Terrance Hill
Most independent hip hop acts would never have to defend their collaborations with the likes of Lil Wayne and 2Chainz. Most independent hip hop artists couldn’t afford to even entertain the ideal of turning down a $60 million dollar deal. Most independent artists don’t gross more money in a fiscal year than hip hop heavyweights, 50 Cent and Rick Ross. Well, most independent artists aren’t Tech N9ne.
Hailing from Kansas City, MO, Tech N9ne, born Aaron Yates, is best described as a very strange individual. He’s regularly seen covered in face paint, something that he claims keeps him connected with his ancestry; more than most African American’s. His strange ways are frequently put on display during his captivating live shows while touring; tours that are highly successful, bringing in approximately $7 million annually.
Not only is his appearance strange, his music is as strange as strange comes. In one song he raps, “why do I let this stripper burn me on my arm with a cigarette, in the same spot ten times in a row.” Strange, right? This just tips the iceberg, many of his most memorable lines are far too outrageous to repeat. “Am I a Psycho” featuring Hopsin and B.O.B. is a song that consist of some very bizarre lyrics, from all three artists.
This however, is exactly what makes Tech N9ne, the King of Independent Hip-Hop. Yes he has a career resume of over 15 years, 14 studio albums (5 reaching #1 on the Independent Rap charts) and over 2.5 million combined record sales. One would say that alone is enough to crown him King, however Tech N9ne has parlayed his strange ability into the #1 independent hip hop company in America; giving strange souls like himself a global platform. In 2010 it was confirmed that Strange Music was worth roughly $68 million.
In 1999, after a number record labels “didn’t know what to do” with him, Tech found himself unsigned, performing at a local fashion show in Kansas City. At this fashion show, Tech caught the eye of furniture tycoon Travis O’Guin.
After a meeting with Tech, Travis offered a 50/50 partnership, giving Tech his own label, which he named Strange Music. Although there was a mishandling of their first album Anghellic, the partnership between Tech and O’Guin started a string of successful independent albums that began in 2000 and continues until this day, 16 years later!
The strange buck doesn’t stop with Tech N9ne at Strange Music. Artists such as Murs and Brotha Lynch Hung are some of the strangest characters around.
Krizz Kaliko, Kutt Calhoun, Skatterman and Snug Brim were some of the first artists to ever sign with the label. Skatterman and Snug Brim released 2 albums with Strange and parted ways in 2009. Calhoun stayed around for 10 years, leaving in 2014 after 4 albums. Kaliko is still a Strange Music artist and has released 5 albums to date.
There are currently 8 artists signed to Strange Music and 2 groups (Ces Cru and ¡Mayday!). Wreckonize, who’s signed with Strange as a independent artists is also apart of the group ¡Mayday!. Tech N9ne’s 2013 hit single “Fragile” features ¡Mayday! and platinum recording artist Kendrick Lamar.
Lamar’s current label-mate Jay Rock was signed to Strange Music from 2010-2014 and realeased his only studio album “Follow Me Home” in 2011.
Other notable artists of Strange Music are Rittz, Stevie Stone and Prozak. All artists music and merchandise can be purchased exclusively at strangemusicinc.net. One item available for purchase is a pair of woman’s lingerie with the words Stevie Stone going across the front.
As one can tell, Tech N9ne, Travis O’Guin and Strange Music have become a independent force comparable to many major record labels. In 2013, Strange Music released 10 albums that all debuted on the top Rap Albums chart, with 8 of the 10 albums reaching top ten status. The next closest label was Cash Money Records, with 6.
According to an interview Tech and O’Guin did with Billboard.com, the label makes $7 million annually from merchandise and over a 3 year span, approximately from 2010-2013, the label cleared more than $20 million annually.
Also according to that Billboard article, the Strange Music headquarters consist of, “a $4 million, 18,000-square-foot facility that houses two state-of-the-art recording studios, additional warehouse space and seven video editing bays.”
It must be good to be Strange!
Originally posted May 4th, 2015 to Dobetta.org
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