One of the less-publicized affiliations in Hip Hop is the friendship between Lil Wayne and Strange Music. During the star rapper’s 2010 incarceration on Rikers Island in New York, it was Strange’s founders Tech N9ne and Travis O’Guin that were among Wayne’s visitors. Upon Wayne’s release, he and Tech N9ne began a collaborative history that led to songs on both Tech’s All 6’s & 7’s, and Wayne’s Tha Carter IV.
Speaking with Travis O’Guin earlier this week, HipHopDX inquired about Strange Music’s reaction to the news of Lil Wayne’s seizures and subsequent hospitalization. With the Strange roster regularly touring, recording and maintaining a tireless work ethic, DX also pressed Trav for any advice or insights into the exhaustion Wayne’s been reportedly suffering from.
“The first thing is, we were on the very first night of our [Independent Power House] Tour on the 15th, and we were getting all the notifications,” explained Travis. “People were bringing us the TMZ articles about his [reportedly receiving] Last Rites. Tech [N9ne] and I were devastated for the entire [night]. We got with Muggs, our key security guy. He was trying to get a hold of [Birdman], and he finally did get a hold of him. We talked to him and he said no, it’s not as crazy as it sounds in the media. It was enlightening.”
“Of course, Tech reached out to Wayne via text and a phone call. I don’t know if he connected with him—but the fact that this dude is in ICU—I think he just sent his well-wishes,” Travis continued. He also spoke about the overall criticism he’s received from some fans about the friendship and admiration. “I’ll tell you something. I dig [Lil] Wayne. So many people, even our own fans, are often times saying, ‘Wayne is mainstream bullshit. Fuck this.’ We don’t feel that way. I want to make that clear. That dude is 100 with me when spent time in Rikers [Island], three hours talking to him. I learned a lot about that guy. When we went to Miami to record on Tha Carter IV, I learned a hell of a lot more, and when he came to Kansas City and spent the entire day at Strange Music [headquarters] and busted out the skateboard ramp, hung out, and had a barbeque; I am not just a Wayne fan. I consider myself a friend of the guy.”
Speaking from experience with his own artists, Travis spoke about Lil Wayne’s reported fatigue. “I can honestly tell you that the schedule he must have—I mean I know what our schedule is, and it’s insanity. You have to really be focused on your health in order to maintain the type of schedule we have even with just Tech and his level of success. I can’t even begin to imagine how rigorous the schedule must be for Wayne. You have everybody pulling him in a million different directions, trying to do a million different things along with the most successful artists in entertainment in Nicki Minaj, Drake and all the things that Cash Money/Young Money is doing. That’s hard to maintain a great physical and mental mindset. It would be borderline impossible. There has to be anxiety, physical tolls that are taken.”
Like Mack Maine and Birdman, Travis dismissed reports of drug use—based on his own experience with the superstar rapper. “I don’t know what all the fucking reports are with syrup and all that shit. I know that every time I’ve seen Wayne, the only thing I’ve seen him do is light up a cigar one time. In Miami or Kansas City, it wasn’t no shit going on like that. I don’t know what the stories are with the supposed drug use, but I know what the physical toll that an insanely intense schedule can cause. It did it to me last year. I got pneumonia twice. I don’t smoke or drink. I fucked around and got a cold that ended up turning into walking pneumonia two times in one year. That’s my schedule that kicked my ass. That’s me compared to fucking Wayne? C’mon.”
One step further, Travis took umbrage with some of what he heard in the media and from the industry. “All the people out there that are saying all this shit and making the fucking stupid jokes that aren’t funny at all, and the shit’s talking about the fact that it’s sizzurp or these drugs and shit, if you motherfuckers really don’t know, shut the fuck up. Just shut up and let him recover. It’s serious to have to go to the hospital and for him to be in ICU, man, have some compassion for another human being and shut the fuck up. Hope for the best and hope that he gets better, not for the state of Hip Hop, but the state of his family.”
O’Guin closed his answer, wishing Wayne a fast recovery. “We were really fucked up hoping to get some good word back and hope that this dude is okay. That’s really the nuts and bolts. I really wish him the best and I hope he recovers. I hope that if it’s his schedule doing it to him or whatever it is, that he takes the time to focus on himself and get better because I’d like to see him around for a really long time.”
RELATED: Strange Music’s Travis O’Guin Explains 500,000 Free CD Samplers, Tech N9ne’s Therapy EP
inside your house http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmDXhV-JT7o
I dont like Waynes music but I agree with him bout the people who were making fun of his health. Thats the world we live in tho, vast majority of people in it have no class, and most of them will be the ones looking for sympathy when tragedy strikes their lives. Karma is a bitch.
Damn, stop being butthurt. Lighten up, little bitch. It’s all jokes.
^^^ Like I said, no class. Nobodies butthurt either because I see the world for what it is, so when people make fun of a total strangers health problems, I’m not surprised by it, I expect it.
-____________________-
junkies get no sympathy
oh it’s all jokes, isn’t it? yeah it’s all jokes about a man’s health
but wait till your daddy or your aunt hit the ICU, everybody around you gonna have to keep their mouth checked and you damn sure won’t tolerate any jokes as light as they may come across, believe dat
but just cause it’s lil wayne anybody else who don’t laugh is butthurt. you’re just proving OPs point, ffs. it can be all jokes when lil wayne’s ass gets handcuffed for another trial someday. not when he’s into health problems.
