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
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.”
