Wikipedia

The Biz Never Sleeps

The Biz Never Sleeps is the second studio album by Biz Markie. It was released on October 10, 1989, on Cold Chillin'/Warner Bros. Records and was produced by Biz, his cousin Cool V on Cold Chillin' Records. The album proved to be a success, peaking at #66 on the Billboard 200 and #9 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, as well as producing his most famous song and biggest hit "Just a Friend", which made it to #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #5 on the Hot Rap Singles. The album was certified gold by the RIAA on April 24, 1990.[2]

The Biz Never Sleeps
Studio album by
Biz Markie
ReleasedOctober 10, 1989 (1989-10-10)
RecordedMarch–July 1989
GenreGolden age hip hop
Length49:02
Label
Producer
Biz Markie chronology
Goin' Off
(1988) 		The Biz Never Sleeps
(1989) 		I Need a Haircut
(1991)
Singles from The Biz Never Sleeps
  1. "Just a Friend"
    Released: September 26, 1989
  2. "Spring Again"
    Released: 1990
"Just A Friend"
Biz Markie's "Just a Friend" from The Biz Never Sleeps
Problems playing this file? See media help.
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]

"She's Not Just Another Woman (Monique)" samples 8th Day's song "She's Not Just Another Woman".

A video for the track "Spring Again" was released in the spring of 1990.

A 2006 Japanese issue includes song "A Thing Named Kim" as track 8.

Though out of print for many years, the album was reissued on LP and CD in 2012 by Traffic Entertainment Group.[3]

The release has received praise both from critics as well as fellow musicians over the years, with "Just a Friend" attracting particular acclaim. The 2006 hip-hop centered memoir In the Arms of Baby Hop cited the album as one of the "immaculate tapes out by February and March of 1990" (another example being 3rd Bass's The Cactus LP) influencing many.[4] The magazine Jet named the release one of their top 20 albums of the period in their January 15, 1990 edition.[5]

Track listing

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  1. "Dedication"- 4:02
  2. "Check It Out"- 4:01
  3. "The Dragon"- 4:08
  4. "Spring Again"- 4:03
  5. "Just a Friend"- 4:06
  6. "She's Not Just Another Woman (Monique)"- 3:46
  7. "Mudd Foot"- 4:16
  8. "A Thing Named Kim"- 4:44
  9. "Me vs. Me"- 4:47
  10. "My Man Rich"- 3:44
  11. "I Hear Music"- 3:01
  12. "Biz In The Harmony"- 4:16
  13. "Things Get a Little Easier"- 4:12

Personnel

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Contributors
Producers
Producer(s) Biz Markie, DJ Cool V
Executive Producer(s) Benny Medina
Performers
Lead vocals and rhyming Biz Markie
Additional and background vocals Mary Brown
Technicians
Mixing DJ Cool V
Engineering Doc Rodriguez, DJ Cool V, Paul C
Mastering Carlton Batts
Photography George DuBose
Design George DuBose

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[9] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ The Biz Never Sleeps at AllMusic
  2. ^ "Gold & Platinum". Recording Industry Association of America.
  3. ^ "The Biz Never Sleeps by Biz Markie to be Re-Released". rapstation.com. Retrieved July 7, 2012.
  4. ^ Attaway, Kenny (2006). In the Arms of Baby Hop. p. 23. ISBN 1425971067.
  5. ^ Jet. January 15, 1990. Page 62.
  6. ^ "Biz Markie Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 4, 2017.
  7. ^ "Biz Markie Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 4, 2017.
  8. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1990". Billboard. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  9. ^ "American album certifications – Biz Markie – The Biz Never Sleeps". Recording Industry Association of America.
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