Legendary rapper Biz Markie best known for his 1989 single “Just a Friend,” has reportedly been hospitalized for weeks.
The 56-year-old musician has been hospitalized while treated for type 2 diabetes, TMZ reports. The beatboxer is currently located at a hospital in Maryland, though the seriousness of his condition isn’t known.
Although having type 2 diabetes increases the likelihood of severe complications with the novel coronavirus, according to the CDC, representatives for Biz said he doesn’t have COVID-19.
‘He is receiving the best care from an amazing team of medical professionals and we remain positive about the outcome,’ his representative said.
In 2014, the Just A Friend rapper bragged about his impressive weight loss after he dropped from 385lbs down to 244lbs via exercise and diet, rather than weight loss surgery.
‘I wanted to live,’ Biz told ABC News at the time. ‘Since I have to be a diabetic, If I didn’t make the changes, it was going to make the diabetes worse.
‘I’m trying to get off [the Diabetes medications]. The way you gotta do it is lose the weight. I’m off half my meds, I just got to get off the rest.’
According to the CDC, diabetes affects 34 million Americans (or one in 10), with the vast majority of those people suffering from type 2 diabetes.
The disease occurs when the body’s cells become resistant to insulin, a hormone that helps them absorb sugar from the bloodstream.
Obesity can be a risk factor for the condition, though weight loss can help alleviate the effects.