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Biz Markie's family had Fat Joe to lean on for a year plus while Biz was hospitalized.

Biz Markie had a partner in rhyme pulling for him and his family up to the very end -- it was none other than Fat Joe who provided emotional support like you wouldn't believe ... TMZ has learned. The recently deceased MC's wife, Tara Hall, tells us that out of all the scores of people who reached out while Biz was ill ... Joe was the one who was always there, from the moment Biz entered the hospitallast June due to complications from diabetes. Getty Tara says as soon as Joe heard the news, he was on the phone every single week with her -- checking in on Biz, on Tara and the rest of their loved ones to see if they needed anything, and to let them know he was there for them ... financially or otherwise. She tells us Joe was literally willing to open his own wallet to whatever Biz's family needed during his hospital stay -- one which was fairly isolated due to COVID-19 regulations that really only allowed Tara to be by her husband's side, day in and day out. Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media. Even now, after his death, Tara says Joe has offered to cover memorial or funeral costs -- however, she's politely turned him down each time, saying they don't need the dough ... but that she appreciates the gesture. Joe's admiration for and dedication to Biz and his family are a sign of how beloved and respected he was in NYC's hip-hop community -- and while he's one of the few who went above and beyond, we're told several others were keeping tabs on the sitch. Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media. Tara says other icons like Doug E. Fresh Big Daddy Kane and Treachsimilarly checked in on their friend. As we first reported ... Biz Markie died last weekat the age of 57, and it's clear his family's eternally grateful for the love and support so many showed. Read more