Tech N9ne and Travis O’Guin have built Strange Music into a titan of an independent label. The Kansas City-based company has been cited as the inspiration for Top Dawg Entertainment and boasts a fanbase like no other.
In a recent interview with Unique Access Entertainment, Tech N9ne discusses Strange Music’s roots in the work of other rap moguls.
“When I saw what E-40 was doing with Sick Wid’ It Records, I’m sizzlin'” he says, “back in the day before Strange Music, the guys that I was doing music with… they had a club and they used to bring the whole clique down. So I got to watch and listen to E-40 get his records.”
Tech N9ne’s business partner saw the industry from another influential executive. With all of their inspirations, the rapper says it was only natural for Strange Music to develop like it did.
“This was before I even knew Travis, he was watching Master P and his movement on how he put out so many albums with different artists and everything,” he says. “So with me peeping the game from E-40 and him peeping the game from No Limit, we come together, it makes a powerhouse. Both of those labels are massive. So that shouldn’t be a surprise that we picked up a lot of that and picked up a lot of knowledge from Steve Rifkind back in the Loud days as far as street team promotion and this that and the other. We learn from each other.”
Tech N9ne acknowledges that he has built a successful company, but questions if E-40 gets enough credit for his work as the owner of an independent record label. The Bay Area legend released his debut album, 1993’s Federal through Sick Wid’ It before signing a groundbreaking deal with Jive.
“When people say I’m the number one independent artist and I’ve sold the most and all that, I’m like, ‘Are you sure? Did E-40? Y’all might want to check the stats for E-40 before y’all say that I sold more,'” he says. “I don’t know what those numbers are like or if they’re really real, but a lot of people say it. I couldn’t have done it, we couldn’t have done it without Sick Wid’ It.”
Catch Tech N9ne and fellow Strange Music artists on “The Calm Before The Storm 2016 Tour” coming to a city near you starting in September.
Watch the clip of Tech N9ne explaining Strange Music’s roots below.
One wack label following two other wack labels. Drizzaveli’s OVO Sound follows no label and puts out great, quality, groundbreaking music. Is Tech N9ne the one with a triple platinum album that was #1 for 12 weeks? Nope. Strange Music stans can go fuck themselves if they disagree. #DrakeIsLoveDrakeIsLife
You’re a dumbass
I’m surprised nobody has realized yet that this”OVOkid” f.ag is trolling HARD on yall.
Hes dental dam boy
Love to see drake spit against tech and try and keep up have to hire every ghost writer in the united states and canada to be quick enough
Ovokid your dick riding fan boy fuck off
This dude mentioned gay boy wack ass drake in the same breath as e-40
Who is e 40 compared to drake. An absolute nobody just like all these other underground rappers.
A man stands alone after so many battles that he has fought.” Scared not only in “flesh ‘but also in mind.’ ” Disfiguring his heart and “thoughts. “Worry of so much pain caused by his struggle to survive and o stay ‘alive. The hands of time doesn’t go backwards or stands still in time so we can mend, ” No time to cry or to be afraid as we wait for that faithful end. “We are faced with so much ” chaos in our lives that we forget to even think. “Hatred grows in our heart and flows through our vain’s that will “Kill on a “dare. ‘My ” Demons haunt my “nights and ‘invade my wild “dreams “keeping me “awake at “night ‘listening to my “victims screams.” I ask myself every day how can I stand so much pain sometimes I wish this life would end so can rest in peaceful serenity. But my ighting warrior heart won’t let me quit. Into the night as I rise to continue my fight..
If you can’t take criticismcriticism, for what it is then how can u comment on something you can’t handle. I am a fool when my ryhmes come close to everbody like a new dream full of glory I’m just telling a story. My intuition is so strong it comes long close To whoever holds the plan for future new you. Beneath the demise my niggas flag there own guys. I can hear the fear why it just like blikin y eye. Tilt to the sky I see grown men and i cry whats now inside is growing between a rude lie. Its not my kind to buy something low that won’t fly. Its no crime to be right. Think fast I’m a fool. Explaining things for a chance of fame in a main Thing I’m part mean playing on a team knowing its strange !!! Lol idk