Strange Music

Strange Music is an American independent record label specializing in hip hop music and founded by Tech N9ne and Travis O'Guin in 1999.[1] It is distributed through Fontana Distribution.

Strange Music
Parent companyUniversal Music Group
Founded2000 (2000)
FounderTech N9ne, Travis O'Guin
Distributor(s)INgrooves (2013–present) Universal Music Group (Outside the US)
Genre
Country of originU.S.
LocationLee's Summit, Missouri
Official websitestrangemusicinc.net

History

In 2009 Skatterman & Snug Brim fulfilled their commitment to Strange Music and left the label.[2]

In 2010 Jay Rock signed a multi-album deal with Strange Music.[3]

In 2011 Stevie Stone joined the label in March[4] and Prozak in December.[5]

In 2012 Strange Music signed the duo CES Cru, made up of rappers Ubiquitous and Godemis, in January[6][7] and Slumerican rapper Rittz in August.[8]

In 2014 Murs signed to Strange Music in February[9] and Kutt Calhoun and Jay Rock left Strange Music in September.[10]

In 2016 Chicago-based pop group AboveWaves signed to the label.[11]

In 2018 Strange Music announced a new pop music subsidiary Strange Main in February,[12] and Murs left in March after completing his contract.[13][14]

In 2019 Krizz Kaliko announced he was leaving the label on October 6,[15][16] then signed a new contract on stage on October 20[17]

Subsidiaries

Strange Music West was announced in 2009 with Dave Weiner, formerly of Priority Records and JCOR Entertainment, as Vice President.[18] Weiner immediately signed Brotha Lynch Hung to the label.[19][20]

Strange Lane Records was started in 2010 and signed Young Bleed as its first artist.[21]

Strange Main, a pop music division, was announced in 2018 with former radio personality Ponch Hudgens as Executive Director and C.E.O. Travis O'Guin's daughter Mackenzie as its flagship artist.[12]

