“New Kid” comes to town with Tech N9ne
Rapper Stevie Stone
There’s a “New Kid Comin” to St. Louis’ hip-hop scene, and his name is Stevie Stone.
The Columbia, Mo., native, who moved to St. Louis in 2003, is fresh off the block with his new Ruthless Records CD, “New Kid Comin.” He’s a support act on the Tech N9ne tour, coming to Pop’s tonight.
“I can’t complain,” Stone says of his current situation. “I’m a voice to be heard.”
Stone has been on the road since Oct. 1, his first national tour, which started at the same time as his CD’s release.
He got on tonight’s bill because of his relationship with Tech N9ne, aka Aaron Dontez Yates, an artist he’s known for nine years. In fact, Stone’s first show was opening for Tech N9ne in Columbia.
“He used to come through Columbia all the time and have me open up,” Stone says of the Kansas City artist.
He says his new CD shows his musical originality.
“People say I don’t sound like anyone else,” Stone says. “From the first track on, it’s a roller-coaster ride, taking you through everything I feel. I switch it up.”
The CD includes the track “Red Wine,” featuring funk legend George Clinton.
“George heard (the track), loved it and offered to hop on it,” Stone says.
Stone started taking rap seriously in 2000, right out of high school, catching the music bug after opening for Tech N9ne.
“I knew this was what I wanted to do after that feeling I got when I hit the stage, that rush,” says Stone, who for a while rapped in a Columbia-based group called the Underworld.
His deal with Ruthless Records got rolling about two years ago at a hip-hop showcase in Atlanta. Ruthess head Tomica Wright, Eazy-E’s widow, heard about Stone but missed his performance. Wright ran into Ira DeWitt, head of Notify Records and one of Stone’s earliest supporters, who told her Stone was worth keeping tabs on.
Wright came to DeWitt’s birthday party where Stone performed, and she caught Stone at a Blueberry Hill performance. She liked what she saw. Now Stone’s on a label he admired as a youth, when he listened to core artists there like Eazy-E and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony.
“They laid down a legacy, and I’m keeping that legacy alive and doing it my way as the new kid.”
Stevie Stone with Tech N9ne, Krizz Kaliko, Kutt Calhoun, Big Scoob, Slaughterhouse • 7 p.m. Friday • Pop’s, 1403 Mississippi Avenue, Sauget • $20-$25 • Ticketmaster
Kevin C. Johnson has covered the St. Louis' music and nightlife scene for the past decade. 
Make sure you come out to the show this Friday night at Pops and you will see 2 of the best live performers in hip hop right now in Tech N9NE and Stevie Stone and make sure you support St Louis music and go buy Stevie’s new album, New Kid Comin.
Stone and Tech are the two hottest performers in the game right now. You will not find a better stage show anywhere else. “NEW KID COMIN” is a fire album and definitely worth purchasing. Come out to Pops tomorrow night and enjoy the best hip hop show you are going to see this year…maybe ever.
This brother is for real! Check him out live, where the feeling really pops!
Stone will be around for a long time, baby! WORD from the THIRD!
Much props to Stone for staying on his grind for so long! It aint easy to constantly grind in the studio and on the road. Where is the mention of Stone’s productions Company in this article, Fly Moves Productions. Or Phat Buddha where the all of the content was recorded and mixed. Come on Kevin dont forget about the real cats behind the scenes. HIMMI HYME!!!!