Legendary rapper Biz Markie, 56, has been hospitalized while treated for type 2 diabetes, TMZ reports.
“He is receiving the best care from an amazing team of medical professionals and we remain positive about the outcome,” Biz Markie’s representative said. Exactly how long Biz has been hospitalized isn’t known, but he hasn’t posted since June 18.
Six years ago, the Just A Friend rapper bragged about his impressive weight loss after he dropped from 385lbs down to 244lbs via exercise and diet, rather than weight loss surgery. After his 140 pound weight loss he was named the spokesperson for Zevia’s sugar-free soda line (a far cry from being a former face of Sprite). Markie said, “instead of drinking regular soda, I drink Zevia to make you believia!” he joked. “I love that there’s alternatives to eating, because I want to live.”
“Since I have to be a diabetic, If I didn’t make the changes, it was going to make the diabetes worse,” Biz Markie told ABC News at the time. “I’m trying to get off [the diabetes oral medications]. The way you gotta do it is lose the weight. I’m off half my meds, I just got to get off the rest.”
Markie said doctors were straightforward when he was diagnoses and said if he didn’t shape up, the results could be terrible.
“They said I could lose my feet,” he said. “They said I could lose body parts. A lot of things could happen.”
Biz is best known for his hit single Just A Friend, which samples Freddie Scott’s 1968 song (You) Got What I Need.