Biz Markie, Just a Friend | 1 Hit WONDERful

In the fifth edition of 1 Hit WONDERful (2025), we highlight “Just a Friend” performed by the late Biz Markie.

It only takes ONE hit to solidify a musical legacy ! On 1 Hit WONDERful, we highlight songs that were the SOLE hit by a given musician.  It is possible that the artists appearing on this list earned a minor hit or two, BUT for the most part, that ONE hit earned them recognition. So, in the fifth edition of 1 Hit WONDERful (2024), we dive into “Just a Friend” the one-hit wonder by Biz Markie.

“You, you got what I need / But you say he’s just a friend / And you say he’s just a friend, oh baby.” Ah, those beloved lines hail from “Just a Friend”, the iconic hit from the late DJ, rapper, and beatboxer Biz Markie (1964 –  2021). Markie was memorably referred to as the Clown Prince of Hip-Hop. “Just A Friend,” which peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 in March 1990, appeared on his 1989 gold-certified album, The Biz Never Sleeps. It was his sole entry on the pop charts, solidifying his one-hit-wonder status.  “Just a Friend” samples two, 1960s songs: “You Got What I Need” by Freddie Scott (1933 – 2007) and “Get Out of My Life, Woman” by Lee Dorsey (1924 – 1986). 

The most memorable part of “Just a Friend” is the chorus.  Of course, the chorus lifts heavily off the Freddie Scott record, which arrived more than two decades earlier. Scott was a more skilled vocalist than Markie.  Biz wasn’t supposed to sing the chorus, but because no one showed up to record it, so, he recorded it himself.  It’s easily the most beloved part of the song.  Of course, the verses are colorful too, as Biz imparts the tale of trying to ‘get busy’ with a groupie who claims she doesn’t have a boyfriend – he’s “just a friend.” By the third verse, however, he discovers the truth:  

“A fella tongue-kissin’ my girl in her mouth 

I was so in shock, my heart went down south 

So please, listen to the message that I send 

Don’t ever talk to a girl who says she just has a friend…” 

Some one-hit wonders just ‘hit different’ than others. “Just A Friend” by Biz Markie is a prime example of that extra-special one-hit wonder.  The platinum-certified single will forever live in our hearts and pop culture!

Appears in :

• 11 Incredible JUST Songs, Vol. 2 (2022)

Biz Markie // The Biz Never Sleeps // Cold Chillin’ // 1989

Biz Markie, Just a Friend: 1 Hit WONDERful No. 5 (2025) [: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Cold Chillin’; Antoni Shkraba, KoolShooters, Pavel Danilyuk, Photo By: Kaboompics.com, RDNE Stock project from Pexels; AcatXIo, OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay]