"Square Biz" is a song by American pop/R&B/soul singer, Teena Marie. The song was released as a single in 1981 from the album It Must Be Magic. It would go on to become one of Marie's signature songs.
The song interpolates a rap verse from the Sugarhill Gang's 1979 hit "Rapper's Delight".
Cover versions and appearances in media
In 2002, a new version of this song, titled "Hollywood Square Biz", was used as the theme to the popular game show Hollywood Squares from 2002 to 2004.[2]
In 2002, En Vogue performed a cover of the song on their concert DVD, Live in the USA.
Missy Elliott uses an interpolation of a verse from Square Biz in Ciara's 2004 hit single, "1, 2 Step".[3]
The Firm's "Firm Biz" contains a sample based on the song featuring En Vogue's Dawn Robinson from the group's 1997 album The Album.
"Real Love" by Master P featuring Sera-Lynn, 2002
In January 2011, The Foreign Exchange performed a piece of the song during their Authenticity Tour in Europe.
Chart performance
The song managed to peak at #3 on Billboard's Black Singles, becoming Marie's highest peak on the chart at the time. The song managed to peak at #12 on Billboard's Club Play Singles, while performing moderately on Billboard's Pop Singles, peaking only at #50, becoming her second single to chart on the Pop Singles chart.