Roster

Current artists
Artist Year signed Albums under Strange Description
Tech N9ne Founder 20 Rapper from Kansas City, Missouri, he co-founded the label alongside Travis O'Guin in 1999. Under the label, he has released an extensive collection of 20 albums, 6 EPs and one mixtape, and has gone on to become the #1 independent artist in hip hop. Released his twenty-second studio album EnterFear on April 17, 2020.
Krizz Kaliko 2006 7 Rapper and singer from Kansas City, Missouri. Best known for his collaborations with label mate Tech N9ne. He had first appeared as an album guest on Tech N9ne's fourth album released in 2002 along with then-future signees Kutt Calhoun and Skatterman & Snug Brim. He also appeared as an album guest on Skatterman & Snug Brim's first album along with Tech N9ne and Kutt Calhoun as well. He has also made numerous other guest appearances before releasing his debut album in 2008. Released his seventh studio album Legend on September 18, 2020.[22]
Big Scoob 2009 4 Rapper from Kansas City, Missouri. Had appeared as an album guest on two of Tech N9ne's previous albums before signing with the label. Released his fourth studio album, Duality on May 25, 2018.
Stevie Stone 2011 5 Rapper from Columbia, Missouri. Tech N9ne had appeared as a guest on his debut album. Stone made guest appearances on Tech's tenth album, and Kutt Calhoun and Krizz Kaliko's third albums before officially signing with the label in early 2011. Released his fifth studio album with Strange Music, Black Lion, on August 7, 2020.
¡MAYDAY! 2011 6 Hip hop band from Miami, Florida. Consists of rappers Bernz and Wrekonize and percussionist NonMS. Former members include producer, keyboard player and guitarist Plex Luthor, drummer L T Hopkins and bassist Gianni Ca$h. Released their fifth studio album with Strange Music, South of 5th, on September 7, 2018.
Prozak 2011 4 Rapper from Saginaw, Michigan. Originally signed to the label in 2004 alongside Mike E. Clark as Project: Deadman, and the group released its only album Self Inflicted that same year. Released his debut solo album Tales from the Sick through the label in 2008, three years prior to his signing to the label as a solo act. Released his fourth studio album, Black Ink, on October 9, 2015.
CES Cru 2012 3 Rap duo from Kansas City, Missouri. Consists of rappers Ubiquitous and Godemis. They have worked with Tech N9ne in the past prior to signing with the label. Released their third studio album with Strange Music, Catastrophic Event Specialists, on February 10, 2017.
Wrekonize[23] 2013 3 Rapper originating from Miami, Florida (originally from London, England, UK). Best known for being one half of the rappers in hip-hop group ¡MAYDAY!. Released his third studio album with Strange Music, Pressure Point, on November 6, 2020.[24]
¡MURSDAY![25] 2014 1 Rap group merged by Strange Music artists, ¡MAYDAY! and MURS. Released their self-titled debut on June 10, 2014
Darrein Safron[26] 2015 1 Singer and part-time rapper from St. Louis, Missouri. Has appeared as a guest on Stevie Stone's second and third albums before signing to the label in the summer of 2015. With "Real With Yourself", Safron produced his first song under Strange Music with the help of Seven. The song featured Tech N9ne and appeared on his sixteenth album Strangeulation Vol. II. Released his debut EP titled "The Brilliant EP" on March 11, 2016.
JL[27] 2015 2 Rapper from Kansas City, Missouri. Tech N9ne and CES Cru had appeared on several of his solo projects. JL made guest appearances on CES Cru's debut album with Strange Music, Kutt Calhoun's first EP, and various Tech N9ne songs, including "Worldwide Choppers", before eventually signing to the label in 2015. Released his second studio album with Strange Music, The Devil Hates Sundays, on September 25, 2020.[28]
Mackenzie Nicole 2015 2 Singer from Kansas City, Missouri and daughter of Strange Music CEO Travis O'Guin. She made several guest appearances on numerous Tech N9ne songs, including "Fear" and "K.O.D", along with appearances on projects by other Strange Music artists before signing to the label. With "Actin Like You Know", Nicole produced her first song under Strange Music with the help of Krizz Kaliko and Seven. The song again featured Tech N9ne and firstly appeared on his sixteenth album Strangeulation Vol. II. Released her latest single, Deleted, on the bonus disc of Tech N9ne's 2016 release, The Storm. Mackenzie has since appeared on Tech N9ne's newest album Planet in the first song of the album, Habenero. Released her second album, Mystic on February 14, 2020.[12]
Bernz[29] 2016 1 Rapper originating from Miami, Florida. Best known for being one half of the rappers in hip-hop group ¡MAYDAY!. Made appearances on Wrekonize's debut Strange album, and CES Cru's second Strange album before signing to the label as a solo act in 2016. Released his debut studio album See You On The Other Side on July 8, 2016.
AboveWaves[30] 2016 1 Pop band from Chicago, Illinois. Consists of vocalist Ryan Bradley, guitarist Colin Greshock, drummer Lance Bennett, and bassist Bryan Walker. Has made appearances on Tech N9ne's fourteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth albums before signing to the label. Released their debut studio album, Fugitives, on November 1, 2019.
Joey Cool[31] 2017 3 Rapper from Kansas City, Missouri who worked with Tech N9ne on the Special Effects song "Life Sentences", with Tech N9ne, CES Cru, and JL on his song "Out There", CES Cru's "Off the Hook", and a plethora of tracks with JL. Signing was announced at the Strange Reign Release Concert at Red Rocks, CO on October 13, 2017 alongside Jay Trilogy. Released his third album with Strange Music, Coolie High on October 9, 2020.[32]
Jay Trilogy[31] 2017 N/A Rapper from Bloomington, Illinois who won the PTSD Warrior Built Contest in 2016 before being signed the following year. The contract was announced live at the Strange Reign Release Concert at Red Rocks, CO on October 13, 2017 alongside Joey Cool.
Maez301[33] 2018 2 Rapper from Gaithersburg, Maryland who discovered by Erving Pope, and Jerome Taylor in 2017 who later helped him to get signed the following year. The contract was announced on Instagram March 22, 2019. Maez301's real name is Hasaan Keller. Maez301 was born in Queens, New York on November 3, 1993. He currently lives in Los Angeles, California.[34] Released his second album, Hasaan on September 11, 2020.[35]
UBI[36] 2018 1 Rapper originating from Kansas City, Missouri. Best known for being one half of the duo CES Cru. Released his debut album, Under Bad Influence on July 26, 2019.
King Iso[37] 2019 1[38] Rapper from Omaha, Nebraska. The contract was announced on Instagram on May 10, 2019. Released his debut album with Strange Music, World War Me, on March 13, 2020.[38]
Jehry Robinson 2019 1[39] Rapper originating from New York. The contract was announced on December 20, 2019. Released his debut album, 20/Twenty, on August 21, 2020.[39]

