Goin' Off

Goin' Off
Studio album by Biz Markie
Released	March 1, 1988 (1988-03-01)
Recorded	1986–1988
Genre	Golden age hip hop
Label	Cold Chillin'/Warner Bros. Records 25675
Producer	Marley Marl
Biz Markie chronology
Goin' Off (1988) The Biz Never Sleeps (1989)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Robert Christgau	(B)[2]
RapReviews	(8/10)[3]
Rolling Stone	[4]

Goin' Off is the debut studio album by American hip hop musician Biz Markie. The album was released by Cold Chillin' Records, and produced by Marley Marl. The album was praised for its wit and humor. Big Daddy Kane wrote the lyrics of the album's first five songs. The album also showcased Biz's talent as a human beatbox on the song "Make the Music with Your Mouth, Biz", and his skill in the game of dozens on the track "Nobody Beats the Biz". One of his most widely known songs, "Vapors", was on the album.

Some reissues from 1995 onwards replace the Marley Marl remix of "Make the Music with Your Mouth" with the original 12" version, the album version of "Vapors" with the remix, and the original "This Is Something for the Radio" with the remix.

In 1998, the album was selected as one of The Source's 100 Best Rap Albums.^[5]

In 2006, the album was re-released by Traffic Entertainment Group with a bonus disc. It restores the original album versions of "Vapors" and "This Is Something for the Radio" as well as the Marley Marl remix of "Make the Music" that appeared on the original LP.

The album is broken down track-by-track by Biz Markie in Brian Coleman's book Check the Technique.^[6]

Track listing

• All tracks produced by Marley Marl

1. "Pickin' Boogers" – 4:42
2. "Albee Square Mall" – 4:43
3. "Biz is Goin' Off" – 4:50
4. "Return of the Biz Dance" – 3:59
5. "Vapors" – 4:33
6. "Make the Music with Your Mouth, Biz" – 4:56
7. "Biz Dance (Part One)" – 3:38
8. "Nobody Beats the Biz" – 5:42
9. "This Is Something for the Radio" – 5:14
10. "Cool V's Tribute to Scratching" – 3:07

Samples

1. "Pickin' Boogers" contains samples from:

• "The Jam" performed by Graham Central Station
• "Big Black Caddy" performed by Grandmaster Flash

2. "Albee Square Mall" contains samples from:

• "God Made Me Funky" performed by The Headhunters
• "Reach out of The Darkness" performed by Friend and Lover (also interpolated in sung chorus)

3. "Biz is Goin' Off" contains samples from:

• "One-Man Band" performed by Monk Higgins and The Specialites
• "Double Barrel" performed by Dave Collins and Ansel

4. "Return of the Biz Dance" contains samples from:

• "Zimba Ku" performed by Black Heat

5. "Vapors" contains samples from:

• "Papa Don't Take No Mess" performed by James Brown

6. "Make the Music with Your Mouth, Biz" contains samples from:

• "Ike's Mood I" by Isaac Hayes
• "Na Na Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" by Steam

7. "Biz Dance (Part One)" contains samples from:

• "Do the Funky Penguin" performed by Rufus Thomas

8. "Nobody Beats the Biz" contains samples from:

• "Fly Like an Eagle" performed by the Steve Miller Band
• "Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine" performed by James Brown
• "The Def Fresh Crew" by Roxanne Shanté and Biz Markie
• "Hihache" performed by Lafayette Afro Rock Band
• An interpolation of the jingle of the electronics store Nobody Beats the Wiz

9. "This is Something for the Radio" contains samples from:

• "Change the Beat" performed by B-Side and Fab Five Freddy
• "New Position" Performed by Prince

10. "Cool V's Tribute to Scratching" contains samples from:

• "Synthetic Substitution" performed by Melvin Bliss
• "What's on Your Mind (Expression)" performed by Brass Construction
• "Ike's Mood I/You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling" performed by Isaac Hayes
• "Take Me to the Mardi Gras" performed by Bob James
• "Do What You Gotta Do" performed by Eddie Drennon & B.B.S. Unlimited
• "Darling Dear" performed by the Jackson Five

Personnel

Singles

Chart positions

References