Just a Friend
{{For|the song by Mario|Just a Friend 2002}}
{{Lead too short|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Just a Friend
| cover = Just a Friend single.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Biz Markie
| album = The Biz Never Sleeps
| released = {{start date|1989|09|26}}{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Just-Friend-Vinyl-Biz-Markie/dp/B00008G0SC|title=Amazon.com: Biz Markie: Just a Friend [Vinyl]: Music|website=Amazon.com|access-date=March 23, 2015}}
| recorded = 1989
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
- Pop rap
- comedy hip hop{{cite web|last= Pitchfork Staff |title= The 200 Best Songs of the 1980s |website= Pitchfork |date= August 24, 2015 |url= https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/9700-the-200-best-songs-of-the-1980s/?page=7|quote= He was a DJ and beat boxer, so he was undoubtedly hip-hop, but his aesthetic was rooted in a comedy...|accessdate= October 16, 2022}}
| length = 4:06
| label = Cold Chillin'
| writer = Marcel Hall{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/just-a-friend-mt0003571504|title=Just a Friend – Biz Markie {{!}} Listen, Appearances, Song Review {{!}} AllMusic|website=AllMusic|access-date=March 23, 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Biz-Markie-Just-A-Friend/release/1053956|title=Biz Markie – Just A Friend (Vinyl) at Discogs|website=Discogs.com|date=1989 |access-date=March 23, 2015}}
| prev_title = Free Your Mind
| prev_year = 1988
| next_title = Intro
| next_year = 1990
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|9aofoBrFNdg|"Just a Friend"}}
}}
}}
{{listen
|filename=Just A Friend sample.ogg
|title="Just a Friend"
|description=Biz Markie's "Just a Friend" from The Biz Never Sleeps
|filetype=Ogg}}
"Just a Friend" is a song written, produced and performed by American hip hop artist Biz Markie. It was released in September 1989 as the lead single from his album The Biz Never Sleeps. It is Markie's most successful single, reaching number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1990.
Background
The song interpolates the 1968 song "(You) Got What I Need" recorded by Freddie Scott, whose basic chord and melody provided the base for the song's chorus. Markie's lyrics{{Cite web |date=2023-07-08 |title=Biz Markie - Just a Friend - The Lyrics and More |url=https://www.bizmarkiesjustafriend.org/post/biz-markie-just-a-friend-the-lyrics-and-more |access-date=2023-07-08 |website=Just a Friend |language=en}} describe romantic frustration after pursuing a woman who is actually romantically involved with another man who she falsely claims is "just a friend." Due to the widespread popularity of the song along with its acclaim and its influence on pop culture (and Markie's failure to have another charting Hot 100 song), Biz was classified by VH1 as a one-hit wonder, and "Just a Friend" was ranked 81st on VH1's 100 Greatest One-Hit Wonders in 2000, and later as number 100 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop in 2008.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/24391/vh1s_100_greatest_hiphop_songs-2/franchises/list/|title=VH1's 100 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs|date=September 29, 2008}} Karma, a staff record producer for Cold Chillin' Records, told Vibe magazine in 2005 that he produced the single, but never received credit.Kondo, Toshitaka (May 2005). "Karma". Vibe. p. 56. The single was certified platinum on April 12, 1990. In 2021, it was ranked at No. 480 on Rolling Stone's "Top 500 Best Songs of All Time".{{Cite magazine |date=2021-09-15 |title=The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-songs-of-all-time-1224767/ |access-date=2022-07-03 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}
Music video
The music video, directed by Lionel C. Martin, acts out the lyrics humorously and includes a scene of Biz Markie singing the chorus dressed as Mozart in 18th-century clothing with a powdered wig in a candlelit room while playing the piano.{{Citation |last1=Shafer |first1=Ellise |title=Biz Markie, Rapper Known for 'Just a Friend,' Dies at 57 |date=2021-07-17 |url=https://variety.com/2021/music/news/biz-markie-dead-rapper-just-a-friend-1235022061/ |access-date=2024-02-18 |language=en-US |last2=Barker |first2=Andrew}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.videostatic.com/vs/2006/week19/index.html#entry-10259599 |title=Video Static: Music Video News: May 7, 2006 - May 13, 2006 |website=VideoStatic |access-date=2008-10-09 |archive-date=2008-09-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080926200130/http://www.videostatic.com/vs/2006/week19/index.html#entry-10259599 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web|url=http://www.mvdbase.com/comingback.html?id=3237|title=Site Maintenance|website=Mvdbase.com|access-date=2019-09-30|archive-date=2021-10-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027061733/http://www.mvdbase.com/comingback.html?id=3237|url-status=dead}}
