"Steelo" is the debut single by
American R&B group
702 recorded for the group's debut album ''
No Doubt
No Doubt is an American rock band from Anaheim, California, formed in 1986. For most of their career, the band has consisted of vocalist Gwen Stefani, guitarist Tom Dumont, bassist Tony Kanal, and drummer Adrian Young. Since the mid-1990s, t ...
'' (1996). The song, which features
hip hop artist
Missy Elliott
Melissa Arnette Elliott (born July 1, 1971), better known as Missy Elliott or Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliot, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. She embarked on her music career with R&B girl group Sista in the earl ...
, was released as the first
single for the album on August 27, 1996.
The song peaked at number 32 on the
''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart. By February 1997 it was certified gold in sales by the
RIAA
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/ ...
, after sales exceeding 500,000 copies in the United States.
The song contains a sample of
The Police
The Police were an English rock band formed in London in 1977. For most of their history the line-up consisted of primary songwriter Sting (lead vocals, bass guitar), Andy Summers (guitar) and Stewart Copeland (drums, percussion). The Poli ...
's "Voices Inside My Head."
An alternate version of this song serves as the intro music for the 1990s
Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon (often shortened to Nick) is an American pay television television channel, channel which launched on April 1, 1979, as the first cable channel for children. It is run by Paramount Global through its List of assets owned by Param ...
TV show ''
Cousin Skeeter''.
Release and 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.
The single was certified gold in February 1997.
Critical reception
Larry Flick from ''
Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...
'' praised the songs production calling it "infectious".
He also felt that lead singer "kameelah Williams shows signs of becoming a major diva over time".
[ 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".][
]
Music video
The official music video
A music video is a video of variable duration, that integrates a music song or a music album with imagery that is produced for promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a music marketing devi ...
for the song was directed by Brian Luvar in 1996. Set in Boston, MA
Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- most ...
, it features choreography heavy group dance scenes, interspersed with community basketball games. Missy Elliott
Melissa Arnette Elliott (born July 1, 1971), better known as Missy Elliott or Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliot, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. She embarked on her music career with R&B girl group Sista in the earl ...
is featured on the song as well as in the video.
Track listing
;7", 12"
#"Steelo" (Radio Edit) - 3:49 (feat. Missy Elliott
Melissa Arnette Elliott (born July 1, 1971), better known as Missy Elliott or Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliot, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. She embarked on her music career with R&B girl group Sista in the earl ...
)
#"Steelo" (LP Version) - 4:17 (feat. Missy Elliott
Melissa Arnette Elliott (born July 1, 1971), better known as Missy Elliott or Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliot, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. She embarked on her music career with R&B girl group Sista in the earl ...
)
;7", 12"
#"Steelo" (LP Version) - 4:17 (feat. Missy Elliott
Melissa Arnette Elliott (born July 1, 1971), better known as Missy Elliott or Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliot, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. She embarked on her music career with R&B girl group Sista in the earl ...
)
#"Steelo" (Radio Edit) - 3:49 (feat. Missy Elliott
Melissa Arnette Elliott (born July 1, 1971), better known as Missy Elliott or Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliot, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. She embarked on her music career with R&B girl group Sista in the earl ...
)
#"Steelo" (Instrumental) - 4:17
#"Steelo" (A Cappella) - 3:52 (feat. Missy Elliott
Melissa Arnette Elliott (born July 1, 1971), better known as Missy Elliott or Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliot, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. She embarked on her music career with R&B girl group Sista in the earl ...
)
;CD Single
#"Steelo" (Remix) - 3:33 (feat. Missy Elliott
Melissa Arnette Elliott (born July 1, 1971), better known as Missy Elliott or Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliot, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. She embarked on her music career with R&B girl group Sista in the earl ...
)
#"Steelo" (LP Version) - 4:17 (feat. Missy Elliott
Melissa Arnette Elliott (born July 1, 1971), better known as Missy Elliott or Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliot, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. She embarked on her music career with R&B girl group Sista in the earl ...
)
;CD Maxi-Single
#"Steelo" (Radio Edit) - 3:59 (feat. Missy Elliott
Melissa Arnette Elliott (born July 1, 1971), better known as Missy Elliott or Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliot, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. She embarked on her music career with R&B girl group Sista in the earl ...
)
#"Steelo" (Remix) - 3:33 (feat. Missy Elliott
Melissa Arnette Elliott (born July 1, 1971), better known as Missy Elliott or Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliot, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. She embarked on her music career with R&B girl group Sista in the earl ...
and Brad Dacus)
#"Steelo" (LP Version) - 4:17 (feat. Missy Elliott
Melissa Arnette Elliott (born July 1, 1971), better known as Missy Elliott or Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliot, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. She embarked on her music career with R&B girl group Sista in the earl ...
)
#"Steelo" (Instrumental) - 4:17
#"Steelo" (A Cappella) - 3:52 (feat. Missy Elliott
Melissa Arnette Elliott (born July 1, 1971), better known as Missy Elliott or Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliot, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. She embarked on her music career with R&B girl group Sista in the earl ...
)
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Personnel
Information taken from Discogs
Discogs (short for discographies) is a database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. While the site was originally created with a goal of becoming the la ...
.
*production – Chad "Dr. Ceuss" Elliott, George Pearson, Rashad Smith
*rapping – Missy Elliott
*remixing – Rashad Smith
*writing – Chad Elliott, Melissa Elliott, George Pearson, Gordon Sumners
Notes
External links
{{Authority control
1996 songs
1996 debut singles
702 (group) songs
Missy Elliott songs
Motown singles
Music videos directed by Brian Luvar
Songs written by Missy Elliott
Songs written by Sting (musician)