Former artists
Artist Year signed Year left Albums under Strange Description
Project: Deadman 2004 2007 1 Hip hop duo consisting of rapper Prozak and record producer Mike E. Clark. Released their only album Self Inflicted on July 13, 2004. The duo later disbanded and Prozak would go on to sign to Strange Music as a solo artist in 2011, while Mike E. Clark would sign once again to Psychopathic Records in 2013.
Grave Plott 2008 2008 1 Rap duo consisting of rappers Liquid Assassin and Killa C. Released their only studio album under Strange Music, The Plott Thickens, in 2008. Their distribution deal with the label ended after Grave Plott split up in 2008.
Skatterman & Snug Brim 2004 2009 2 Rap duo from Kansas City, Missouri. They were the first group to be signed to the label. Prior to signing with the label, the duo has appeared as an album guest on Tech N9ne's fourth album along with then-future signees Krizz Kaliko and Kutt Calhoun. Both of them along with Tech N9ne also appeared as guests on their debut album also. Released their second studio album with Strange Music, Word on tha Streets, on August 12, 2008. On February 9, 2009, Tech N9ne's official website announced the duo's decision to leave the label after fulfilling their commitment.
Cognito 2009 2010 1 Rapper from Fairfield, California. Released his debut studio album with Strange Music, Automatic, on April 20, 2010. On December 5, 2010 via Ustream, Cognito announced his decision to leave Strange Music after fulfilling his commitment.
Young Bleed 2011 2012 1 Rapper from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Released his fifth studio album, Preserved, on October 11, 2011 through Strange Music's subsidiary label Strange Lane Records. In early 2012, Young Bleed departed from the subsidiary after fulfilling his commitment.
Kutt Calhoun 2004 2014 4 Rapper from Kansas City, Missouri. He was the first artist, besides Tech N9ne, to be signed to the label. Prior to signing with the label, he appeared as an album guest on Tech N9ne's fourth album along with rapper/singer Krizz Kaliko and rap duo Skatterman & Snug Brim whom would also eventually be signed to the label. Released his fourth studio album, Black Gold, on February 26, 2013. On September 22, 2014, it was announced that Kutt Calhoun left Strange Music after fulfilling his commitment. Out of all the artists to depart from the label so far, his departure was the most controversial due to the big part Kutt played in the label's beginning.
Jay Rock 2010 2014 1 Rapper from Watts, Los Angeles, California. Released his debut studio album, Follow Me Home, on July 26, 2011. In September 2014, Tech N9ne announced that Jay Rock left his Strange Music imprint and is now only signed to Top Dawg Entertainment.
Brotha Lynch Hung 2009 2015 3 Rapper from Sacramento, California. Had appeared as an album guest on Tech N9ne's fifth album and Grave Plott's only album prior to signing with the label. Released his third studio album with Strange Music, Mannibalector, on February 5, 2013. He departed the label in 2015.[40] In 2017, he joined Tech and fellow Strange Music artists for the Strictly Strange Tour 2017.[41]
Rittz 2012 2017 4 Rapper from Gwinnett County, Georgia. Had appeared as a guest on Krizz Kaliko's fourth album before signing to the label in August 2012. He signed a four-year album with Strange Music. After he released his fourth album Last Call with Strange Music, he departed with them and started his own label CNT Entertainment.
MURS 2014 2019 3 Rapper from South Central, Los Angeles, California. Had appeared as a guest on ¡MAYDAY!'s Strange Music debut album before signing to the label in February 2014. Released his third studio album with Strange Music, A Strange Journey Into the Unimaginable, on March 16, 2018. On March 9, 2019, Murs announced his decision to leave Strange Music after fulfilling his commitment.[14]
Godemis 2019 2021 N/A Rapper originating from Kansas City, Missouri. Best known for being one half of the duo CES Cru. His departure was confirmed by Tech N9ne via Instagram in response to a fan on January 20, 2021.[42]

