| Strange Music | |
| Founder: | Tech N9ne, Travis O'Guin |
| Distributor: | Virgin Music Group |
| Country: | U.S. |
| Location: | Lee's Summit, Missouri |
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]
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, and Murs left in March after completing his contract.[12] [13]
In 2019 Krizz Kaliko announced his intentions of leaving the label on October 6,[14] [15] then signed a new contract on stage on October 20.[16] However, Kaliko officially announced his departure from Strange in order to form his own label Ear House Inc. on May 15, 2021.[17] [18]
Strange Music West was announced in 2009 with Dave Weiner, formerly of Priority Records and JCOR Entertainment, as Vice President.[19] Weiner immediately signed Brotha Lynch Hung to the label.[20] [21]
Strange Lane Records was started in 2010 and signed Young Bleed as its first artist.[22]
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.[23]
It Goes Up Entertainment is a subsidiary of Strange Music that acts as a distribution company to other artists and their labels or independent projects. It was founded and launched in 2021.[24] It currently distributes artists Saigon, Jelly Roll, Dax & ¡Mayday!
| Artist | Year signed | Albums under Strange | Description | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tech N9ne | Founder | 21 | 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-third studio album Asin9ne on October 8, 2021. | ||
| 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. | ||
| 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. | ||
| 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 2018 album Planet in the first song of the album, Habenero. Released her second album, Mystic on February 14, 2020. | ||
| AboveWaves[25] | 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 | 2017 | 5 | 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 fifth album with Strange Music, The Chairman of the Board on July 15, 2022. | ||
| Jay Trilogy | 2017< | -- | --> | 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[26] | 2018 | 3 | 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.[27] Released his third album, Hello, Goodbye on January 14, 2022.[28] | ||
| King Iso | 2019 | 3[29] | Rapper from Omaha, Nebraska. The contract was announced on Instagram on May 10, 2019. Released his second album with Strange Music, Get Well Soon, on January 21, 2022.King Iso released his debut EP[30] [31] 8 P.M. Med Call on September 30, 2022. | ||
| Jehry Robinson | 2019 | 2[32] | Rapper originating from New York. The contract was announced on December 20, 2019. Released his sophomore album, The Name is Not Important, on September 3, 2021. | ||
| HU$H | 2021 | 1 | Multi-genre musician from Fairfield, Iowa, whom had previously worked with Tech N9ne on their collaborative EP "BL1GHT". His signing was confirmed the following year after he released his first song under the label titled "Breakables" from his debut Strange Music LP titled SKUNKWORKS which was released on May 12, 2023.[33] | ||
| X-Raided | 2022< | -- | --> | 1 | Legendary rapper from Sacramento, California, whom alongside Brotha Lynch Hung was a member of the Black Market Records hip hop collective in the 1990s. On May 1 at Tech N9ne’s ASIN9NE Red Rocks performance, X-Raided was brought back onto stage and announced as the newest member of the Strange Music roster.[34] |
| NNUTTHOWZE | 2023 | 1 | Rap collective from Kansas City, Missouri who Tech N9ne was affiliated with many years prior to the creation of Strange Music. Members include Tech N9ne, Zkeircrow & Phlaque The Grimstress. They released their debut EP "Signaling The Siqly" on October 31, 2023 after appearing on Techs two albums "BLISS" & "Asin9ne". |
| 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 who 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.[35] In 2017, he joined Tech and fellow Strange Music artists for the Strictly Strange Tour 2017.[36] | ||
| 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. | ||
| Godemis | 2019 | 2021< | -- | --> | 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.[37] | |
| Stevie Stone | 2011 | 2021 | 6 | 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. In early 2021, Stone departed the label after fulfilling his commitment and started his own record label Ahdasee Records.[38] | ||
| Darrein Safron | 2015 | 2021 | 1 | Singer and 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. On March 18, 2021, Darrein officially announced his departure from the label in an interview.[39] | ||
