Capital Steez: The End Of A Legend rooklyn’s latest rap by the idea of forming a hip-hop group. renaissance was born on the Steez even had the name picked out— back of a bus, at the end of Pro Era, short for Progressive Era—a a long night. It was March of title with a purpose fixed within the two B2011, and Courtney “Jamal” Dewar, words: they were going to do nothing then 17 and known as Jay Steez, less than spark a new epoch in the had just performed for some of his storied history of New York rap. For all its tragic weight, friends at a $10 cover night at a forefront of a hip-hop scene centered in Flatbush, with Steez’ death was shrouded in small soul food restaurant in Clinton Less than two years later, the group groups like The Underachievers uncertainty. The incident was Hill, where he wasn’t even listed on was well on its way toward achieving and Flatbush Zombies all blogged by a few music sites the bill. He told five of his buddies to that goal. Dewar, rapping now as united under a movement the next day, but the write- meet him outside, where they started Capital Steez (stylized as Captial Steez had named Beast Coast. ups had scant information freestyling, STEEZ), had Pro Era dropped their first full about where, why or how it performing for emerged as album together, PEEP: The had happened. None of the nobody but one of the most “One of the greatest aPROcalypse, on December 21, city’s newspapers reported themselves. Not dynamic lyricists 2012, with Steez featured on it, and of the outlets that that it mattered. from the city in rappers who spoke the five tracks. But just two days did, not a single one was “We had the recent memory, later, Steez, 19, was found dead able to confirm it officially. most legendary a 19-year-old Joey b and Steez truth” -Joey B on a prominent thoroughfare One of the city’s most cypher,” says MC with a critical one of Capital in Manhattan’s Flatiron District. gifted young artists had Joey Bada$$, mind and a sharp The young rapper had leapt Steez’s close killed himself in the center Steez’ high eye for irony, off a building early in the friends. of Manhattan, and no one school friend and fresh off the morning before Christmas Eve, seemed to know for certain if rhyming partner. “Whatever it was, release of a formidable first mixtape, propelling himself so far that he it had even happened. the vibe just felt so great. It felt so AmeriKKKan Korruption. Joey, two years landed in the street. Dewar left right with all of us rapping.” his junior, was getting known no note other than a terse last Steez and Joey first caught message he blasted out to his the internet’s attention in Riding the bus home afterwards, as one of rap’s brightest young stars, friends and fans on Twitter, one February 2012 with “Survival Steez began talking with Powers quickly winning over fans and the media minute before midnight: “The Tactics,” a catchy song with Pleasant, 17, a drummer and alike with his sly demeanor and lyrical end.” He jumped into the cold a slick music video that producer who had DJed for him that skills. And their crew, Pro Era, which December night just moments juxtaposed street scenes in night, when they were both struck had quickly grown to 12, was at the later. Flatbush with Occupy Wall .