Missy Elliott, Flea, Q-Tip, Ice Cube and More Pay Tribute to Biz Markie

Q-Tip, Missy Elliott, Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Flea and Bootsy Collins were among the many artists to pay tribute to Biz Markie on social media following the “Just a Friend” rapper’s death Friday at the age of 57.

“All of my love to the one of a kind bringer of love and joy, the great Biz Markie,” Flea tweeted. “I will bang his records til the day I die and my heart will rejoice. I love you Biz.”

Missy Elliott wrote of the “Clown Prince of Hip-Hop,” “I can remember so many times trying to beat box like you until my lips was sore& whenever we saw each other your energy was always so full of Life/Love/& Good Vibes Your impact in the culture Is 4EVER & you will NEVER be Forgotten Rest king.”

Fellow rappers like Ice Cube and Public Enemy and rock acts like Tom Morello and They Might Be Giants were also part of the outpouring for Markie on social media. Markie’s impact wasn’t just felt in the music world: Actors like John Leguizamo, Viola Davis and Tom Arnold and athletes like Earvin “Magic” Johnson also paid tribute of Markie.

On Friday, the Beastie Boys’ Mike D and Questlove penned lengthy tributes to the pioneering rapper after his death Friday.

All of my love to the one of a kind bringer of love and joy, the great Biz Markie. I will bang his records til the day I die and my heart will rejoice. I love you Biz.

— Flea (@flea333) July 17, 2021

This one hurts baad … RIP to my Aries bro… ahhh man @BizMarkie damn im gonna miss u so so many memories.. hurts bad. My FRIEND

— QTip (@QtipTheAbstract) July 17, 2021

I can remember so many times trying to beat box like you until my lips was sore😩& whenever we saw each other your energy was always so full of Life/Love/& Good Vibes💜 Your impact in the culture Is 4EVER🙌🏾 & you will NEVER be Forgotten🕊💜🙏🏾 Rest king @BizMarkie👑 pic.twitter.com/gCzsdzQtwS

— Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) July 17, 2021

We lost another Rap legend Mr. Biz Markie, an American rapper, singer, DJ, record producer, actor, comedian, and writer. He's best known for his 1989 single "Just a Friend"! To a lot of us he was more than Just a Friend. R.I.P. Prayers going out to the family & friends. Bootsy🤩 pic.twitter.com/URnUMKIQdB

— Bootsy Collins (@Bootsy_Collins) July 17, 2021

for many years, our pre-show mix tape has featured Biz Markie. It would never fail to rouse the audience into a deliriously uplifting singalong. Thank you, Biz. Rest in power. pic.twitter.com/1WYfBYj21O

— They Might Be Giants (@tmbg) July 17, 2021

Rest in Beats, Brother Biz 🙏🏾🕊@BizMarkie pic.twitter.com/6Ys3LGBk4l

— PUBLIC ENEMY (@PublicEnemyFTP) July 17, 2021

RIP to my friend and music legend Biz Markie. 🙏🏾 A DJ, rapper, and producer Biz Markie really knew how to rock a party! Cookie and I will never forget when he came to our 25th anniversary event in Europe and kept everyone on the dance floor!

— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) July 17, 2021

Rest In Peace #BizMarkie pic.twitter.com/P89qMNDs1z

— Tom Morello (@tmorello) July 17, 2021

He’s Biz Markie (the star of the show)
He’s Biz Markie (hard working)
He’s Biz Markie (Mr. Dynamite)
NOBODY BEATS THE BIZ (Rest In Beats) https://t.co/pvHtwbr45W

— Ice Cube (@icecube) July 17, 2021

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A post shared by Kojo Ebro Odogwu (@oldmanebro)

One of my favorite songs @BizMarkie Rest easy king 🖤🖤🖤🖤 pic.twitter.com/2MyU9z7URa

— Timbaland (@Timbaland) July 17, 2021

Rest in perfection! #bizmarkie was my muse! Met him at big hip hop party 🎈 in mannyhatty back in the day! What tight bro! pic.twitter.com/X8vSoUDSUU

— John Leguizamo (@JohnLeguizamo) July 17, 2021

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A post shared by A-Trak (@atrak)

When my son was 3 I took him to Yo Gabba Gabba Live because he wanted to meet Biz Markie & learn how to beat box which is exactly what happened in Biz’s dressing room after the show.
We love Biz Markie so much. RIP Legend

— Tom Arnold (@TomArnold) July 17, 2021