Markee Steele Releases New Album ‘Sophomore Slump’, Shares ‘Step’ Music Video

Today (1/5/2024) falls just one day short of the third anniversary of Markee Steele‘s Vet & A Rook EP. The Durham, North Carolina native, best known for his ESPN Sports Center anthem “Greatness”, first broke his silent streak last month with the announcement of his new album Sophomore Slump. Steele gifted fans the new album on Christmas day (12/25/2023), ahead of its official release date, via an exclusive WeTransfer link, where the project could be purchased. Today, the album released to all major digital streaming platforms via the emcee’s R.O.S.E. imprint, accompanied by the self-directed, shot and edited music video for the album’s second single “Step” (featuring Traffic).

“‘Step’, ‘steppers’ or ‘stepping’ is a street term. I wanted to broaden the meaning so it can apply to more than just one category of individuals. I thought it was important since I grow up in the inner city of Durham, NC so I’m comfortable in those environments. However music has developed me the skills and the maturity necessary to communicate, with the others who may look down on folks from the ghetto. Stepping is a term everyone can use. Whether you’re a doctor teacher or protecting the community, if you’re great at what you do, you’re stepping. I hope this perspective will help us bridge the gap. We’re all more alike than we realize.” – Markee Steele

Watch “Step“ on YouTube

Sophomore Slump features production from Khrysis, Truss One, and more, along with guest appearances from Traffic and R.O.S.E artist Mizz Chelsea Babi.

“I was always recording but I had serious thoughts of hanging it up”, says Steele of the past three years. “Life, depression, and distractions clouded my mind more than creating, which has been my calling since I was a young teenager. The crazy thing is creating still is my calling, and I believe it will be calling me for the rest of my life. I had just been ignoring the calls. The phone booth [on the album cover] represents my purpose actually calling me, and the moment I answer the phone I’ll be released from the extended slump I fell into.”

Stream/purchase Sophomore Slump.

R.O.S.E Garden Freestyle #1
“Stop” (music video)

MORE ABOUT MARKEE STEELE:

The output of lyrical and experiential rapper Markee Steele (formerly Mark Steele) is cast in the kind of self-assuredness attained only by hard-fought successes. A native North Carolinian, Steele has collaborated with some of his home state’s top names in Hip-Hop, including his mentor and former college professor 9th Wonder and BET’s “Lyricist of The Year” Rapsody. Steele also collaborated with YMCMB artist Cory Gunz, and released numerous projects through his independent Evolution Camp label, including a biennial trilogy of albums capped by his highly concentrated magnum opus It’s Been a Minute (2018).

Growing up in Durham, North Carolina, Steele and high school friend Mike Bannon — then operating as the duo Mic & Rep — were featured as The Source magazine’s Unsigned Hype in 2007. A corner was turned in 2014 when Steele’s single “Not Like Yall” was licensed by ESPN for placement in its First Take show. The song was commercially released that year as a bonus cut on Steele’s debut solo album Sumthin for the Wait. Shortly thereafter, Steele returned with an EP, History Repeats, highlighted by “Greatness,” a lean and triumphant track regularly featured on ESPN flagship program Sports Center. Steele then connected with the likes of Carvin & Ivan, Raheem DeVaughn, and Rapper Big Pooh for his 2016 LP, Almost Time. Although it received some high-profile online and satellite radio airplay, Steele felt the album was rushed. He directed his artistic frustration into the making of his third full-length. Created over a period of deep focus and strict self-discipline, including six months during which he lived out of his car, It’s Been a Minute released in 2018 to critical praise. This time, fellow Durham dwellers Khrysis and G. Yamazawa, along with No Malice (of Clipse), were among the collaborators.