Death has been revealed just yet. Biz Markie is most well-known for his infectious 1989 break-out single, "Just A Friend," but he was a truly multi-talented artist, as well. Biz Mark's lesser-known talents included beat-boxing, dancing, producing, DJ'ing, acting, singing, and song-writing. It was proven time and time again that "Nobody Beats The Biz," but he surely didn't mind collaborating with just about anyone; racking up genre-defying features with everyone from the Beastie B...

"This is a sampling of Daptone Records' output over the past 20 years, including an Amy Winehouse track The Dap-Kings played on and a single from German group, The Poets of Rhythm. The Daptone Family Tree is huge and varied, so honing in on just a few tracks is tough! From the Desco Records years to today's Penrose Records imprint, Daptone has put out everything from raw Funk to Gospel and Cinematic Soul to Afrobeat. I chose a handful of my favorite tracks from each of the label's major acts to showcase the breadth of the label's output. Although, I'm a hardcore Sharon Jones fan, some of my favorite tracks on [the playlist] are from other artists—check out The Altons' "When You Go (That's When You Know,)" bassist Benny Trokan's hypnotic "Turn Back You Fool," and Dapttes Saun & Starr's "Sunshine (You're Blowing My Cool.)" - Jessica Lipsky (@itaintretro) "It Ain't Retro is a powerful reminder...

Toronto, Ontario, Canada's own Jazz-Fusion trio BADBADNOTGOOD (BBNG) returned this morning with a previously unannounced YouTube PREMIERE for "Signal from The Noise." BBNG got their start around 2010-11 covering popular Hip-Hop artists, such as A Tribe Called Quest, Gucci Mane, MF DOOM, Nas, Odd Future, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Slum Village, Tyler, The Creator, Wacka Flocka Flame, and Kanye West in their soon-trademark Hip-Hop, Jazz, Funk-melding stylings. In addition to the aforementioned artists they've covered, BBNG have either recorded original music or played live with the likes of Black Milk, Mary J. Blige, Danny Brown, Daniel Caesar, Bootsy Collins, Denzel Curry, Frank Dukes, Elzhi, Future Islands, Ghostface Killah, Freddie Gibbs, Samuel T. Herring, Brittany Howard, Idle Warship (Talib Kweli,) Mick Jenkins, JJ DOOM, KAYTRANADA, Kendrick Lamar, Little Dragon, MF DOOM, Snoop Dogg, Colin Stenson, Earl Sweatshirt, Thundercat, Tyler, The Creator, Kali Uchis, and Wu...

Face to Face (CREDIT: Derek Bahn) Face to Face have remained a Punk mainstay since initially forming in 1991. They've gone through numerous line-up changes over the years and even broke up for a brief period between 2004-08. Face to Face's remaining founding member is vocalist/lead guitarist Trever Keith with Scott Shiflett providing bass and vocals since 1995. I vaguely recall either seeing Face to Face on a Warped Tour or Tony Hawk's Boom Boom HuckJam action sports/music tour in the early 2000's. Somewhere around that same period of time, I picked up a mysteriously "blank" Minimax CD EP called Nothing Succeeds Like Success attributed to Face to Face, I believe, at one of two X-Games held in Philly between 2001-02. Copies of said Bonus EP were included along with Face to Face's then-break-up album, How to Ruin Everything. Opening tracks "Nothing Succeeds Like Success" & "Anybody Listening?" were both included on the Japanes...

OFF! - L-R: Dimitri Coats, Autry Fulbright, II, Keith Morris & Justin Brown (CREDIT: Jeff Forney) OFF! the Punk/Hardcore super-group, which, since its 2010 inception, has featured Circle Jerks & ex-Black Flag frontman Keith Morris, guitarist Dimitri Coats (Burning Brides, Ten Commandos,) bassist Steven McDonald (Redd Kross, Melvins/Dale Crover Band,) and drummer Mario Rubalcaba (ex-Rocket from The Crypt, Hot Snakes.) OFF! have been fairly quiet since the release of their 2014 EP, Wasted Years, but all that has changed as of yesterday afternoon: OFF! unleashed a frenzied cover of Metallica's "Holier Than Thou" from their upcoming expansive 53-song tribute to The Black Album fittingly dubbed The Metallica Blacklist. Along with it came a music video, a new band/press photo, an announcement they were signing to Fat Possum Records for re-issues and future releases, and news they were working on a new album, as well as a long-planned Sci-Fi feature film. Nestled...

Daptone Records announced yesterday they'll be re-issuing The Poets of Rhythm's 2001 sophomore album, Disceren / Define. It was previously released on Ninja Tune & Quannum Projects and has been extremely sought-after within the two decades since. Daptone's updated version of Discern / Define boasts a deluxe gatefold jacket with re-imagined artwork. It appears to feature a newly-unearthed Bonus Track by way of twelfth track, "Eulogize The Source." Daptone shares: "Celebrating the album's 20th anniversary, Daptone Records is pleased to present the first vinyl re-issue of The Poets of Rhythm's galactic, Funky masterpiece, Discern / Define." Discern / Define by The Poets of Rhythm "As pioneers in the burgeoning Modern Funk scene of the 90's, The Poets of Rhythm created new standards, transcending the parameters lesser groups were defined by. With Discern / Define, The Poets took their brand of Classic Funk to the next level by ble...

Brackish & Friends - L-R: Riley Byrne, Zach Miller, Connor Byrne, Ace Enders, Tim Fitzpatrick & Nick Rosica (CREDIT: Jared C. Wood) Brackish, as described on their own Bandcamp page, make "songs about New Jersey from Philadelphia since 2015." So, it makes perfect sense the Philly-based Punk/Post-hardcore band decided to work with one of New Jersey's finest Punks on their latest pair of tracks. Brackish's Connor Byrne, Tim Fitzpatrick, Zach Miller & Nick Rosica recruited Arthur "Ace" Enders (The Early November, I Can Make A Mess Like Nobody's Business) to help produce, record, and mix both "What Makes You Say" and "For Your Own Good." Brackish guitarist and frontman Connor Byrne tells The Witzard: "I wrote this song sometime around 2009-10 back when I was a solo acoustic artist opening shows in Philadelphia. Some friends mentioned after a show, it really stuck out to them as a favorite and so, it's been one of mi...

Sorry I've been a bit absent from writing here lately... but helping raise a nearly 1-year-old baby, along with studying for my Drone Pilot Certification Test, has been A LOT these past few weeks! However, today, we're produd to present to you the new joint EP from Philly rapper Torito and Baltimore beat-maker Jumbled. Music for The Rapture is a project that came out of a year of isolation from The Pandemic and from the sense of impending doom that, unfortunately, grew all-too familiar during that time. Torito & Jumbled have only ever met once in-person when Torito's tour stop took him to a Baltimore Chinese restaurant for a show that kicked off with (guess what...?) a Jumbled beat set. Since then, the pair have tediously pieced together Music for The Rapture with the shared mindset and restricted pace of working parents with young children. While only amassing four tracks in just under 10 minutes, Music for The Rapture is brimming with Torito's layered lyricism a...