Did rapper Biz Markie die on or before July 1, 2021? No, that's not true: Markie's manager confirmed that the rapper, though experiencing health complications, was alive at the time of this writing.
The claim appeared in an Instagram post (archived here) where it was published by MyMixtapez, a popular Instagram page for music news, on July 1, 2021. The post featured an image of Markie with text that read "Biz Markie Has Passed Away 🕊." The caption read:
#BizMarkie has reportedly passed away at the age of 57.
He had been having increasing health conditions and was hospitalized last year as a result of diabetes complications. RIP 🕊
This is what the post looked like on July 2, 2021:
(Source: Instagram screenshot taken on Fri Jul 2 15:35:07 2021 UTC)
In an email to Lead Stories on July 2, 2021, Jenni Izumi, Markie's manager and CEO and principal of Biz Markie, Inc., said:
The news of Biz Markie's passing is not true. Biz is still under medical care, surrounded by professionals who are working hard to provide the best healthcare possible. Biz's wife and family are touched by the outpouring of love and admiration from his friends, peers and fans alike. At this time, we ask for your continued thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
Lead Stories has previously debunked numerous false death hoaxes, including death claims about public figures and viral death claims related to COVID-19 vaccines.
