Stephen Jerome Williams[1] [2] (March 10, 1968 – April 29, 2020), known by his stage name Stezo, was an American rapper and producer.
Stezo was born Stephen Williams in 1968 in New Haven, Connecticut.[1] He first appeared on the hip-hop scene as a dancer for the group EPMD.[2] 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.[2] Stezo handled all rapping and production on the album. The single received some attention around the time it was released.[2] The album charting at #37 on the Billboard R&B albums chart, and received praise for its very funky production and on-point rapping. 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.[1] [3] [4] [5]
| Year | Title | Hot Rap Songs[6] | Hot R&B/ Hip-Hop[7] | Dance Club Songs[8] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | "To the Max" | align="center" | - | align="center" | - | 39 | ||
| "It's My Turn" | 18 | 57 | align="center" | - | ||||
| "Freak the Funk" | align="center" | - | 85 | align="center" | - | |||
| 1994 | "Bop Ya Headz" | align="center" | - | align="center" | - | align="center" | - | |
| 1996 | "Where's the Funk At" | align="center" | - | align="center" | - | align="center" | - | |
| "Time ta Blow Ya Mine" | align="center" | - | align="center" | - | align="center" | - | ||
| 1997 | "Mr S." | align="center" | - | align="center" | - | align="center" | - | |
| 2004 | "Piece of the Pie" | align="center" | - | align="center" | - | align="center" | - |