Steady B
Encyclopedia
Warren McGlone known by the stage name
Steady B, was an American rapper
and emcee
who, along with Schoolly D
, the Fresh Prince
, and Three Times Dope
, was one of the first wave of Philadelphia-area rappers to gain notoriety in the mid to late 1980s. Steady B was a member (and de facto leader) of Philadelphia's Hilltop Hustlers crew. Steady B's musical career was relatively short-lived, and he is currently serving a life sentence
in a Pennsylvania state prison for his role in the murder of a Philadelphia Police
officer during a botched bank robbery
in January, 1996.
, and local Philadelphia rap rivals Three Times Dope
and the Fresh Prince
) and freestyle
lyrics, Steady B's style reflected the post-Run-D.M.C.
/pre-Public Enemy era of hip-hop. His original DJ was Grand Dragon K.D., who was later replaced by DJ Tat Money, who later became the DJ for Kwamé
and A New Beginning. At his best, Steady mixed well-written metaphors and wordplay with sparse, yet catchy, drum tracks. Steady B released five albums over the course of his career, with mixed success.
group C.E.B., with fellow, local Philadelphia rappers Cool C
and Ultimate Eaze, in an effort to update his style, and record sales. C.E.B.'s name was a backronym
for "Countin' Endless Bank", but was also an acronym for the names of the group's three members. The trio released their only album Countin' Endless Bank on Ruffhouse Records
in 1992. The single "Get the Point" reached #5 on Billboard
s Hot Rap Singles. The album was poorly received.
, and another local Philadelphia rapper, Mark Canty, attempted a bank robbery
at a PNC bank
branch in Philadelphia. During the botched heist, where Steady B served as the getaway driver in a stolen minivan
, Philadelphia Police Officer
Lauretha Vaird, who responded to the bank's silent alarm, was shot and killed by Cool C. Officer Vaird, an African-American woman and the single mother of two children, was the first female Philadelphia Police officer slain in the line of duty. The incident inspired the song "Slipped Away (The Ballad of Lauretha Vaird)", which appeared on Philadelphia trio G. Love and Special Sauce's album Yeah, It's That Easy
.
Steady B was arrested at his apartment shortly after the bank robbery. Two handguns left at the scene by Cool C and Canty, including the murder weapon, were traced back to Steady, and he eventually confessed
his role in the crimes to police during interrogation
.
At his trial
, the State presented evidence, including testimony from Steady's wife, that Steady B, Cool C, and Canty met at Steady's apartment shortly after the robbery, where they watched media coverage of the event on television, and discussed their escape. Incriminating statements by Canty were also admitted into evidence at Steady's trial.
On October 30, 1996, Steady was convicted of the second degree murder of Officer Vaird. On December 13, 1996, Steady B was sentenced to life imprisonment
without the possibility of parole
.
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
Steady B, was an American rapper
Rapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
and emcee
Rapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
who, along with Schoolly D
Schoolly D
Jesse B. Weaver Jr. , better known by the stage name Schoolly D, is an American rapper from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.- Career :...
, the Fresh Prince
Will Smith
Willard Christopher "Will" Smith, Jr. , also known by his stage name The Fresh Prince, is an American actor, producer, and rapper. He has enjoyed success in television, film and music. In April 2007, Newsweek called him the most powerful actor in Hollywood...
, and Three Times Dope
Three Times Dope
Three Times Dope is a hip hop trio from Philadelphia consisting of EST , Chuck Nice and Woody Wood . 3xD, as they were called for short, were a part of the Hilltop Hustlers Crew...
, was one of the first wave of Philadelphia-area rappers to gain notoriety in the mid to late 1980s. Steady B was a member (and de facto leader) of Philadelphia's Hilltop Hustlers crew. Steady B's musical career was relatively short-lived, and he is currently serving a life sentence
Life imprisonment
Life imprisonment is a sentence of imprisonment for a serious crime under which the convicted person is to remain in jail for the rest of his or her life...
in a Pennsylvania state prison for his role in the murder of a Philadelphia Police
Philadelphia Police Department
The Philadelphia Police Department is the police agency responsible for law enforcement and investigations within the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
officer during a botched bank robbery
Bank robbery
Bank robbery is the crime of stealing from a bank during opening hours. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Uniform Crime Reporting Program, robbery is "the taking or attempting to take anything of value from the care, custody, or control of a person or persons by force or threat of...
in January, 1996.
