Born and raised in Brooklyn, Capital STEEZ (real name Courtney Everald Dewar Jr.) was a member of a little known rap group called The 3rd Kind, along with Jakk the Rhymer, early in his rap career. In 2011, he and Powers Pleasant formed the Pro Era crew, with STEEZ rapidly emerging as one of its most prominent members. He was also the one that introduced one of his partners in rhyme, Joey Bada$$, to MF DOOM’s music in high school.

The number ‘47’ is a symbol that is omnipresent throughout STEEZ’s work and that of Pro Era; as per a Fader Magazine article, he felt it was a perfect expression of balance in the world, representing the tension between the fourth chakra—the heart—and the seventh—the brain.

STEEZ passed away on December 24, 2012, at the age of 19 from an apparent suicide, but his soul lives on through his powerful music.