"Steelo"
Single by 702 featuring Missy Elliott
from the album No Doubt
ReleasedAugust 20, 1996
RecordedMay 1996
Genre
Length4:17
LabelMotown
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 the debut single by American R&B group 702 recorded for the group's debut album No Doubt (1996). The song, which features hip hop artist Missy Elliott, was released as the first single for the album in 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, after sales exceeding 500,000 copies in the United States.

The song contains a sample of The Police's "Voices Inside My Head."[2]

An alternate version of this song serves as the intro music for the 1990s Nickelodeon 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.[3] The single was certified gold in February 1997.[4]

Critical reception

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]

Music video

The official music video for the song was directed by Brian Luvar.[5] 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.[6]

The video was serviced to BET on the week ending September 15, 1996.[7]

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][16]

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref(s).
United States August 20, 1996 Rhythmic contemporary radio Motown [17]
August 27, 1996 CD [18]
United Kingdom November 25, 1996
[19]

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 "702 - Steelo (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved January 18, 2011.
  3. ^ "allmusic ((( No Doubt > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))". Allmusic. Retrieved January 18, 2011.
  4. ^ "RIAA - Gold & Platinum - January 18, 2011 : Search Results - 702". RIAA. Retrieved January 18, 2011.
  5. ^ Garcia, Alex S. "mvdbase.com - 702 - "Steelo"". Music Video DataBase. Archived from the original on 2005-11-27. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  6. ^ "701- Steelo". YouTube.
  7. ^ "Video Monitor". Billboard. September 28, 1996. p. 97. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  8. ^ "702 – Steelo". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
  9. ^ "702: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  10. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  11. ^ "702 Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 18, 2021. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  12. ^ "702 Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 9, 2022. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  13. ^ "702 Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 18, 2021. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  14. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1996". Billboard. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  15. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1997". Billboard. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  16. ^ "702 - Steelo (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved January 18, 2011.
  17. ^ "CHR/Rhythmic: Selected New Releases" (PDF). Radio & Records. August 16, 1996. p. 76. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  18. ^ "702 - Steelo". Amazon. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  19. ^ "New Releases – Singles: Releases For 25 Nov-1 Dec 1996" (PDF). Music Week. November 23, 1996. p. 29. Retrieved September 5, 2023.

External links

"Steelo" Music video on YouTube

702
Missy Elliott
Authority control databases
Categories