Steelle4Real “B4 The Fame” is a Way of Life

In anticipation of his latest and greatest (“B4 The Fame”, OUT NOW already circling on ATL radio), I sat down with Atlanta’s Steelle4Real, to discuss all things good. Steelle’s genuine and down to Earth nature in addition to being dope (and believable) as an artist make him not only endearing but someone to watch in what is sure to be a massive 2023. .

Tell me about how you came up and where you’re from?

I’m from Exit 42, Yemassee, SC. It’s close to Charleston. I was raised by the old school, raised with old but real values.

When did you start rhyming and who/what inspired you to do so?

I was always infatuated with music even as a kid. I grew up in a musical family and my sister really helped mold my love of music. I started writing raps when I was in elementary school, freestyling on the bus. Shit, the first rap I wrote was in the 4th grade; it was about cars, but even before that I always loved it.

Tell me about some pros and cons of the music scene where you’re from.

Where I’m from, it’s like football and people jump on the bandwagon of the clout somebody got and not truly listening to the music. They base what a person got going on in the streets and aren’t listening for shit that’s hard, like for metaphors, or storytelling. They just focused on clout or how they’re moving and not truly the music. I mean if you hard, you hard, and it shows in your music and how you walk in life. There really aren’t any pros to where I’m from because people don’t really hop on your movement until it already has major motion, and it’s too late, so there aren’t many benefits music-wise for an upcoming artist.

Same, but for the entire music industry today:

Some pros are that the industry is wide open: anybody can come in and win right now. It’s open for a new sound, a new music era. You got the internet, and it can take you on up through there and if you got connections, it makes it a little easier. Cons could be how fast shit happens because of the internet and when you actually start moving, there’s no telling when your time is gonna be your time because people are envious of your story and they’re ready to kill something. Everywhere you go you gotta look over your shoulder type shit.

If you could come up in any era, would you choose to come up now or in a previous one? Explain.

I like the time and era we’re in now, but I wish I could’ve started 10 years ago. I had a lot of opportunities presented to me but because I was so heavy in the streets I wasn’t focused and didn’t do it. I had a clear path back then and could’ve easily gone, even though I still don’t think it’s super hard. I’m taking the stairs right now when I could’ve taken the elevator then.

Who are your favorite individuals to collaborate with and why?

DJ Swamp Izzo for sure. Not only is he my blood family, but he’s somebody I love to collaborate with. He brings the umph out of a record that I didn’t even know I had. Young Scooter is someone else I like to collaborate with cause he’s from the hometown and did what I’m trying to do. So if it’s a go to him, then it’s a go to the world. Hunxho as well because we run in the same circle and just the metaphors and shit he says are so hard. So when I come in on a verse with him, that shit kinda challenges me to be super hard too.

What’s your favorite record you’ve ever done and why?

I got an unreleased record with Young Scooter coming in 2023, but it’s one of my favorite top records right now because I feel like I checked something off my goal list.

Give me some background on some of the other stuff you’ve released to date:

My last single was “Snakehead“, and it was a record that was going crazy, but I didn’t put it out the right way. When I finally did get it on the DSPs, it was basically like I had to do everything again. At that time in my life, I had so much going on, so that record didn’t do what it was supposed to do, but it’s probably gonna come back around with somebody on the remix. But I do have a new single dropping on the 30th (OUT NOW) featuring Swamp Izzo called “B4 The Fame.” This record was all hands on deck and the shit just different.

Tell me about your inspiration for “B4 The Fame”:

I felt like I had to come super hard. I wanted something that was gonna shake the Atlanta scene up and I feel like this is that record. I feel like it will touch every aspect of the world. Mainly my flow, metaphors, just something everybody can feel, even the females. When this record come on, you gone know what time it is.

How would you describe your flow and vocal delivery on this song?

I feel like my flow on this record is that raw 2010’s music scene, that real hard street music. I think the tone changes contribute to how the dope record is. I really played with my voice on this song, almost like it’s two people with two different personalities lol. I just really shook shit up. The whispering and volume changes are just different.

How would you describe the production?

If I had to describe the beat in any way, it sounds like an anticipated sound. It’s different and it doesn’t sound like anyone’s sound, and I’m not saying that because I’m the artist, but it’s true. I believe in having everything unique, pure, and raw.

What do you want the listener to feel when they hear this?

I want people to feel like they that guy or that girl. They unfuckwitable and they can obtain anything they want. Don’t let anything get in your way or path, keep on pushing.

Tell me about the producer of the record and your creative and/or personal relationship with them:

So the producer’s name is Rayan he got a lot of big records with Kodak Black, Future, and a lot more people. I like working with solid producers, and Rayan he’s a real solid dude, he keeps everything 100. He ain’t in it for the money, he in it for the music and the work and I can respect that.

Same, but this time for Swamp Izzo:

So Swamp Izzo is my blood family member like I said earlier. He’s one of the biggest reasons I do music. So anything I do, he’s gonna cosign and make sure it goes on up through there. So one of the main things with him is if we doing it then we doing it, and we ain’t letting nothing stop what we got going on. Because in his eyes, everything is there.

Tell me about your plans for the visual:

The plans for the visual is… you gotta wait til it drop lol. But the main thing is that it will be focused on different parts of my life, the highs/lows. From kicking soda cans to all the lavish shit.

Any other big plans for the rollout?

Mainly consistently pushing the record and focusing on marketing. Taking over the Tik Tok scene, it’s already taking over the radio.

Is B4TheFame part of an EP or LP you’ve got dropping in the future?

I gotta put that on the mixtape. So look for that 2023; it’s gonna have all the major producers.

What’s next?

Consistently dropping, B4 The Fame coming out December 30th (OUT NOW) on all platforms and I’m gonna drop a visual in the middle of January. Afterward, I got a record coming out with Young Scooter with the visual. And you know, just keep pushing the product. I’ma do a giveaway next year, two cars around the same time I drop my mixtape. Oh and you know the mixtape gotta be hosted by DJ Swamp Izzo, it’s only right.

What are your goals and aspirations in this game?

One of my biggest goals is really to make it in this game. I’m business oriented, so I don’t just wanna make it as an artist. I wanna own a label, build a brand, and help people where I’m from make it too. If I make it, everybody will make it. I ain’t doing this just for me, I’m changing my family’s history.

After spending some time with Steelle, I can say with everything that I’m rooting for him. He’s moving with purpose and doing everything possible to make B4 The Fame pop. Make sure you’re streaming and following; hitting Steelle on his IG is a good place to start.

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Tags: Atlanta, Hype Magazine, Interview, MC Bravado, Steelle4Real

About the Author

MC Bravado MC Bravado is an emcee/educator from Baltimore by way of New York. He's received noteworthy press across mediums, including but not limited to Billboard, Rolling Stone, HipHopDX, CBS, FOX, ABC, SiriusXM Shade45, Okayplayer, DJBooth, HotNewHipHop, The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Magazine, Earmilk, and REVOLT TV. Performing alongside or collaborating with the likes of Bone Thugs, Scarface, Joell Ortiz, Statik Selektah, & MANY more, Bravado is a veteran presence.  No stranger to big stages (Warped Tour, A3C, SXSW), MC B is showing & proving his way to rarefied air. That being said, the former Baltimore city high school English teacher still keeps a leg in the classroom as program coordinator for nonprofit Music Education program Beats Not Bullets. He also co-owns Label Necklace, an independent record label that empowers & educates other creatives while running the label’s boutique PR branch.