Mark Steele
Durham, North Carolina, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2011 | INDIE
Music
Press
With gun violence and police brutality at the fore of much discussion in 2016, North Carolina emcee Mark Steele hasn't been one to stray from the conversation. The recent tragedy of Keith Lamont Scott in particular hit close to home for the rapper, and he expresses his sentiments in his new music video for "Turn Around."
"Keith Lamont Scott was murdered by police, on the very next block behind where I currently live in Charlotte, NC. I'm born and raised in Durham, NC (Bull City) so being that close to murder isn't unusual to me at all. We made "Turn Around" in the spring of 2015 at Patchwerk studios in Atlanta, GA because we were inspired by the chaos around us. Seems like every time we turn on the TV there was another killing and then another protest turned violent. All that did was trigger memories of my teenage years living in Durham, and dealing with the grief of too many of my actual friends being killed. Seemed like every time I turned around one of my classmates didn't make it back to school on Monday. It makes me so angry to hear about another black man being killed by a cop, but instead of going out to protest or riot with the rest of the people in charlotte; I'd rather express my frustrations through art." - Marke Steele
"Turn Around" is the third single from Steele's forthcoming album Almost Time, slated for release October 28 and featuring guest appearances from Raheem Devaughn, and Rapper Big Pooh. - JET Magazine
Mark Steele “Big Dreams” for Ebro’s Discovered on Apple Music feature on Monday, 10/3/2016 at 6:55pm EST.
Feature Name:
DISCOVERED ON APPLE MUSIC
Description:
Rooted in new music discovery being an exciting and key element of the Apple Music ecosystem, the Discovered on Apple Music feature is selected by the Beats 1 New York team and introduced to the world Monday-Thursday at 6:55pm EST. Selections are generally emerging or niche artists curated from Apple Music. This ecosystem play allows fans to hear it first on Beats 1 and then instantly locate the track for purchase or streaming. The song receives a spin during the original airing of the show in addition to a spin during the encore presentation of the show the following morning at 6:55am EST. - Beats 1 Ebro
Mark Steele went to the Little Brother school of rap… and I’m not saying that to infer he’s biting North Carolina’s top export. 9th Wonder was actually his professor at NC Central University. You may have heard 9th taught a course called Hip-Hop In Context, but now you get to hear the product of that tutelage. And by one of his most promising students, no less. Steele continues the North Kakalak tradition of jazzy beats coupled with conscious lyricism that Little Brother and their Justus League compatriots established in the early ‘00s.
Steele ain’t a newbie though, having dropped his debut Sumthin For the Wait two years ago, and his response to the police brutality epidemic, History Repeats EP, last year. This summer saw the release of three singles, “Real One,” “Big Dreams,” and “Turnaround” off his impending sophomore Almost Time. Now, he’s back with a final single to pique interest just before the album hits, “Ain’t Real.” I wasn’t kidding when I said he is a Lil’ Bro finishing school graduate and he brings along Rapper Big Pooh for this track to prove it. Producer Ben Ford serves a chopped up and played out vocal sample that’s accentuated by sparse piano plinks–the perfect conditions for Steele and Pooh to kick exasperated rhymes that highlight the fraudulence found around every corner these days. - Mass Appeal
Fresh off the momentum from the placement of his triumphant hit "Greatness" for ESPN's Sports Center, Durham, North Carolina MC Mark Steele returns with the Dorsey Wesley Jr.-directed music video for "Real One__ (prod. by Mv Riot)**, the lead single from his forthcoming album Almost Time.
"I didn't invent the term Real One. It's something we say amongst ourselves in the culture when describing an individual of extreme genuineness and/or loyalty. My objective was to shed some light on term as an opportunity to collectively celebrate those who meet the criteria, whether alive or deceased. Spread love for a Real One." - Mark Steele
Set for relase October 28, Almost Time will boast guest features from Raheem Devaughn, King Mez, and Rapper Big Pooh.
