NEW YORK (1010WINS) — Rev. Al Sharpton will deliver the eulogy for the late rapper Biz Markie at his funeral service on Monday in Patchogue, Long Island, according to the National Action Network.
The private event will take place at the Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts and will include a start-studded list of friends and hip hop collaborators, including Fat Joe, Papoose, LL Cool J, Big Daddy Kane, Leland Robinson, NAN announced on Friday.
Biz Markie, whose real name Marcel Theo Hall, died peacefully Friday, July 16, his representative announced last week. He was 57. The cause of death was not revealed.
"I am honored to deliver the eulogy on Monday for Marcel Theo Hall –the legendary Biz Markie who touched the world with his infectious smile, amazing energy, and Hip-Hop hits," Sharpton wrote on Facebook.
The the self-proclaimed self-proclaimed “Clown Prince of Hip-Hop” was known for his outsized personality, beatboxing chops and his platinum-selling megahit "Just a Friend." His passing led to an outpouring of appreciation on social media, with countless artists citing him as inspiration.
“We lost another Rap legend Mr. Biz Markie,” Parliament-Funkadelic bassist Bootsy Collins tweeted at the time of his passing. “To a lot of us he was more than Just a Friend.”