A new documentary, All Up in the Biz, will examine the life of the late rapper, Biz Markie, who was known as the “Clown Prince of Hip-Hop” thanks to lighthearted songs like “Just a Friend.” A clip from the film, which premieres Aug. 11 on Showtime, focuses on Biz’s sense of humor.
In between shots of the rapper dunking on audience members and his friends with “your mother” and “you’re so bald” jokes, comedian Tracy Morgan, who was friends with Biz, explains the roots of the hip-hop artist’s comic sense.
In between shots of the rapper dunking on audience members and his friends with “your mother” and “you’re so bald” jokes, comedian Tracy Morgan, who was friends with Biz, explains the roots of the hip-hop artist’s comic sense.
- 8/3/2023
- by Kory Grow
- Rollingstone.com
From a Run-d.M.C. classic to raps with not-so-merry sentiments, here's MTV News' nontraditional playlist.
By Rob Markman
Kanye West
Photo: Ben Hider/Getty Images
Sure, Michael Bublé and Justin Bieber are the current Christmas crown holders, but what if your yuletide tastes require a harder edge? While rappers aren't exactly known for spreading holiday cheer, hip-hop has given fans plenty of rap carols. Run-d.M.C.'s 1987 classic "Christmas in Hollis" may be the most-popular, but new-schoolers like Ludacris and Kanye West have kept rap's Xmas tradition alive.
If you've grown tired of listening to Nat King Cole's 1946 "The Christmas Song" or even Mariah Carey's more recent 1994 hit "All I Want for Christmas Is You," MTV News has compiled a 12-song playlist of rap's best Christmas-themed hits.
"Christmas in Hollis," Run-d.M.C.
No doubt the greatest rap carol ever recorded, this 1987 classic found Run and partner-in-rhyme D.
By Rob Markman
Kanye West
Photo: Ben Hider/Getty Images
Sure, Michael Bublé and Justin Bieber are the current Christmas crown holders, but what if your yuletide tastes require a harder edge? While rappers aren't exactly known for spreading holiday cheer, hip-hop has given fans plenty of rap carols. Run-d.M.C.'s 1987 classic "Christmas in Hollis" may be the most-popular, but new-schoolers like Ludacris and Kanye West have kept rap's Xmas tradition alive.
If you've grown tired of listening to Nat King Cole's 1946 "The Christmas Song" or even Mariah Carey's more recent 1994 hit "All I Want for Christmas Is You," MTV News has compiled a 12-song playlist of rap's best Christmas-themed hits.
"Christmas in Hollis," Run-d.M.C.
No doubt the greatest rap carol ever recorded, this 1987 classic found Run and partner-in-rhyme D.
- 12/24/2011
- MTV Music News
'All his verses on the album, it sounds like you're getting smacked upside the head,' producer tells Mixtape Daily.
By Rob Markman
Nas
Photo: C Flanigan/ Getty Images
Behind the Beats: Salaam Remi
Salaam Remi and Nas didn't start out as buddies, but some things are just meant to be.
By the time Nas was putting out his classic rap LP Illmatic, Salaam was separately making his mark, already having produced for seminal hip-hop star Kurtis Blow at the age of 14. Though they hailed from the same Queens, New York, neighborhood and ran in similar circles, Nas and Salaam didn't hook up until 2001, when Nas requested a beat from Remi for his Stillmatic LP.
Now, 10 years later, he and Nas are still at it, working on God's Son's upcoming 10th solo studio album.
"Life is different, and at this point, life is good and dudes is looking younger now...
By Rob Markman
Nas
Photo: C Flanigan/ Getty Images
Behind the Beats: Salaam Remi
Salaam Remi and Nas didn't start out as buddies, but some things are just meant to be.
By the time Nas was putting out his classic rap LP Illmatic, Salaam was separately making his mark, already having produced for seminal hip-hop star Kurtis Blow at the age of 14. Though they hailed from the same Queens, New York, neighborhood and ran in similar circles, Nas and Salaam didn't hook up until 2001, when Nas requested a beat from Remi for his Stillmatic LP.
Now, 10 years later, he and Nas are still at it, working on God's Son's upcoming 10th solo studio album.
"Life is different, and at this point, life is good and dudes is looking younger now...
- 11/18/2011
- MTV Music News
Em took the Bowery Ballroom stage for three songs during Road to 8 Mile rap battle.