Legacy
In 1993, Akinyele's song I Luh Hur from his album Vagina Diner mentioned "Just a Friend".{{Cite web |title=Akinyele - I Luh Hur Lyrics |url=https://genius.com/Akinyele-i-luh-hur-lyrics |website=Genius |access-date=2024-09-09}}
In 2006, American rock band Tally Hall recorded a cover of "Just a Friend", later releasing it on streaming platforms in 2019.{{Cite web |title=Tally Hall - Just A Friend |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/20520802-Tally-Hall-Just-A-Friend |website=Discogs |date=12 March 2021 |access-date=2024-07-28}}
In 2007, Chris Rock and Kerry Washington sang "Just A Friend" in a scene from the movie I Think I Love My Wife.{{Cite web |title=I Think I Love My Wife (2007) - IMDB |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0770772/ |website=IMDB |access-date=2024-09-09}}
In November 2010, actor Jeff Goldblum performed the song in a duet with Markie on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. The duet was highly requested by fans of the show and was set up by Fallon and the Roots.{{cite web |last1=Escoto |first1=Mark |title=Biz Markie Talks Yo Gabba Gabba!, Beastie Boys, and Jeff Goldblum |url=https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/music/biz-markie-talks-yo-gabba-gabba-beastie-boys-and-jeff-goldblum-6605044 |website=Phoenix New Times |access-date=25 October 2022}}
In June 2023, his widow, Tara Hall,{{Cite web |title=Fat Joe Called Biz Markie's Wife Every Week for a Year Before Death |url=https://www.tmz.com/2021/07/20/fat-joe-called-biz-markies-wife-every-week-for-a-year-before-death/ |access-date=2023-06-23 |website=TMZ |date=20 July 2021 |language=en}} announced the Just a Friend Foundation{{Cite web |last=Eustice |first=Kyle |date=2023-06-16 |title=Biz Markie's Widow Commemorates Late MC Ahead Of Second Anniversary Of His Death |url=https://allhiphop.com/news/biz-markie-widow-second-death-anniversary/ |access-date=2023-06-23 |website=AllHipHop |language=en-US}} and confirmed a documentary about Biz Markie’s life, All Up in the Biz, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival.{{Cite web |title=All Up in the Biz {{!}} 2023 Tribeca Festival |url=https://tribecafilm.com/films/all-up-in-the-biz-2023 |access-date=2023-06-24 |website=Tribeca}}
Charts
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Chart (1989–1990) !Peak |
| Canada Top Singles (RPM){{Cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.1847&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=4q3qe5g89llofr41771c2uqp54|title=Canadian dance peak|website=Collectionscanda.gc.ca|access-date=2021-04-24}}
|align="center"|66 |
| {{single chart|UK|55|date=19900520|rowheader=true|access-date=2023-03-12}} |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/biz-markie-mn0000107294/awards|title=Biz Markie {{!}} Awards {{!}} AllMusic|website=AllMusic|access-date=2010-08-27}}
|align="center"|9 |
| U.S. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks (Billboard)
|align="center"|37 |
| U.S. Hot Rap Singles (Billboard)
|align="center"|5 |
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable"
!Chart (1990) !Position |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100{{cite web|url=https://longboredsurfer.com/charts/1990|title=Longbored Surfer – 2000|website=LongboredSurfer.com|author=|access-date=2015-03-15}}
|align="center"|94 |
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=United States|artist=Biz Markie|title=Just a Friend|award=Platinum|relyear=1989|certyear=1990|refname="riaa2"}}
{{Certification Table Bottom | nosales=true}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{AllMusic|song|id=mt0003571504|label="Just a Friend"}}
- {{Discogs master|type=single|101018}}
- {{YouTube|9aofoBrFNdg|"Just a Friend" music video}}
{{Biz Markie}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Just a Friend}}
Category:Cold Chillin' Records singles
Category:Music videos directed by Lionel C. Martin
Category:Song recordings produced by Biz Markie
Category:Songs written by Biz Markie