{{Short description|1997 single by Gang Starr}} {{For|the Luke Cage episode|You Know My Steez (Luke Cage)}} {{Infobox song | name = You Know My Steez | cover = Gang Starr - You Know My Steez.jpg | type = single | artist = [[Gang Starr]] | album = [[Moment of Truth (Gang Starr album)|Moment of Truth]] | B-side = So Wassup? | released = November 18, 1997 | recorded = 1997 | genre = [[Hip hop music|Hip hop]] | length = 4:07 | label = * [[Noo Trybe Records|Noo Trybe]] * [[Virgin Records|Virgin]] | writer = * [[DJ Premier|Christopher Martin]] * [[Guru (rapper)|Keith Elam]] | producer = [[DJ Premier]] | prev_title = Suckas Need Bodyguards | prev_year = 1994 | next_title = The Militia | next_year = 1998 | misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|r0DwBybR0L8|"You Know My Steez"}}}} }} "'''You Know My Steez'''" is a song by American hip hop duo [[Gang Starr]], released on November 18, 1997 as the lead single from their fifth studio album ''[[Moment of Truth (Gang Starr album)|Moment of Truth]]'' (1998). It samples "[[Drowning in the Sea of Love]]" by [[Joe Simon (musician)|Joe Simon]], "Flash It to the Beat" by [[Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five]], "B Side Wins Again" by [[Public Enemy]], "[[Real Hip-Hop]]" by [[Das EFX]], "[[Shadowboxin']]" by [[GZA]] featuring [[Method Man]] and "Usual Suspect" by [[Big Noyd]] featuring [[Prodigy (rapper)|Prodigy]].
==Background== In an interview with ''[[Wax Poetics]]'' in 2018, [[DJ Premier]] revealed his inspiration behind producing the beat for the song:
<blockquote>I already had the idea of what I wanted to do with the [[Grandmaster Flash]] "Flash It to the Beat" sample. [[Showbiz and A.G.|Showbiz]] used it on a skit for ''[[Runaway Slave]]''. We used to all hang out—me Showbiz, [[Large Professor|Large Pro]], [[Pete Rock]], [[Diamond D]]; we saw each other all the time. We were cool and shared what records we used. So I wanted to do my own interpretation of it after hearing how Showbiz used it.<ref name="WP">{{cite web |last1=Ma |first1=David |title=DJ Premier on the Making of Gang Starr’s Moment of Truth |url=http://www.waxpoetics.com/blog/features/articles/dj_premier_gang_starr_moment_of_truth/ |website=[[Wax Poetics]] |access-date=12 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181219151802/http://www.waxpoetics.com/blog/features/articles/dj_premier_gang_starr_moment_of_truth/ |archive-date=December 19, 2018 |date=April 19, 2018}}</ref></blockquote>
The hook of the song borrows lyrics from Method Man's verse on "Shadowboxin'".<ref name="WP" /><ref name="SW">{{cite web |last1=Premier |first1=DJ |title=So Wassup? Episode 49 {{!}} Gang Starr - "You Know My Steez" |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVjMgFP1hB8 |website=[[YouTube]] |access-date=12 May 2024 |date=February 13, 2023}}</ref>
==Critical reception== Brett Johnson of ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' described the song as having "barrel-chested bragging", which he regarded as a good part of ''Moment of Truth''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-apr-26-ca-43048-story.html |title=Gang Starr, 'Moment of Truth,' Noo Trybe/Virgin |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=April 26, 1998 |access-date=May 12, 2024 |last=Johnson |first=Brett}}</ref> Tom Doggett of ''RapReviews'' wrote "Primo's initially awkward beat for 'You Know My Steez' thumps with a crooked combination of bass and treble, but [[Guru (rapper)|Guru]] actually snatches the shine from his counterpart".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Doggett |first1=Tom |title=GangStarr :: Moment of Truth :: Virgin Records |url=https://www.rapreviews.com/archive/BTTL_momentoftruth.html |website=RapReviews |access-date=12 May 2024 |date=March 1, 2005}}</ref>
==Music video== The music video was directed by Terry Heller, the nephew of music manager [[Jerry Heller]]. It was based on the 1971 film ''[[THX 1138]]'' and is set in an underground city where people are medically controlled. Guru and DJ Premier shaved their heads bald for the video.<ref name="SW" />
==Charts== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (1997–1998) ! scope="col"| Peak<br />position |- {{single chart|Billboardhot100|76|artist=Gang Starr|rowheader=true|access-date=May 12, 2024}} |- {{single chart|Billboardrandbhiphop|32|artist=Gang Starr|rowheader=true|access-date=May 12, 2024}} |- {{single chart|Billboardrapsongs|5|artist=Gang Starr|rowheader=true|access-date=May 12, 2024}} |}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Gang Starr}}
[[Category:1997 singles]] [[Category:1997 songs]] [[Category:Gang Starr songs]] [[Category:Song recordings produced by DJ Premier]] [[Category:Songs written by DJ Premier]] [[Category:Virgin Records singles]]