By Jayson Rodriguez
Eminem (file)
Photo: Chelsea Lauren/ Getty Images
New York — Looks like the Jimmy B-Rabbit inside of Eminem is still alive.
The Detroit rapper seemed to channel the scrappy character he played in his breakout movie role early Tuesday morning (June 22) as he took to the stage for a surprise performance during the Red Bull EmSee: The Road to 8 Mile freestyle rap battle. Just hours earlier, he had been on the rooftop of the Ed Sullivan Theater for a taping of Jay-z's appearance on the "Late Show With David Letterman."
Decked out in jeans, a white T-shirt, black, zip-up hoodie and black military cap, Em hit the stage shortly after midnight with a burst of furious rhymes. The Shady One delivered a rapid succession of rhymes to Drake's "Over" before the DJ, the Alchemist,...
By Jayson Rodriguez
Eminem (file)
Photo: Chelsea Lauren/ Getty Images
New York — Looks like the Jimmy B-Rabbit inside of Eminem is still alive.
The Detroit rapper seemed to channel the scrappy character he played in his breakout movie role early Tuesday morning (June 22) as he took to the stage for a surprise performance during the Red Bull EmSee: The Road to 8 Mile freestyle rap battle. Just hours earlier, he had been on the rooftop of the Ed Sullivan Theater for a taping of Jay-z's appearance on the "Late Show With David Letterman."
Decked out in jeans, a white T-shirt, black, zip-up hoodie and black military cap, Em hit the stage shortly after midnight with a burst of furious rhymes. The Shady One delivered a rapid succession of rhymes to Drake's "Over" before the DJ, the Alchemist,...
- 6/22/2010
- MTV Music News
/Film reader Craig G sent over a couple scanned photos from M Night Shyamalan's The Last Airbender. I'm not exactly sure which magazine these originated from, but I'm sure someone in the comments will know (I'm guessing Empire Magazine). After the jump, check out a couple more photos, including a larger version of the photo above. Update: The latest issue of Empire Magazine, the one with Matt Damon in Green Zone on the cover, has an indepth report from the set of Last Airbender. I've updated the story with the official image above. [gallery order="Desc" columns="2" orderby="ID"] Based on the hugely successful Nickelodeon animated TV series, the live-action feature film is set in a world where human civilization is divided into four nations: Water, Earth, Air and Fire. The Fire Nation is waging a ruthless, oppressive war against the other three nations. The film's hero, the reluctant young Aang (Noah Ringer), is the "Last...
- 12/30/2009
- by Peter Sciretta
- Slash Film
By Jayson Rodriguez
"Every Saturday 'Rap Attack,' Mr. Magic, Marley Marl ..." — Notorious B.I.G., "Juicy"
Biggie immortalized him in rhyme, but by the time the Brooklyn Mc name-checked Mr. Magic on 1994's Ready to Die, the DJ was already a living legend. It was confirmed today that Mr. Magic passed away after suffering a heart attack. (At press time it was unknown how old he was.)
Magic, born John Rivas, was a pioneer in hip-hop and made his mark as the first DJ to host a mixshow hour on commercial radio, which was revolutionary in the early 1980s but as common as a rap CD with a "Parental Advisory" sticker on it today. Back in 1982 when Mr. Magic, along with Marley Marl as his DJ and Tyrone "Fly Ty" Williams as co-producer, kick-started "Rap Attack," the program's launch was arguably as significant to music history as when the Moonman planted...
"Every Saturday 'Rap Attack,' Mr. Magic, Marley Marl ..." — Notorious B.I.G., "Juicy"
Biggie immortalized him in rhyme, but by the time the Brooklyn Mc name-checked Mr. Magic on 1994's Ready to Die, the DJ was already a living legend. It was confirmed today that Mr. Magic passed away after suffering a heart attack. (At press time it was unknown how old he was.)
Magic, born John Rivas, was a pioneer in hip-hop and made his mark as the first DJ to host a mixshow hour on commercial radio, which was revolutionary in the early 1980s but as common as a rap CD with a "Parental Advisory" sticker on it today. Back in 1982 when Mr. Magic, along with Marley Marl as his DJ and Tyrone "Fly Ty" Williams as co-producer, kick-started "Rap Attack," the program's launch was arguably as significant to music history as when the Moonman planted...
- 10/2/2009
- by MTV News
- MTV Newsroom
More than a decade after the first Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, the Chef has a reason to celebrate.
