Show Notes
Oh SNAP! This week, we’re joined by Five Iron Frenzy vocalist Reese Roper to explore the life and times of Biz Markie, otherwise known as the Clown Prince of Hip Hop. The unforgettable chorus of “Just a Friend,” which was an interpolation of a 1968 Freddie Scott song, became instantly iconic, and Biz’s less-than-perfect performance gave the song endless charm and personality. Whether Biz was inevitably bound for one hit wonderdom is up for debate, but a landmark court case against a sample on his next album may have been what cemented it. Regardless, he had a long and interesting career, all the way up to his untimely passing in 2021. Is there more in Biz Markie’s catalog worth diving into if you only know the hit? This week, we’ll see if he really IS a hundred proof.
One Hit Thunder is brought to you by DistroKid, the ultimate partner for taking your music to the next level. Our listeners get 30% off your first YEAR with DistroKid by signing up at http://distrokid.com/vip/onehitthunder
Buy some Merch
Join our Patreon
Join our Facebook Group
Follow us on Instagram
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
More from One Hit Thunder
“Slick” and “cool” are actually GREAT descriptors for the sound of Digable Planets. This hip hop trio paired jazz samples with unforgettable hooks, and by 1993, they had a huge hit with the inescapable “Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat).” A gold record and a Grammy followed, and Digable Planets seemed to be on their way to superstardom. A more experimental and politically charged sophomore release, however, was something that the world wasn’t ready for. Regardless, the group remains respected and revered, and the fact that they only had one breakthrough hit gives us a good reason to feature them on One Hit Thunder.
It’s no secret that the Belvedere Bros are HUGE Marsha Owens fans, and in this episode, the beautiful and talented Ilene Graff sits in for a fun conversation about her time on Mr. Belvedere! This installment of the show is filled with Ilene’s infectious laughter as she answers several burning questions about her experience as the inspiring mother on our favorite show.
This week, we’re exploring the career of Nico & Vinz, the Norwegian duo who brought us the 2014 hit “Am I Wrong.” The song combines huge pop hooks with African musical influences, and they even used the music video as an opportunity to show the beauty of the continent. Their breakout album Black Star Elephant combined socially conscious lyrics with ultra-catchy, genre-bending tracks, but would it be wrong to assume that they deserved even MORE worldwide acclaim? That’s what we’ll try to figure out in this week’s episode.
In the first Mr. Belvedere episode of 1986, George receives a prestigious award, Kevin gets “married”, and Marsha takes everyone’s breath away.
If you’re either of the hosts of the One Hit Thunder podcast, you really didn’t need to do much prep work for an episode about The Mighty Mighty Bosstones. This legendary, well-dressed band was a Boston institution, blending ska with hardcore and putting on unforgettable live shows. In 1997, they made an impression on more than just the underground scene when “The Impression That I Get” became an inescapable hit, and at this point, a ska-punk classic. This week, we’re celebrating the career and catalog of the Bosstones, despite the strange and unceremonious breakup of the band.