Discography
See also: Strange Music discography
Year Artist Album
2001 Tech N9ne Anghellic
2002 Absolute Power
2004 Skatterman & Snug Brim Urban Legendz
Project: Deadman Self Inflicted[43]
Kutt Calhoun B.L.E.V.E.
2006 Tech N9ne Everready (The Religion)
2007 Misery Loves Kompany
2008 Krizz Kaliko Vitiligo
Grave Plott The Plott Thickens
Prozak Tales from the Sick
Tech N9ne Killer
Skatterman & Snug Brim Word on tha Streets
Kutt Calhoun Feature Presentation
2009 Tech N9ne Sickology 101
Krizz Kaliko Genius
Big Scoob Monsterifik
Tech N9ne K.O.D.
2010 Brotha Lynch Hung Dinner and a Movie
Cognito Automatic[44]
Kutt Calhoun Raw and Un-Kutt
Tech N9ne The Gates Mixed Plate
Krizz Kaliko Shock Treatment
2011 Brotha Lynch Hung Coathanga Strangla
Big Scoob Damn Fool
Tech N9ne All 6's and 7's
Jay Rock Follow Me Home
Young Bleed Preserved
Tech N9ne Welcome to Strangeland
2012 ¡MAYDAY! Take Me to Your Leader
Prozak Paranormal
Krizz Kaliko Kickin' & Screamin'
Stevie Stone Rollin' Stone
2013 Brotha Lynch Hung Mannibalector
Kutt Calhoun Black Gold
CES Cru Constant Energy Struggles
Rittz The Life and Times of Jonny Valiant
Wrekonize The War Within
¡MAYDAY! Believers
Tech N9ne Something Else
Stevie Stone 2 Birds 1 Stone
Krizz Kaliko Son of Sam
Prozak We All Fall Down
2014 Tech N9ne Strangeulation
¡MAYDAY! & MURS ¡MURSDAY!
CES Cru Codename: Ego Stripper
Rittz Next to Nothing
2015 Tech N9ne Special Effects
MURS Have a Nice Life
Stevie Stone Malta Bend
¡MAYDAY! Future Vintage
Prozak Black Ink
Tech N9ne Strangeulation Vol. II
2016 Krizz Kaliko GO
Rittz Top of the Line
Bernz See You on the Other Side[45]
Big Scoob H.O.G.[46]
Tech N9ne The Storm
2017 CES Cru Catastrophic Event Specialists[47]
MURS Captain California
Tech N9ne Collabos Dominion
Wrekonize Into the Further[48]
Stevie Stone Level Up[49]
JL DIBKIS[50]
¡MAYDAY! Search Party[51]
Rittz Last Call
Tech N9ne Collabos Strange Reign
2018 Tech N9ne Planet
MURS A Strange Journey Into the Unimaginable[52]
Mackenzie Nicole The Edge[53]
Stevie Stone & JL Kontra-Band[54]
Joey Cool Joey Cool[55]
Big Scoob Duality[56]
¡MAYDAY! South of 5th[57]
2019 Tech N9ne N9na
Ubiquitous Under Bad Influence[58]
Joey Cool Old Habits Die Hard[55]
Above Waves Fugitives[59]
Maez301 Maez301[60]
2020 Mackenzie Nicole Mystic[61]
King Iso World War Me[38]
Tech N9ne Enterfear
Stevie Stone Black Lion[62]
Jehry Robinson 20/Twenty[39]
Maez301 Hasaan[35]
Krizz Kaliko Legend[22]
JL The Devil Hates Sundays[28]
Joey Cool Coolie High[32]
Wrekonize Pressure Point[24]