Early career
With an appealing blend of battle raps (most notably against LL Cool JLL Cool J
James Todd Smith , better known as LL Cool J , is an American rapper, entrepreneur, and actor...
, and local Philadelphia rap rivals Three Times Dope
Three Times Dope
Three Times Dope is a hip hop trio from Philadelphia consisting of EST , Chuck Nice and Woody Wood . 3xD, as they were called for short, were a part of the Hilltop Hustlers Crew...
and the Fresh Prince
Will Smith
Willard Christopher "Will" Smith, Jr. , also known by his stage name The Fresh Prince, is an American actor, producer, and rapper. He has enjoyed success in television, film and music. In April 2007, Newsweek called him the most powerful actor in Hollywood...
) and freestyle
Freestyle rap
Freestyle rap commonly refers to rap lyrics which are improvised through a acapella or with instrumental beats, i.e. performed with no previously composed lyrics, or "off the top of the head"...
lyrics, Steady B's style reflected the post-Run-D.M.C.
Run-D.M.C.
Run–D.M.C. was an American hip hop group from Hollis, in the Queens borough of New York City. Founded by Joseph "Run" Simmons, Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels, and Jason "Jam-Master Jay" Mizell, the group is widely acknowledged as one of the most influential acts in the history of hip hop culture.Run–D.M.C...
/pre-Public Enemy era of hip-hop. His original DJ was Grand Dragon K.D., who was later replaced by DJ Tat Money, who later became the DJ for Kwamé
Kwamé
Kwamé Holland is an American emcee who enjoyed brief popularity in the late-1980s and early-1990s. He is currently a music producer sometimes credited as K-1 Million or K1 Mil.-Biography:...
and A New Beginning. At his best, Steady mixed well-written metaphors and wordplay with sparse, yet catchy, drum tracks. Steady B released five albums over the course of his career, with mixed success.
C.E.B.
In 1991, Steady B formed the hardcore rapHardcore hip hop
Hardcore hip hop, also referred to as hardcore rap, is a sub-genre of hip hop music that developed through the East Coast hip hop scene in the 1980s. Pioneered by such artists as Schoolly D, Spoonie Gee, Boogie Down Productions, and Kool G Rap, it is generally characterized by anger, aggression and...
group C.E.B., with fellow, local Philadelphia rappers Cool C
Cool C
Christopher Roney , known by the stage name Cool C, is an American rapper whose musical career peaked in the late 1980s. He is perhaps best known today for the notoriety surrounding his involvement in the murder of a Philadelphia Police officer in a bank robbery in January 1996...
and Ultimate Eaze, in an effort to update his style, and record sales. C.E.B.'s name was a backronym
Backronym
A backronym or bacronym is a phrase constructed purposely, such that an acronym can be formed to a specific desired word. Backronyms may be invented with serious or humorous intent, or may be a type of false or folk etymology....
for "Countin' Endless Bank", but was also an acronym for the names of the group's three members. The trio released their only album Countin' Endless Bank on Ruffhouse Records
Ruffhouse Records
Ruffhouse Records is a record label founded in 1989 by Chris Schwartz and Joe Nicolo as a joint venture with Columbia Records. In 1999, Schwartz and Nicolo stopped the label. Schwartz and Kevon Glickman continued with RuffNation Records; Chris Schwartz has worked in the music and film industry for...
in 1992. The single "Get the Point" reached #5 on Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
s Hot Rap Singles. The album was poorly received.
Legal issues
On January 2, 1996, Steady B, along with C.E.B. band mate Cool CCool C
Christopher Roney , known by the stage name Cool C, is an American rapper whose musical career peaked in the late 1980s. He is perhaps best known today for the notoriety surrounding his involvement in the murder of a Philadelphia Police officer in a bank robbery in January 1996...
