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DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Questlove & More Mourn EPMD Affiliate Stezo’s Death

Veteran Hip Hop artist/dancer Steve “Stezo” Williams has reportedly died. Legendary New York City promotor Van Silk tells implurnt Stezo’s fiancée confirmed the news on Thursday (April 30) morning and noted the Connecticut native was suffering from heart issues. He passed away peacefully in his sleep at the age 51.

Stezo made his debut as a dancer for EPMD, appearing in the video for “You Gots To Chill” from the 1988 classic Strictly Business. 

But in 1989, he stepped out on his own in pursuit a solo career and signed a deal with Sleeping Bag Records. His released his first 12-inch single “To the Max” and followed with his debut solo album Crazy Noise, which peaked at No. 37 on the Billboard R&B albums chart and included the single “It’s My Turn.”

Following Crazy Noise, Stezo retreated from the spotlight for roughly five years. But in 1994, he returned with the “Bop Ya Headz”/”Shining Star” single and followed up with his sophomore album Where’s the Funk At in 1997, although he failed to garner the success he found in the ’80s.

On April 22, Stezo shared an Instagram post promoting his barbershop business S & S Cuts in Charlotte, North Carolina. That would prove to be his final post.

A roster Hip Hop artists are expressing their condolences on social media. Erick Sermon reacted on DJ Chuck Chillout’s Instagram page, writing, “NO WAY. Too much death around,” while Masta Ace replied with shock, “Whaaaaaat?! RIP..smh.”

Pete Rock, DJ Rhettmatic, Public Enemy’s DJ Lord, New York City radio legend Stretch Armstrong, Questlove, Planet Asia and DJ Premier are among the other artists paying their respects. Check out the reactions below.

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This is gonna happen a lot. Before Hammer’s pants, there was #Stezo…before we all abused that #SkullSnaps #ItsANewDay break…there was Stezo. Before #AtomicDog fed an ENTIRE GENRE….there was Stezo. While your favorite rapper was asking so & so & such & such to do some beats for em….Stezo was doing it all himself. I mean for gods sake this man made #SteveMartin cool to a hip hop generation too young to get King Tut/The Jerk/& a wild & crazy guy references—-he turned Steve Martin into the coolest verb EVER in 1988 (google #EPMD’s #YouGotsToChill video to see dances that defined a generation—-we talk about MCs/producers/videos/movies/icons from 87-92 but rarely give light to the iconic dances that came from that era—Stezo was always my fav dancer from this era (yes I know the Kid N Play dance was iconic too) but when you don’t have a partner to kick it with? Then yknow…lol——this dude is displaying ALL the moves that others will build empires on. Damn this damn virus man. Damn. Thank you @stezodezo

A post shared by Questlove Froman, (@questlove) on