Stezo

Stephen Jerome Williams{{cite web |url=https://www.kelseyfh.com/obituary/Stephen-WilliamsSr|title=Stephen Jerome "Stezo" Williams, Sr.Stephen Jerome "Stezo" Williams, Sr. March 10, 1968 ~ April 29, 2020 (age 52)|date=|accessdate=July 19, 2022|website=kelseyfh.com}}{{cite book |last=Stancell |first=Steven |date=1996 |title=Rap Whoz Who: The World of Rap Music, Performers, Producers & Promoters |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UWyfAAAAMAAJ |location=New York |publisher=Schrimer Books |page=277 |isbn=0028645200 }} (March 10, 1968 – April 29, 2020), known by his stage name Stezo, was an American rapper and producer.

Career

Stezo was born Stephen Williams in 1968 in New Haven, Connecticut. He first appeared on the hip-hop scene as a dancer for the group EPMD. He appeared in the video for EPMD's single "You Gots to Chill" from their 1988 album Strictly Business. After this experience Stezo sought a career as a hip-hop artist on his own.

In 1989, Stezo signed a record deal with Sleeping Bag Records and released his 12-inch single "To the Max" and eventually a full album Crazy Noise. Stezo handled all rapping and production on the album. The single received some attention around the time it was released. The album charting at #37 on the Billboard R&B albums chart,{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=stezo-p214977/charts-awards/billboard-albums|pure_url=yes}} and received praise for its very funky production and on-point rapping.{{Citation needed|reason=Need source|date=February 2020}} The album's two singles both charted on Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Chart.

Despite the success of his debut album, Stezo didn't release more music for five years. In 1994, he released the single "Bop Ya Headz"/"Shining Star". Then in 1997 he released his follow-up album Where's the Funk At. The album received little attention and did not chart. In 2005, Stezo released a third album, C.T. (The Lost State), paying homage to his home state of Connecticut.

Stezo died in his sleep on April 29, 2020, at age 52, from heart complications at his home in North Carolina.{{Cite web|url=https://heavy.com/entertainment/2020/04/stezo-dead/|title=Old School Rap Icon & Dancer Stezo Dies at 51|first=Paul|last=Farrell|date=April 30, 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.monstersandcritics.com/celebrity/stezo-dead-tributes-pour-in-after-legendary-rapper-dies-age-51/|title=Stezo dead: Tributes pour in after legendary rapper dies age 51|first=John Thomas|last=Didymus|date=April 30, 2020|website=Monsters and Critics}}{{cite web| url = https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.55682/title.dj-premier-pete-rock-questlove-more-mourn-epmd-affiliate-stezos-death| title = DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Questlove & More Mourn EPMD Affiliate Stezo's Death {{!}} HipHopDX}}

Discography

=Albums=

Crazy Noise (1989) – U.S. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Albums #37{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=stezo|chart=R&B/Hip-Hop Albums B}}
Where's the Funk At (1997)
C.T. (The Lost State) (2005)
The Last Dance (2021)

=Singles=

class="wikitable"

! width="28"| Year

! width="150"| Title

! width="80"| Hot Rap Songs{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/280730/stezo/chart?f=1222|title=Stezo - Chart history|magazine=Billboard }}

! width="80"| Hot R&B/ Hip-Hop{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/280730/stezo/chart?f=367|title=Stezo - Chart history|magazine=Billboard }}

! width="80"| Dance Club Songs{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/280730/stezo/chart?f=359|title=Stezo - Chart history|magazine=Billboard }}

rowspan="3"|1989

| "To the Max"

|align="center"

align="center"

align="center"|39

"It's My Turn"

|align="center"|18

|align="center"|57

|align="center"

"Freak the Funk"

|align="center"

align="center"|85