All jokes aside tho. JA fucking Rule!!
junkies deserve sympathy
fuck a junkie
damn this dudes butthurt.
I hate Lil Waynes music but could care less if Tech is friends with dude.
Thats my opinion, people threw such a temper tantrum when they did that song together, truth is I dont like many of the Underground cats Tech works with either but I dont feel the need to whine like a baby about it. I’d rather hear him with Wayne then fucking ICP or Kottonmouth Kings lol
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DGxTlho12c
Tech Nine and Lil Wayne are bad role models.
At least Lil Wayne believes in God.
ROFL who cares if someone doesnt believe in god, your a dumbass. there are plenty of rapists, pedophiles and murderers that believe in god and there are plenty of scientists, doctors, teachers that are atheists.
Tech is a muslim and he def. believes in the 1 God, not no trinity BS.
If Wayne belies in God then I am the new Pope nigga.
“At least wayne believes in god.” haha, what a whiny,corny little wannabe christian. Yeah, those dudes who flew planes into the twin towers believed in god too…quit bible bopping and think for yourself. Instead of listening to some 70 year old priest who touches little boys.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUEOtPUWRAg
Ja Rule thinks Travis O’ Guin is a con artist.
say whaaa?
damn this site dickrides strange music so hard, when we gonna get their thoughts on the U.S economy?
http://tfwiki.net/wiki/File:Insecticons.jpg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oAeoOcpUS4
This slick devil just tried to diss Lil Wayne on the low. Talking Tech’s fans don’t like Lil Wayne, because he is mainstream. How about us Lil Wayne fans didn’t like Tech on The Carter 4!!
hahaha you mean the MTV/BET brainwashed teenagers?
Tech has all kind of weird fans, I mean FANS that will rip him apart if he ever changes or does some homo ass shit like Wayne
^^ That’s right, Tech has gay fans. Just like Lil Wayne.
tech has fans that worship the devil, the same way that he does.
Get off Wayne’s dick you stupid honkey faggot
someone’s jealous!
Someone’s a dickrider.
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Wayne is a good guy, man.
He’s been in the game for such a long, long, long time.
I mean yeah – It may seem like he’s running out of things to rap about.
But I mean fuck – After 150+ songs? I mean fuck – That’s a lot of lyrics.
Give him some credit. Bitches be joining the bandwagon of leaving him as a fan – But I’ll be his fan to the day I die.
Most of the songs I smoked to was his Carter I and II.
I won’t die out and btw – INAHB II is fucking kickass.
Good jokes.
dude theres always gnna be haters, example^^^, if u have haters, ur doing sumthing right
And there’s always some stans/dickriders/groupies calling people who criticize their idols. This nigga above for example.
And there’s always some stans/dickriders/groupies calling people who criticize their idols *haters.*
fuck Tech N9ne, he is da Devil, …and Lil Wayne is our Messiah. Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter III saved hip hop from the death. C III was da first hip hop album sold 1 milli first week. long live Weezy. swag
Get the fuck outta here! Eminem’s MMLP and 50 Cent’s The Massacre moved 1 million units within the first week before C3. Fucking dickriders, at least get your facts right!
u still alive. im gonna rape the living shit outta your mom tonight bitch
hahahahahahahahaha
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5rHeISCWb8
Maybe the syrup thing wouldn’t have been brought up if he didn’t advertise his use of it to the entire world in the past….just a thought.
He spoke. The world listened. Its not his fault 3/4 of the world are idiots. Blind fools who can’t see or speak for themselves.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dg4REMcHGEs
Man for real all this bullshit in the comments cant mofrickas just stop arguing stupidly on the internet your not even really arguing cause that would imply and intelligent exchange of ideas is taking place all it is is just people by their computer slinging insults at each other monkeys it’s freakin ridiculous man
HUMAN RACE PLEASE GET YO ACT TOGETHER
who cares about what this dude from an irrelevant record label cares about lil wayne…. why is this news?
By irrelevant you mean #1 independent rap label in the world? Stay bitter gay boy
Yeah I don’t know why it matters that he cares about Wayne, ain’t nobody wishing death on him (maybe just an end to his rapping). But Strange Music is not irrelevant. Really, based on what they get out of what they got and the brilliance behind how the label is run you could almost say they are the most relevant label.
BIG SCOOB HAS PERFECT BARS
RAP SUCKS CAUSE THE NUBERS SUCK
WHY WOULD THE RAPPERS TRY WHEN THERE MUSIC IS WORTHLESS
BUY RECORDS
tech and 9thwonder
and maybe i can listen again
imagine tech as a regular mc
its be the rawest music ever
tech the best rapper alive and he makes emo music
fuck outta here
his lyrics are wack as hell. nobody cares about how fast he can recite syllables…
Weezy out of icu and ready to top the charts again while you broke ass haters make unfunny jokes and stay fighting for nickels
tech 9ne becoming a wayne dickrider and starting to sell out fuck that shit stay away from that faggot and all the pop stars and stick to real hiphop
fuck tech n9ne little gay boy wayne dickrider.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SCtyEOJy0A
nigga looks like a porn version of dj khaled
hahah funny shit
Honestly, I don’t know why Tech is hanging out with that guy. I’m not saying Wayne has never made a good song, but the guy has the creativity of a rock. Wayne is a tangible representation of exactly what is wrong with modern pop culture: dumb, shallow, limited
because tech is just as bad as wayne.. they;re both trash
this fat fuck got pneumonia twice because he is so fat and unhealthy get the fuck out of here with your schedule bullshit