Mere weeks before leaving his hometown of Columbia, Missouri, to attend a junior college in Iowa on a basketball scholarship, Stephen Williams stepped off the stage at his first ever performance and decided to forgo his full ride in pursuit of a career in rap. Sacrificing the security of his collegiate path was a bold leap of faith that led to Stevie’s first tour with label mate Tech N9ne in 2009 and eventual signage to Strange Music in 2011. Stevie’s intense bars married with gravelly melodies have comprised four albums in his time with Strange and solidified Stevie as a staple in countless nationwide tours. Even still, as reflected by the title (and content) of his 2017 project Level Up, Stevie has yet to finish elevating his craft. It may be far from the beginning for Stone, but it’s even further from the end. Himmi!