Littles and Raekwon at his <i>Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II</i> album-release party
Photo: Jerritt Clark/ Getty Images
New York — Wu-Tang Clan member Raekwon the Chef will be forever lauded, not just because of his lyrical exploits on proper Wu-Tang Clan LPs, but because his solo debut, 1995's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx is one of the greatest rap albums ever.
But nostalgia can only take you so far; you have to live in the here and now eventually. Over a decade later, Raekwon finds himself a relevant Mc again after cooking up that great product once more. Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II was released on Tuesday, and some have already certified the album as a classic. With RZA sharing production with J. Dilla, Dr. Dre and others, and the Chef opening up the recording session to Beanie Sigel,...
Littles and Raekwon at his <i>Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II</i> album-release party
Photo: Jerritt Clark/ Getty Images
New York — Wu-Tang Clan member Raekwon the Chef will be forever lauded, not just because of his lyrical exploits on proper Wu-Tang Clan LPs, but because his solo debut, 1995's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx is one of the greatest rap albums ever.
But nostalgia can only take you so far; you have to live in the here and now eventually. Over a decade later, Raekwon finds himself a relevant Mc again after cooking up that great product once more. Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II was released on Tuesday, and some have already certified the album as a classic. With RZA sharing production with J. Dilla, Dr. Dre and others, and the Chef opening up the recording session to Beanie Sigel,...
- 9/9/2009
- MTV Music News
'I think those sessions were like his training,' Sway says of Em's time on the radio show.
By Jayson Rodriguez
Eminem
Photo: Sam Snap/FilmMagic
Eminem's heart might lie in battle rapping, but one of his earliest breaks came courtesy of a Slim Shady-based freestyle he did on MTV News reporter Sway's radio show with King Tech.
The Detroit native flew to Los Angeles in 1997 to participate in the Rap Olympics. The event proved to be successful, but it didn't get as much attention as the promoter, Wendy Day, had hoped. According to Tech, Day asked if she could bring over the standout competitors to rap live on "The Wake Up Show." Sway and Tech obliged, and Eminem, who finished second in the competition, decided he would come out on top during the cypher.
"Em tried to do the battle-rap thing, and honestly, it wasn't too hot,...
By Jayson Rodriguez
Eminem
Photo: Sam Snap/FilmMagic
Eminem's heart might lie in battle rapping, but one of his earliest breaks came courtesy of a Slim Shady-based freestyle he did on MTV News reporter Sway's radio show with King Tech.
The Detroit native flew to Los Angeles in 1997 to participate in the Rap Olympics. The event proved to be successful, but it didn't get as much attention as the promoter, Wendy Day, had hoped. According to Tech, Day asked if she could bring over the standout competitors to rap live on "The Wake Up Show." Sway and Tech obliged, and Eminem, who finished second in the competition, decided he would come out on top during the cypher.
"Em tried to do the battle-rap thing, and honestly, it wasn't too hot,...
- 5/15/2009
- MTV Music News
Legendary hip-hop group the Juice Crew are set to reunite for the first time in more than a decade at an Atlanta, Georgia music festival later this month.
The New York rap pioneers will make history at the A3C Hip Hop Festival when Big Daddy Kane, Marley Marl, Biz Markie, Mc Shan, Craig G and Roxanne Shante reform on stage on 21 March - almost 15 years since they last performed together.
But Brian Knott, the festival founder, claims the reunion has been in the works for months.
He says, "We've been working on this literally since November. It's incredible to think that artists like Pete Rock, Biggie and countless other Hip Hop figures have cited the Juice Crew as primary influences and they're going to reunite at the A3C this year."
The Juice Crew will join a line-up including Little Brother, Re-up Gang/Clipse, Jeru The Damaja, Akrobatik and Del Tha Funkyhomosapien.
The New York rap pioneers will make history at the A3C Hip Hop Festival when Big Daddy Kane, Marley Marl, Biz Markie, Mc Shan, Craig G and Roxanne Shante reform on stage on 21 March - almost 15 years since they last performed together.
But Brian Knott, the festival founder, claims the reunion has been in the works for months.
He says, "We've been working on this literally since November. It's incredible to think that artists like Pete Rock, Biggie and countless other Hip Hop figures have cited the Juice Crew as primary influences and they're going to reunite at the A3C this year."
The Juice Crew will join a line-up including Little Brother, Re-up Gang/Clipse, Jeru The Damaja, Akrobatik and Del Tha Funkyhomosapien.
- 3/10/2008
- WENN
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