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Is Biz Markie OK? Family says rapper NOT DEAD, but pal says he 'may not make it'

'Biz Markie has significant brain damage per a family associate. The legendary rapper is in hospice care but is still alive currently' Scoop B tweeted

A rumor started doing rounds on Twitter claiming that rap icon Biz Markie has died. Later, Markie's family released a statement debunking the rumor while rapper Scoop B posted on Twitter that Markie 'may not make through the weekend.'

Biz Markie’s family released a statement shutting down rumors that Biz has passed away. The family shares that Biz is currently under medical care, surrounded by “medical professionals.” The statement reads, “Biz’ 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.” Markie's representatives told DailyMail.com that "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." Markie suffered a stroke while being hospitalized for complications with Type 2 diabetes in late 2020. The news is quite depressing as earlier this year has seen the deaths of rappers DMX, Double K, Ketchy the Great and Lil Loaded.

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Lolandsmartin tweeted, "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."

Rapper Scoop B tweeted, "Biz Markie has significant brain damage per a family associate. The legendary rapper is in hospice care but is still alive currently." He further added: "Regrettably I’ll add, some within Biz Markie’s circle have shared that the rapper may not make it through the weekend. Please keep he and his family in your thoughts and prayers."

Some people who still believed the rumor of Markie's death said, "Damn Rest In Peace to Biz Markie we can’t keep losing legends like this" Another one wrote, "Biz Markie of course will be remembered for so many things , but this is always the first thing that comes to mind when I hear his name. Absolute legend. Again RIP."

In Markie's honor, one person said, "It’s only right to honor Biz Markie with this clip from the Boondocks where Tom Dubois sings “Make The Music With Your Mouth, Biz”. A fitting tribute." David Roth said, "RIP to Biz Markie, one of the most powerful sources of positive energy on earth during my lifetime. He signed my ticket stub at a Knicks game when I was a kid and told me his next album would be called "I Need A Haircut," and I remember feeling much cooler for knowing that."

In 2010, the rap star, 56, was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and talked about the disease in an interview with New York Daily News, where he also talked about his 140 pounds weight loss, three years after his diagnosis. Markie went from 385 pounds down to 244 through exercise and cutting out sweet. “I walk. I do the treadmill, I walk around the mall,” Biz revealed to the New York Daily News. “I do a little crunches with my stomach, not that much. Just enough to get the engine going cha-cha-cha-cha-cha-cha! Vroooommmmm.” “They be seein’ me, I lost the weight, and I didn’t have to use lap band surgery or whatever,” the iconic beatboxer said. “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.”

In April 2021, Markie's friend Big Daddy Kane said that he is showing some promising signs of recovery. “He’s getting better,” Kane told the morning show’s cohosts. “He’s in rehabilitation now. He’s getting better and stronger every day. The last time I talked to him on the phone, he got a real light voice, but last time I talked on the phone. He stuck his middle finger up at me, so I think he’s coming along.”

“He’s not doing great, but it’s not as scandalous as it felt in the beginning,” a close friend of Markie told HipHopDX at the time. “Short story is Biz is diabetic, he had slipped into a diabetic coma, but that has happened to him in the past and it would only last a little while. He would go to the hospital, get discharged and get his meds under control. This particular time, he had a stroke while he was in the middle of the coma," his friend added.