''The Biz Never Sleeps'' is the second

studio album An album is a collection of audio recordings issued on compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl, audio tape, or another medium such as Digital distribution#Music, digital distribution. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early ...

Biz Markie Marcel Theo Hall (April 8, 1964 – July 16, 2021), known professionally as Biz Markie, was an American rapper, singer, songwriter, DJ, and record producer. Markie was best known for his 1989 single "Just a Friend", which became a Top 40 hit in ...

. It was released on October 10, 1989, on

Cold Chillin' ''Cold Chillin is the third extended play, EP from British hardcore punk band Your Demise. Released on 14 May 2013 in conjunction with Impericon and Pinky Swear Records, it is the first official work since the band split from Visible Noise Records. ...

Warner Bros. Records Warner Records Inc. (formerly Warner Bros. Records Inc.) is an American record label. A subsidiary of the Warner Music Group, it is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. It was founded on March 19, 1958, as the recorded music division of the ...

and was produced by Biz, his cousin Cool V and producer

Paul C Paul may refer to: *Paul (given name), a given name (includes a list of people with that name) *Paul (surname), a list of people People Christianity *Paul the Apostle (AD c.5–c.64/65), also known as Saul of Tarsus or Saint Paul, early Chris ...

, instead of Cold Chillin' in-house producer

Marley Marl Marlon Williams (born September 30, 1962), better known by his stage name Marley Marl, is an American DJ, record producer, rapper and record label founder, primarily operating in hip hop music. Marlon grew up in Queensbridge housing projects ...

. The album proved to be a success, peaking at #66 on the ''Billboard'' 200 and #9 on the

Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a music chart published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales in the United States and is compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The chart debuted as Hot R&B LPs in the issue dated J ...

, as well as producing his most famous song and biggest hit, "

Just a Friend "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 nu ...

," which made it to #9 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and #5 on the

Hot Rap Singles Hot Rap Songs (formerly known as Hot Rap Tracks and Hot Rap Singles) is a chart released weekly by '' Billboard'' in the United States. It lists the 25 most popular hip-hop/rap songs, calculated weekly by airplay on rhythmic and urban radio stat ...

. The album was certified gold by the

RIAA The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/o ...

on April 24, 1990. "She's Not Just Another Woman (Monique)" samples 8th Day's song "

She's Not Just Another Woman "She's Not Just Another Woman" is a song written by Ron Dunbar and Clyde Wilson and performed by 8th Day (R&B group), 8th Day. It reached #3 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, U.S. R&B chart and spent three weeks at #11 on the Billboard Hot 100, U.S ...

". A video for the track "Spring Again" was released in the spring of 1990. A 2006 Japanese issue includes song "A Thing Named Kim" as track 8. Though out of print for many years, the album was reissued on LP and CD in 2012 by Traffic Entertainment Group. The release has received praise both from critics as well as fellow musicians over the years, with "Just a Friend" attracting particular acclaim. The 2006 hip-hop centered memoir ''In the Arms of Baby Hop'' cited the album as one of the "immaculate tapes out by February and March of 1990" (another example being 3rd Bass's '' The Cactus LP'') influencing many. The magazine '' Jet'' named the release one of their top 20 albums of the period in their January 15, 1990 edition.Jet. January 15, 1990. Page 62.

Track listing

#"Dedication"- 4:02 #"Check It Out"- 4:01 #"The Dragon"- 4:08 #"Spring Again"- 4:03 #"

"- 4:06 #"She's Not Just Another Woman (Monique)"- 3:46 #"Mudd Foot"- 4:16 #"A Thing Named Kim"- 4:44 #"Me vs. Me"- 4:47 #"My Man Rich"- 3:44 #"I Hear Music"- 3:01 #"Biz In The Harmony"- 4:16 #"Things Get a Little Easier"- 4:12

Personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Biz Never Sleeps, The 1989 albums Biz Markie albums Cold Chillin' Records albums Albums produced by Biz Markie