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"Steelo"
Single by 702 featuring Missy Elliott
from the album No Doubt
ReleasedAugust 27, 1996
RecordedMay 1996
StudioThe Record Plant (Los Angeles)
Genre
Length4:17
LabelBiv 10 Records
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
702 singles chronology
"This Lil' Game We Play"
(1994) 		"Steelo"
(1996) 		"Get It Together"
(1997)
Missy Elliott singles chronology
"The Things That You Do"
(1996) 		"Steelo"
(1996) 		"Do Thangz"
(1996)

"Steelo" is a song recorded by American group 702 for their first studio album No Doubt (1996). It was written and produced Chad Elliott, Missy Elliott, and George Pearson. The song contains a prominent sample from The Police's song "Voices Inside My Head", for which English musician Sting is also given songwriter credits for the use of the sample.[2] It was released as the first single from No Doubt on August 27, 1996, by Biv 10 Records.[3]

"Steelo" was a commercial success, becoming the group's second single to place in the top 20 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. A remix of the song was used as the theme song of American children's sitcom Cousin Skeeter.

Although the term "steelo" had already been used by hip hop duo Mobb Deep in their song "Hit It from the Back" (1993),[4] the popularity of "Steelo" caused the slang word to become widespread, being added to various online dictionaries under the definition "[a person's] unique style".[5]

Writing and production

"Steelo" was written by Chad Elliott, Missy Elliott, and George Pearson. It was produced by Chad Elliott and Pearson, and was recorded at The Record Plant, in Los Angeles. The song contains a sample from The Police's song "Voices Inside My Head" (1980).[2] English musician Sting, who wrote "Voices Inside My Head", was also credited as a songwriter for "Steelo".

Music video

The official music video for the song was directed by Brian Luvar.[6] Set in Boston, MA, it features choreography heavy group dance scenes, interspersed with community basketball games. Missy Elliott is featured on the song as well as in the video.[7] Former 702 member Tiffany Villarreal, who sings background vocals on the song, also made a cameo appearance in video.

The video was serviced to BET on the week ending September 15, 1996.[8]

Live performances

702 performed "Steelo" on American sketch comedy show All That in 1996. In the same year, the group closed out a Showtime at the Apollo show with the song. The group also performed the song on American talk show Teen Summit, which aired on Black Entertainment Television (BET) in October 1996, and again in 1999.

Commercial performance

The song peaked at thirty-two on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and reached the twelfth spot on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop singles chart.[9] The song sold over 514,000 copies in the United States,[10] earning gold certification in the United States by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[11]

Impact and legacy

Larry Flick from Billboard praised the songs production calling it "infectious".[1] He also felt that lead singer "Kameelah Williams shows signs of becoming a major diva over time".[1] Ultimately, he noted that R&B programmers "are already nibbling on this potential smash" and that it will likely draw the attention of "top 40 tastemakers within moments".[1]

The use of the word "steelo" often lead the media not understanding its meaning. Group member Meelah Williams also admitted during 702's Unsung episode that she didn't understand the meaning of the word and that she would often forward people to Missy Elliott for the definition of "steelo".[12] The term "steelo" was defined as "a person's style".[5]

Track listing

7", 12"
  1. "Steelo" (Radio Edit) - 3:49 (feat. Missy Elliott)
  2. "Steelo" (LP Version) - 4:17 (feat. Missy Elliott)
7", 12"
  1. "Steelo" (LP Version) - 4:17 (feat. Missy Elliott)
  2. "Steelo" (Radio Edit) - 3:49 (feat. Missy Elliott)
  3. "Steelo" (Instrumental) - 4:17
  4. "Steelo" (A Cappella) - 3:52 (feat. Missy Elliott)
CD Single
  1. "Steelo" (Remix) - 3:33 (feat. Missy Elliott)
  2. "Steelo" (LP Version) - 4:17 (feat. Missy Elliott)
CD Maxi-Single
  1. "Steelo" (Radio Edit) - 3:59 (feat. Missy Elliott)
  2. "Steelo" (Remix) - 3:33 (feat. Missy Elliott and Brad Dacus)
  3. "Steelo" (LP Version) - 4:17 (feat. Missy Elliott)
  4. "Steelo" (Instrumental) - 4:17
  5. "Steelo" (A Cappella) - 3:52 (feat. Missy Elliott)

Charts

Personnel

Information taken from Discogs.[2][21]

  • production – Chad "Dr. Ceuss" Elliott, George Pearson, Rashad Smith
  • rapping – Missy Elliott
  • remixing – Rashad Smith
  • writing – Chad Elliott, Melissa Elliott, George Pearson, Gordon Sumners

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref(s).
United States August 20, 1996 Rhythmic contemporary radio Motown [22]
August 27, 1996 CD [23]
United Kingdom November 25, 1996
[24]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e Flick, Larry (October 26, 1996). "Reviews & Previews - New & Noteworthy". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 43. p. 80. Retrieved June 26, 2022. Given the vocal prowess and natural charisma displayed on this pop-soaked, jeep-soul shuffler....
  2. ^ a b c "702 - Steelo (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved January 18, 2011.
  3. ^ Steelo CD 1 - 702. AllMusic. Retrieved on April 11, 2024
  4. ^ Steelo. The Right Rhymes. Retrieved on April 11, 2024
  5. ^ a b Johnson Publishing Company (August 2, 1999). Destiny's Child among the hottest new female groups. Jet, Volume 96: No. 9, Page 26. Retrieved from https://books.google.com
  6. ^ Garcia, Alex S. "mvdbase.com - 702 - "Steelo"". Music Video DataBase. Archived from the original on 2005-11-27. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  7. ^ "701- Steelo". YouTube.
  8. ^ "Video Monitor". Billboard. September 28, 1996. p. 97. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  9. ^ "allmusic ((( No Doubt > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))". Allmusic. Retrieved January 18, 2011.
  10. ^ King, Aliya S. (June 5, 1999). "Motown's 702 Shows Musical Growth With Its Second Release". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 23. p. 65. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  11. ^ "Gold & Platinum". Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Retrieved July 13, 2018.
  12. ^ Unsung: Missy Elliott FINALLY Confirms What 702’s Hit Song ‘Steelo’ Really Means!. TV One. Retrieved on April 11, 2024
  13. ^ "702 – Steelo". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
  14. ^ "702: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  15. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  16. ^ "702 Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 18, 2021. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  17. ^ "702 Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 9, 2022. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  18. ^ "702 Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 18, 2021. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  19. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1996". Billboard. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  20. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1997". Billboard. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  21. ^ "702 - Steelo (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved January 18, 2011.
  22. ^ "CHR/Rhythmic: Selected New Releases" (PDF). Radio & Records. August 16, 1996. p. 76. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  23. ^ "702 - Steelo". Amazon. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  24. ^ "New Releases – Singles: Releases For 25 Nov-1 Dec 1996" (PDF). Music Week. November 23, 1996. p. 29. Retrieved September 5, 2023.

"Steelo" Music video on YouTube

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