RIP: Remembering Capital Steez, 1993-2012

A look back at his important contributions to hip-hop and the Pro.Era movement in 2012.

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Complex Original

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The rise of Capital STEEZ and the Pro.Era movement is so fresh, which is why it is so hard to comprehend the death of the 19 year old Brooklyn up-and-comer. Breaking onto the scene almost as heavily as his group counterpart Joey Bada$$, with their eye-catching and ear-pleasing boom-bap single "Survival Tactics," STEEZ was already buzzing among those in the elite media.

Reported earlier today was his passing, news that was harsh to those who loved his music and especially hard for those who knew him personally. 

"This unfortunate xmas eve.. Lost a best friend, a brother, a pro, a partner. Letting go is never easy.. May ur soul rest in peace Jamal..," relayed Bada$$ through Twitter. "SICK TO MY STOMACH..."

Those in close relation to STEEZ and others offered their condolences through the social networking site as official comment from them early was understandably scarce.

Chuck Strangers: "Rest in Peace to my homie Steez I love you bro"

Peter Rosenberg of Hot 97: "I am so shocked and saddened to hear about Capital STEEZ from Pro Era..just sickened..love those kids.what a horrible way to start Xmas. RIP."

Jonny Shipes of Cinematic Music Group: "play this loud 4 STEEZ & spark sumthin 4 him he would have wanted it that way "

DJ Premier: "R.I.P. .....  Hold Ya Head My Dude...Pro Era Keep The Movement Goin..."

Statik Selektah: "I am completely heart broken. Had the pleasure of doing 2 songs with dude on the New tape. He set the whole thing off."

9th Wonder: "Rest in Peace Capital Steez of the Pro Era Crew.....God Bless his family..."

Smoke DZA: "Unbelievable... S.i.p Lil homie  "

Action Bronson: "R.I.P. CAPITAL STEEEEEZ . KILLIN THE SHIRAZ BEAT!!!! 

Curren$y: "R.I.P. Steez..... Smoke one for da pro era"

With the news of his passing, Complex has comprised a timeline of Capital STEEZ's (born Jamal Dewar) career through music, as only the legacy of his life can truly be remembered by those who knew him.

March: "Survival Tactics"

Joey Bada$$: “Me and STEEZ, we got this older homie named Bagir, and he’s just like, an older hip-hop head. He’s a producer, and an older hip-hop cat from around my school’s neighborhood. A little older than me, not like, old. I normally don’t call people older than me that are in my age range ‘old.’ That’s the respect that I have for him. Everybody knew him around the school."

“One day STEEZ was like [to Bagir], ‘Yo, put me on to some shit.’ Then he sent STEEZ that [Styles of Beyond] beat. And then STEEZ sent it to me, and as soon as he sent it to me, I had a verse ready. Then STEEZ made his verse. Honestly, me nor STEEZ knew who Styles of Beyond was.

“That video was supposed to be out way, way back. We shot it in the fall, and it was supposed to come out in December. But we weren’t really trippin’ off that. We had to wait on some shots because the weather got bad. It came together as a success. We were proud of it." (excerpt from Who Is Joey Bada$$)

April: AmeriKKKan Korruption

 

 

"Vibe Ratings" Music Video

May: Joey Bada$$ explains how Pro.Era came together

Joey Bada$$: “It started off, and there were four of us. It was myself,[Capital] STEEZ, my homie CJ Fly, and Pow Pe. We all went to the same school, Edward R. Murrow. We would cut classes, and go sneak in the auditorium backstage and just rhyme, for periods and periods. The raw shit.

“We started building right away, and homies had homies, and we formed this empire. We’re like twenty deep, with everyone contributing as either rappers, singers, producers, graphic designers.

STEEZ and Pow came up with the name. We’re progressing, that’s what it is. Be progressive. Third eye shit. Third eye shift.

“I was put on by STEEZ. I didn’t know who Doom was until I got to high school, because I was so stuck on that Lil’ Wayne shit."  (excerpt from Who Is Joey Bada$$)

Pro.Era holds their first official Brooklyn show

June:Joey Bada$$' 1999 Mixtape features Capital STEEZ on three tracks

Performs live with Pro.Era at SOB's in NYC

August: Pro.Era Beatbox Session live at the House of Blues in Los Angeles 

 September: "Free The Robots" Music Video

October: AmeriKKKan Korruption Reloaded

 

November: Pro.Era releases single, "Blackkk Krown" headed by Capital STEEZ

December: Capital STEEZ is featured in DyMe-A-DuZiN's "Swank Sinatra" video

Pro.Era drops PEEP: The Aprocalypse, STEEZ is featured on six songs

RIP Capital STEEZ. Our deepest condolences to his family and the entire Pro.Era crew.

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