Watch "Real One" on YouTube: https://goo.gl/Pa0oSN
Link to Premiere of "Real One" on HipHopDX: http://goo.gl/BUaon9
Listen to "Real One" on SoundCloud: https://goo.gl/wsiIih
Download "Real One" here: http://smarturl.it/RealOneMarkSteele
MORE ABOUT MARK STEELE:
Formerly of the North Carolina rap duo Mic&Rep, Mark Steele has collaborated with his mentor and former college professor 9th Wonder, Rapsody, and Cory Gunz.
Steele's debut album Sumthin For The Wait (2014) boasted his hit "Not Like Yall," which was featured on ESPN's morning debate show "First Take" and played throughout the month of March 2014 in celebration of March Madness.
Now, fresh off the ESPN placement of his song "Greatness" (from Steele's History Repeats EP) for Sports Center, Steele is set to release his most important project of his rising young career thus far. - Hip Hop DX
We can all finally listen to our favorite new artist on Pandora, as the major music streaming platform guru has updated their world famous Music Genome Project. Create your Mark Steele station on #Pandora today! - Pandora Radio
Carolina emcee Mark Steele drops off two back to back premieres this week.
First, with a collaborative effort from DjBooth & Audiomack, he releases his 6 set EP titled "History Repeats". - DjBooth.net
Carolina emcee Mark Steele drops off two back to back premieres this week.
The follow up premier comes in the form of an epic animation 2d video exclusive, presented by Hip Hop Since 1987. - Hip Hop Since 1987
Fresh off a RESPECT Magazine Premiere
North Carolina up and coming emcee, Mark Steele
releases his new single, "Already Know."
This is the third single from Mark Steele's
forthcoming album, "Sumthin' For The Wait" which
is slated to release on November 4th. - RESPECT Magazine
Fresh off an AllHipHop Premiere
North Carolina up and coming emcee, Mark Steele
releases his second single, "All I Wanna Do."
Mark Steele gives his interpretation of the one thing
that he needs to live a life completely fulfilled - his music.
"All I Wanna Do" is the second single from Mark Steele's
forthcoming album, "Sumthin' For The Wait" which
is slated to release on November 4th. - allhiphop.com
HipHopDX Premiere!
The first single off Mark Steele's upcoming debut album Sumthin For The Wait gets the visual treatment. "Letter To Carolina" was produced by Japan native Scratch Nice and is follow up release to his most recent ESPN First Take appearance, where he freestyled about his Favorite NFL team, the Carolina Panthers. Peep the cameo from North Carolina's own Rapsody as well. Be on the look out for Sumthin For The Wait which is due out November 4. - Hip Hop DX
A ESPN First Take premiere as rapper Mark Steele drops a freestyle for the Carolina Panthers 2014 season. - ESPN First Take
Durham, North Carolina emcee Mark Steele comes through KevinNottingham.com to premiere his new track “Letter To Carolina”. Produced by Scratch Nice, “Letter To Carolina” has Mark writing a letter back home to let his home state know he is out here fighting the good fight for them, while also warning his competition he is joining the fight - Kevin Nottingham
To celebrate #MarchMadness, Mark Steele’s “Not Like Yall” which is found on his latest mixtape, Empty Auditorium, has been predominantly featured on ESPN’s morning talk show “First Take” throughout the month of March. - ESPN "First Take" (TV Show)
Mark knows something about ESPN, as one of the tracks from his recent mixtape, Empty Auditorium, was predominantly featured on ESPN programming during March Madness and today, before the NFL draft begins, Mark is releasing a new freestyle “Undrafted” (Draft Day Freestyle) - Mac Media Promotions
Another DopeHouse premiere for the masses. This time the JAMLA femme fatale links up with fellow North Carolinian Mark Steele on this track from his new mixtape, Empty Auditorium, which is out now. - 2DopeBoyz.com
Mark Steele links up with BX spitta Cory Gunz over this unique instrumental to bring us "Steele Gunz." - hotnewhiphop.com (DJ Rockstar)
Video: Mark Steele – We Stunt
kazeem | December 7, 2011 | 0 Comments
TheSource.Com
Newcomer Mark Steele campaigns to be among the top stunnas with his new visual for the track “We Stunt.” The song is off of the flashy North Carolinian’s upcoming EP, Question Mark. Look out for more from Mark as he’s already got a big time cosign from 9th Wonder. - thesource.com (Nate Santos)
Before you ask, who is Mark steele? We have some new talent on our radar today over here at stupidDOPE. He goes by the name of Mark Steele, from North Carolina and he recently dropped off a new track called “Take The Fall”. The track is one of the smoothest joints you’ve heard in your life, full of silky smooth melodic elements and laid back drums. The beat makes an incredibly slick home for Mark and his effortlessly talents behind the mic, lacing the beat with some intricate wordplay, nicely showcasing his skills.
The track was produced by Fresh who definitely gave Mr. Steele something nice to rhyme upon, and he does disappoint. He delivers a number of dope quotables and thoughtful bars that will make you run this one back. The track will be apart of his upcoming project Empty Auditorium, which drops this fall. Don’t sleep on this one, I’d start paying attention to Mark Steele If I were you. Check out the track after the jump and speak on it below. - stupidDope.com (Jesse James)
TDE/Aftermath artist Kendrick Lamar encourages supporters to download Mark Steele second solo mixtape "Question Mark" along with a few singles, including the collaborate effort with Young Money artist/BX spitta Cory Gunz titled "Steele Gunz" and "Er'thang". The Bull City native releases yet another amazing self directed visual. - allhiphop.com (Steve Raze)
Discography
"Ain't Real" feat. Rapper Big Pooh (single) 2016
"Real One" (single) 2016
"Big Dreams" (single) 2016
"Greatness" (single) 2015
"All I Wanna Do" (single) 2014
"Letter To Carolina" (single) 2014
"Not Like Yall" (single) 2014
"I See Eyes" (single) 2013
"Million Dollar Dreams" (single) 2013
"Er'thang" (single) 2013
"Take The Fall" (single) 2013
"Steele Gunz" feat. Cory Gunz (single) 2013
"We Stunt" (single) 2012
"I Got Um" (single) 2011
Almost Time (ALBUM) 2016
History Repeats (EP) 2015
Sumthin For The Wait (ALBUM) 2014
Empty Auditorium (mixtape) 2013
Question Mark? (mixtape) 2012
Who Is Mark Steele? (mixtape) 2011
Photos
Bio
Best known for his ESPN Sports Center anthem "Greatness," North Carolina emcee Mark Steele imbues a gritty, fervid sound that has been long lost since the late '90s, early 2000's. Bred into the culture since the tender age of 15, he has already collaborated with some of hip hop's top names, including his mentor and former college professor 9th Wonder, Rapsody, Raheem Devaughn, Big Pooh (of Little Brother), YMCMB artist Cory Gunz, and more.
Steele's debut album Sumthin For The Wait (2014) boasted his hit "Not Like Yall," which was featured on ESPN's morning debate show "First Take" and played throughout the month of March 2014 in celebration of March Madness. Soon after Steele's ESPN hit "Greatness" (from his History Repeats EP) ran its course, Steele released the highly anticipated album, Almost Time (2016), which proved to be the most important album of his rising career thus far. With production from Grammy award winning producers Carvin and Ivan, the project's lead single "Big Dreams" was featured on Ebro's Beats 1 #DiscoveredOnAppleMusic segment, and the album's Rapper Big Pooh-assisted single "Ain't Real" aired on Dr. Dre's The Pharmacy (Beats 1). Look for Steele's refreshing sound to push the culture forward, on his way to becoming a leader of hip hop's new generation. After releasing his 2018 magnum opus It's Been A Miinute to critical acclaim, Steele closed out the year with the return of "Greatness" to ESPN for the Heisman Trophy Ceremony.
Band Members
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