On August 11, a new music documentary is set to premiere on Showtime, marking another release that is part of the worldwide celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of hip-hop. This documentary is part of a series of shows, movies, documentaries, and docuseries that pay homage to the rich history of hip-hop and rap.
This particular film, titled All Up In The Biz, distinguishes itself from the rest, offering a unique perspective on the genre through its focus on the enigmatic figure at its center. It’s a delightfully weird film, and its tone and style perfectly matches the man it’s all about.
All Up In The Biz delves into the life and legacy of Biz Markie, the creative force behind the hit “Just A Friend,” which reached the top 10 on the Hot 100 in 1989. At first glance, Markie might appear to be an unconventional choice for a documentary subject. He never won a Grammy, he was not taken seriously (though that was largely his choice) and with only one hit single to his name, the question is… Why create a documentary centered solely around him?
While Markie may not have amassed sales figures and accolades comparable to other hip-hop icons, his influence on the genre is undeniable. “You won’t end up with an André 3000 with Tyler, the Creator if you don’t have Biz Markie,” stated Andre Wilkins, one of the executive producers of the film.
Markie’s impact goes beyond the numbers or even the hit. He played a pivotal role in shaping the artistic diversity and individuality that define hip-hop in its early years, and he did so in a way that nobody before him or since has copied.
The hip-hop pioneer’s uniqueness lies not only in his rapping style but also in his overall persona. Throughout his career, he embraced positivity, light-heartedness and a sense of fun that stood in contrast to the often gritty and serious nature of hip-hop. “He’s the only person in hip-hop who personifies all of these things, toys, youth, goofiness” shared All Up In The Biz director Sacha Jenkins. Wilkins echoed his sentiments, saying, “Biz was an eternal kid, right? He’s like the Peter Pan of hip-hop.”
All Up In The Biz mirrors Markie’s playful spirit and unconventional approach to life and music. Jenkins recalls meetings with Markie prior to his passing in 2021, during which they discussed the possibility of a documentary. Despite initial industry disinterest, the project gained traction after Markie’s death, prompting Jenkins to seize the opportunity and bring the film to fruition.
The documentary’s approach encompasses familiar documentary elements, including interviews, archival footage, and Markie’s music and videos. However, Jenkins and his team infused creativity into the project by incorporating animation and surprising audiences with scenes acted out between individuals and puppets. Yes, puppets.
While the use of puppets in a documentary might seem unusual, it pays homage to an important episode in Markie’s career. A rapper named Masta Ace had invited Markie to collaborate on a song, leading to a demo of Markie’s distinctive rapping style recorded by Ace. Although the collaboration did not materialize due to political reasons, the song was eventually released with that fake Markie verse included, complete with a music video featuring a Markie puppet. At the time, many in the scene thought all was good between the two musicians, but that was not actually the case.
“This puppet has just been a thing in my life for the last, I don’t know, 25, 30 years” Jenkins shared after detailing how he came to own the toy after its use in the music video. Apparently, in the years since, many celebrities in the hip-hop space have taken photos with it, and for a small, educated few, it holds real importance.
In All Up In The Biz, the puppet serves as a poignant tool for closure, allowing individuals to recreate moments with Markie and address unresolved emotions. Markie’s wife engages in reenactments of hospital scenes as he lay dying, delving into difficult and emotional territory. Ace takes the opportunity to express his apologies to the Markie puppet via a rap, a heartfelt gesture that was left unspoken during Markie’s lifetime.
Although initially met with mixed feelings when the drama with the Ace song took place many years ago, the puppet concept received Markie’s approval when Jenkins broached the topic before his passing. The director says that when they discussed early versions of this film, “we talked about it being fun and funny,” so a puppet fits into that mission perfectly.
“I don’t think it would work with everyone,” Wilkins commented about the use of the puppet, adding, “but it worked for Biz.” So the creative choice may seem unusual, but then again, so was Markie.
In All Up In The Biz, the focus extends beyond puppetry and musical achievements to capture the essence of how Markie lived his life. The documentary underscores a valuable lesson for both his contemporaries and future generations within and outside of the music industry.
“Hip-hop is reinventing yourself to be cool, and he reinvented himself to be himself,” Jenkins said of Markie. “He reinvented himself to help people understand that being yourself was actually cool. And a lot of people in hip-hop are reinventing themselves to get away from who they are. He ran to who he was, which is what made him so special.”
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