Much more than just the clown prince of hip-hop during the late '80s and early '90s,
Biz Markie was one of the golden age's most talented, distinctive, and inventive rappers whether he was talking about his skills on the mic ("Nobody Beats the Biz") or his favorite brand of spaghetti sauce ("Biz Is Goin' Off"). And like the other acts on the Cold Chillin' label, he benefited from one of the era's greatest producers,
Marley Marl. Led by
Marl's raw, drum-heavy tracks and great scratching,
The Best of Cold Chillin' is a definitive look back for rap fans, gathering 17 tracks from the
Biz's four LPs for the label and wisely balancing trademark hits like "Just a Friend" and "Vapors" with rare, early material like the solo human-beatbox number "One Two." The compilation also focuses heavily on his first two albums, with tracks from 1988's seminal
Goin' Off and the following year's breakout
The Biz Never Sleeps. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide