Biz Markie was an American rapper, beatboxer, and DJ whose place on this list is purely a matter of measurement. Known as the "Clown Prince of Hip-Hop", he was a beloved and influential figure in the genre for decades, admired as much for his humour and warmth as for his music, and his passing in 2021 was mourned across the hip-hop world.
But streaming gathers around one song. "Just a Friend", released in 1989, is a funny, self-deprecating tale of romantic misfortune crowned by a gleefully off-key sung chorus, and it has become a permanent, much-loved staple of parties and playlists.
On streaming, "Just a Friend" sits near 181 million plays, while his next most-streamed track trails at around ten million. That sends the ratio above 17, far past our 5.0 line.
So by our strict, numbers-only measure, Biz Markie registers as a certified one-hit wonder, and we flag the caveat warmly. This was a genuine pioneer, cherished within hip-hop far beyond any single record. It is only that one irresistibly charming song became so universally known that, on streams, it now stands well ahead of the rest of his catalogue.