| Steelo | |
| Cover: | 702SteeloSingle.jpg |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | 702 featuring Missy Elliott |
| Album: | No Doubt |
| Released: | August 27, 1996 |
| Recorded: | May 1996 |
| Studio: | The Record Plant (Los Angeles) |
| Length: | 4:17 |
| Label: | Biv 10 Records |
| Chronology: | 702 |
| Prev Title: | This Lil' Game We Play |
| Prev Year: | 1994 |
| Next Title: | Get It Together |
| Next Year: | 1997 |
"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. It was released as the first single from No Doubt on August 27, 1996, by Biv 10 Records.[1]
"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),[2] 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".[3]
"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). English musician Sting, who wrote "Voices Inside My Head", was also credited as a songwriter for "Steelo".
The official music video for the song was directed by Brian Luvar.[4] 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.[5] 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 & MTV on the week ending September 15, 1996.[6]
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.
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.[7] The song sold over 514,000 copies in the United States,[8] earning gold certification in the United States by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[9]
Larry Flick from Billboard praised the songs production calling it "infectious".[10] He also felt that lead singer "Kameelah Williams shows signs of becoming a major diva over time".[10] 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".[10]
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".[11] The term "steelo" was defined as "a person's style".[3]
| Chart (1996-1997) | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 (Billboard)[12] | 32 | |
| US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[13] | 16 | |
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[14] | 12 |
| Chart (1996) | Position | |
|---|---|---|
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[15] | 76 | |
| Chart (1997) | Position | |
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[16] | 67 |
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | August 20, 1996 | Rhythmic contemporary radio | Motown | [17] |
| August 27, 1996 | CD | [18] | ||
| United Kingdom | November 25, 1996 | [19] |