See also
  • List of record labels

References
  • Steve Reissner (Director), Soren Baker (Writer) (July 27, 2004). T9X: The Tech N9ne Experience (Documentary). Strange Music/MSC Entertainment. Retrieved June 12, 2008.
  1. Roberts, Steven (March 25, 2010). "Tech N9ne Says He Found Success On The Road". MTV.com. MTV Networks. Retrieved March 30, 2010. As he prepares to drop his newest album, The Ollie Gates Mixed Plate, named after a restaurant in his hometown of Kansas City, Missouri, [...] He and his business partner, Travis O'Guin, formed their independent Strange Music label in 1999.
  2. "Skatterman & Snug Brim Leaving Strange". February 9, 2009. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved February 9, 2009.
  3. "XXcLusive: Jay Rock Signs to Tech N9ne's Strange Music". XXLmag.com. Harris Publications, Inc. September 27, 2010. Archived from the original on September 28, 2010. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
  4. Stevie Stone Signs To Strange Music!. March 31, 2011. Event occurs at 2:15-2:24. Retrieved March 31, 2011. and here we end up today, on St. Patrick's Day 2011, and uh we finally have ink to paper and the deal is done
  5. Nelson, Jeff (December 15, 2011). "Prozak Signs To Strange Music". Strange Music Inc. Archived from the original on December 20, 2011. Retrieved December 15, 2011.
  6. Strange Music, Inc. "Strange Music". Strange Music, Inc. Archived from the original on January 15, 2012. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  7. HipHopDX (January 13, 2012). "Missouri Duo Ces Cru Signs With Strange Music". HipHopDX. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  8. Strange Music, Inc. "Strange Music". Strange Music, Inc. Archived from the original on August 30, 2012. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  9. Rys, Dan (February 7, 2014). "Murs Signs With Tech N9ne's Strange Music - XXL". Xxlmag.com. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
  10. "Tech N9ne Says Jay Rock Is No Longer Signed To Strange Music". XXL. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  11. "Announcement". Instagram. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  12. Mitchell, Gail. "Tech N9ne's Strange Music Launches Pop Division Strange Main: Exclusive". Billboard. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  13. http://hiphopdx.com, HipHopDX -. "Murs Wants Jaden Smith To Sign Him For His Future "Strange Journeys"". HipHopDX. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  14. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FD453zdtt00
  15. "@krizzkaliko on Instagram: "Spent half of my life with this guy here. Doin what I was born ta do. Thanks for all the years bro 😢@therealtechn9ne"". Instagram. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  16. Kaliko, Krizz (October 6, 2019). "All I can say is thank you guys (all the fans) 4 being part of my life. You mean more 2 me than you know". Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  17. "Krizz Kaliko re-signs to Strange Music! | Faygoluvers". Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  18. "Hip Hop Press: Strange Music Names Dave Weiner Vice President Of Strange Music West". May 14, 2009. Archived from the original on May 18, 2009. Retrieved May 13, 2009.
  19. Gamble, Ronnie (May 14, 2009). "Brotha Lynch Hung Signs To Tech N9ne's Strange Music Label". BallerStatus.com. Archived from the original on May 16, 2009. Retrieved May 14, 2009.
  20. "Hip Hop Press: Strange Music Signs Brotha Lynch Hung". May 19, 2009. Archived from the original on July 8, 2009. Retrieved May 20, 2009.
  21. "Exclusive Presidents Day Interview With Travis O'Guin". Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  22. A., Aron (September 19, 2020). "Krizz Kaliko Drops Off "Legend" Ft. Tech N9ne, Rittz & More". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  23. https://www.strangemusicinc.com/artists/wrekonize
  24. https://listen.tidal.com/album/159171132
  25. https://www.strangemusicinc.com/artists/mursday
  26. https://www.strangemusicinc.com/2015/10/darrein-safron/strange-music-newest-signee-darrein-safron/
  27. https://www.strangemusicinc.com/artists/jl
  28. https://listen.tidal.com/album/156068882
  29. https://www.strangemusicinc.com/artists/bernz
  30. https://www.strangemusicinc.com/artists/above-waves
  31. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3bHrcq2SiM
  32. https://listen.tidal.com/album/156461608
  33. https://www.strangemusicinc.com/artists/maez031
  34. https://www.strangemusicinc.com/artists/maez301
  35. https://listen.tidal.com/album/153823726
  36. https://www.strangemusicinc.com/artists/ubi
  37. https://www.instagram.com/p/BxSbrc7ndgi/
  38. https://music.apple.com/us/album/world-war-me/1501779365
  39. https://music.apple.com/us/album/20-twenty/1527344164
  40. "Brotha Lynch Hung announces departure from Strange Music | Faygoluvers". faygoluvers.net. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
  41. "Strictly Strange Tour 2017 – VIP Packages Now Available!". Strange Music Inc. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
  42. https://www.instagram.com/p/CKSrtzODIU-/
  43. https://listen.tidal.com/album/42751649
  44. https://www.allmusic.com/album/release/automatic-mr0002921082
  45. https://listen.tidal.com/album/62738157
  46. https://listen.tidal.com/album/65380797
  47. https://listen.tidal.com/album/68904078
  48. https://listen.tidal.com/album/72666288
  49. https://listen.tidal.com/album/73498648
  50. https://listen.tidal.com/album/74782869
  51. https://listen.tidal.com/album/77040604
  52. https://listen.tidal.com/album/84629985
  53. https://listen.tidal.com/album/85652119
  54. https://listen.tidal.com/album/85956452
  55. https://listen.tidal.com/album/87348970
  56. https://listen.tidal.com/album/88267821
  57. https://listen.tidal.com/album/94695639
  58. https://listen.tidal.com/album/112573227
  59. https://listen.tidal.com/album/120272716
  60. https://listen.tidal.com/album/121067626
  61. https://listen.tidal.com/album/127906359
  62. https://tidal.com/album/150134670
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