, and another local Philadelphia rapper, Mark Canty, attempted a bank robbery
Bank robbery
Bank robbery is the crime of stealing from a bank during opening hours. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Uniform Crime Reporting Program, robbery is "the taking or attempting to take anything of value from the care, custody, or control of a person or persons by force or threat of...
at a PNC bank
PNC Financial Services
PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. is a U.S.-based financial services corporation, with assets of approximately $264.3 billion...
branch in Philadelphia. During the botched heist, where Steady B served as the getaway driver in a stolen minivan
Minivan
Minivan is a type of van designed for personal use. Minivans are typically either two-box or one box designs for maximum interior volume – and are taller than a sedan, hatchback, or a station wagon....
, Philadelphia Police Officer
Philadelphia Police Department
The Philadelphia Police Department is the police agency responsible for law enforcement and investigations within the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
Lauretha Vaird, who responded to the bank's silent alarm, was shot and killed by Cool C. Officer Vaird, an African-American woman and the single mother of two children, was the first female Philadelphia Police officer slain in the line of duty. The incident inspired the song "Slipped Away (The Ballad of Lauretha Vaird)", which appeared on Philadelphia trio G. Love and Special Sauce's album Yeah, It's That Easy
Yeah, It's That Easy
Yeah, It's That Easy is the third album by G. Love & Special Sauce, released in 1997.-Track listing:All tracks written by G. Love except as noted.#"Stepping Stones" – 4:24#"I-76" – 3:46#"Lay Down the Law" – 5:37...
.
Steady B was arrested at his apartment shortly after the bank robbery. Two handguns left at the scene by Cool C and Canty, including the murder weapon, were traced back to Steady, and he eventually confessed
Confession (legal)
In the law of criminal evidence, a confession is a statement by a suspect in crime which is adverse to that person. Some authorities, such as Black's Law Dictionary, define a confession in more narrow terms, e.g...
his role in the crimes to police during interrogation
Interrogation
Interrogation is interviewing as commonly employed by officers of the police, military, and Intelligence agencies with the goal of extracting a confession or obtaining information. Subjects of interrogation are often the suspects, victims, or witnesses of a crime...
.
At his trial
Trial (law)
In law, a trial is when parties to a dispute come together to present information in a tribunal, a formal setting with the authority to adjudicate claims or disputes. One form of tribunal is a court...
, the State presented evidence, including testimony from Steady's wife, that Steady B, Cool C, and Canty met at Steady's apartment shortly after the robbery, where they watched media coverage of the event on television, and discussed their escape. Incriminating statements by Canty were also admitted into evidence at Steady's trial.
On October 30, 1996, Steady was convicted of the second degree murder of Officer Vaird. On December 13, 1996, Steady B was sentenced to life imprisonment
Life imprisonment
Life imprisonment is a sentence of imprisonment for a serious crime under which the convicted person is to remain in jail for the rest of his or her life...
without the possibility of parole
Parole
Parole may have different meanings depending on the field and judiciary system. All of the meanings originated from the French parole . Following its use in late-resurrected Anglo-French chivalric practice, the term became associated with the release of prisoners based on prisoners giving their...
.
Solo albums
| Album information |
|---|
| Bring the Beat Back Bring the Beat Back Bring the Beat Back is the debut album by Steady B, released on 1986.- Track listing :# "Bring the Beat Back"# "Get Physical"# "Surprise"# "Cheatin' Girl"# "Do the Fila"# "Stupid Fresh"# "Hit Me"# "Nothin' but the Bass"# "Yo Mutha"...
|
| What's My Name
RIAA certification In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards... : |
| Let the Hustlers Play Let the Hustlers Play Let the Hustlers Play is the third album by Steady B.-Track listing:#Let The Hustlers Play 4:22 #Certified Dope 3:23 #The Undertaker 5:33 #I Got Cha 3:17 #Turn It Loose 4:07 #Ya Know My Rucka 4:20 #Serious 3:23... RIAA certification In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards... : |
| Going Steady
RIAA certification In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards... : |
| V
RIAA certification In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards... : |
Group album
| Album information |
|---|
Countin' Endless Bank
|
External links
- [ AllMusic.com Biography - Steady B]