After news broke that both Jay Rock and Kutt Calhoun had left Strange Music in September of last year, the Kansas City rapper has now come out with an explanation for his move.
Speaking with HipHopDX after an official vlog about his departure was released last week, Calhoun recalled helping build Strange Music up through touring in the label’s early years.
“It all stems from merch and touring,” Calhoun said in a clip that debuted as a part of today’s DX Daily. “The idea of making money off of records, from 2000 when Strange was established until 2007 or almost 2008, there was no money made off of album sales. Tech didn’t start making money off of album sales ’til like 2007, 2008.”
Last week, Calhoun released a video on YouTube with a more detailed explanation for his departure.
“If you didn’t know I started out with Tech N9ne [in] late ’98, before Strange Music even was established, before there was a Travis O’Guin, before there was a label period,” he said.
“When you worked at a job for so long and started out as a family, started out as a brotherhood, and you’ve helped build what is now a dynasty from the ground-up, you’ve played an intricate part in it, now you’ve reached your pinnacle,” he later added. “Not even maximum success yet, but you’ve reached a pinnacle of independent success that no one else has reached…You kind of feel slighted or your not reaping the benefits of the position you played or the work you put in. You feel like you don’t get treated equally. Hence ‘Redemption,’ hence ‘Something’s Gotta Give,’ hence the EP Red Headed Stepchild.”
hmm, this sounds like a stab at Tech and Travis and even tho he loves them to death he is still saying this shit.. Maybe it is true, but on the other side, Tech has been puttin out fucking classic albums since 98 and Kutt has not been on that level. Tech has always brought Kutt on his albums and tours, while he otherwise maybe had not even be gettin close to that kind of exposure…. It has been over 16 years since 98 and im sorry Kutt, I love your music, but you simply are not getting any kind of buzz… Tech and Travis are the most loyal people in the bizz and they allowed you to be on the highest level and they allowed you to put out music for 16 fucking years. You are simply not putting out that fire. Your last album was barely subpar, so look at yourself before talking this shit. And even then, never talk this shit! These people gave you a fucking life! You should not have a bad word for them ever!
Kutt sold his $25K Strange chain on eBay while Tech was on tour in Canada. That’s some ho shit right there. He left that out of his 18 minute YouTube video.
Kutt – the prob is you’re not following the motto that you first brought to the table. Strange music even before strange music inc always had that unique sound.. You do not have the unique sound anymore – that thriving hunger sound- yes you are an OG- and yes you should be entitled to OG status but you have to bring it…and bring it constantly…. Mayday, Rittz, Ces Cru, Kali, and Tech are always pushing their limits , getting deeper, thinking broader, and going farther with what they bring to the table. even prozak , Brotha lynch, and Stevie switch up their normal programming and try to out-do their last project.. your projects always feel about the same. even though they all can be 3-4 mic tracks they are all interchangeable with other niggas in the industry.
a good move that could have helped is if you, big scoop, and Stone did a trio album and just came full force – straight bars and bring back some of the OG production. i think that would have brought a few more heads to turn back in your direction
i was actually hoping on something similar to this but never got it..
If kutt didn’t get recognition at strange he probably won’t get it by himself or somewhere else.
Stfu hater
Lol how. Strange is the number one independent record label. I’m not hating on him. I love Kutt. He’s dope but if he couldn’t do it at strange, he won’t do it by himself
all you people saying kutt doesnt have it anymore and wont get recognized on his own shit look at his first album by his self its the rawest shit hes ever put out he is gonna blow shit out the water watch.
aaand he’s fallen the fuck off.
This comment aged badly.