| JL | 2015 | 2021 | 3 | 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 and final Strange Music studio album, The Devil Hates Sundays, on September 25, 2020. In May 2021, it was announced by Tech N9ne in response to an Instagram comment that JL had departed the label.[40] | ||
| Krizz Kaliko | 2006 | 2021 | 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.[41] On May 15, 2021, it was announced during Kaliko's virtual concert event "The Reveal" that he had officially left Strange Music to form his own label Ear House Inc. with his wife Crystal. | ||
| CES Cru | 2012 | 2021 | 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. In 2021, both members have departed the label after fulfilling their commitment. | ||
| UBI | 2018 | 2021 | 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. On August 20, 2021, UBI officially announced all across social media that he had departed the label and released a new song titled "Y.K.T.G." independently on September 1 of the same year through his newly formed Commercial Entertainment Syndicate.[42] [43] | ||
| ¡MAYDAY! | 2011 | 2022 | 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 sixth studio album with Strange Music, Minute to Midnight, on March 19, 2021.[44] On May 1, 2022, while performing at Red Rocks Park and Amphitheater for Tech N9ne's ASIN9NE tour, it was announced that ¡MAYDAY! have fulfilled their contract with Strange Music, but will remain being distributed by It Goes Up Entertainment with their new record label Mayday Music. | ||
| Wrekonize[45] | 2013 | 2022 | 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. In 2022, he, as a member of ¡MAYDAY | completed his contract with Strange Music but will be distributed through It Goes Up with the band's new record label titled Mayday Music. | |
| Bernz[46] | 2016 | 2022 | 2 | 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 second studio album Sorry for the Mess on December 4, 2020.[47] On May 1, 2022, he along with Wrekonize and NonMS, have announced that they have completed their contract with Strange Music but will now on be distributed through It Goes Up under their new imprint Mayday Music. | ||
| ¡MURSDAY![48] | 2014 | 2022 | 1 | Rap group merged by Strange Music artists, ¡MAYDAY! and MURS. Released their self-titled debut on June 10, 2014. Both acts are now no longer with the label which means that ¡MURSDAY | have officially left Strange Music. | |
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 | ||
| Kutt Calhoun | B.L.E.V.E. | ||
| 2006 | Tech N9ne | Everready (The Religion) | |
| 2007 | Tech N9ne Collabos | 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 Collabos | Sickology 101 | |
| Krizz Kaliko | Genius | ||
| Big Scoob | Monsterifik | ||
| Tech N9ne | K.O.D. | ||
| 2010 | Brotha Lynch Hung | Dinner and a Movie | |
| Cognito | Automatic[49] | ||
| Kutt Calhoun | Raw and Un-Kutt | ||
| Tech N9ne Collabos | 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 Collabos | 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 Collabos | Strangeulation | |
| ¡MAYDAY! & MURS | ¡MURSDAY! | ||
| CES Cru | |||
| 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 Collabos | Strangeulation Vol. II | ||
| 2016 | Krizz Kaliko | GO | |
| Rittz | Top of the Line | ||
| Bernz | See You on the Other Side | ||
| Big Scoob | H.O.G. | ||
| Tech N9ne | The Storm | ||
| 2017 | CES Cru | Catastrophic Event Specialists | |
| MURS | Captain California | ||
| Tech N9ne Collabos | Dominion | ||
| Wrekonize | Into the Further | ||
| Stevie Stone | Level Up | ||
| JL | DIBKIS | ||
| ¡MAYDAY! | Search Party | ||
| Rittz | Last Call | ||
| Tech N9ne Collabos | Strange Reign | ||
| 2018 | Tech N9ne | Planet | |
| MURS | A Strange Journey Into the Unimaginable | ||
| Mackenzie Nicole | The Edge | ||
| Stevie Stone & JL | Kontra-Band | ||
| Joey Cool | Joey Cool | ||
| Big Scoob | Duality | ||
| ¡MAYDAY! | South of 5th | ||
| 2019 | Tech N9ne | N9NA | |
| Ubiquitous | Under Bad Influence | ||
| Joey Cool | Old Habits Die Hard | ||
| Above Waves | Fugitives | ||
| Maez301 | Maez301 | ||
| 2020 | Mackenzie Nicole | Mystic | |
| King Iso | World War Me[50] | ||
| Tech N9ne | EnterFear | ||
| Stevie Stone | Black Lion | ||
| Jehry Robinson | 20/Twenty | ||
| Maez301 | Hasaan | ||
| Krizz Kaliko | Legend | ||
| JL | The Devil Hates Sundays | ||
| Joey Cool | Coolie High | ||
| Wrekonize | Pressure Point | ||
| Bernz | Sorry for the Mess | ||
| 2021 | ¡MAYDAY! | Minute to Midnight | |
| Joey Cool | I Tried to Be Normal Once[51] | ||
| Jehry Robinson | The Name is Not Important[52] | ||
| Tech N9ne | ASIN9NE | ||
| 2022 | Maez301 | Hello, Goodbye[53] | |
| King Iso | Get Well Soon[54] | ||
| Joey Cool | The Chairman of the Board[55] | ||
| 2023 | HU$H | SKUNKWORKS[56] | |
| X-Raided | A Prayer in Hell[57] | ||
| Tech N9ne | Bliss[58] | ||
| Jehry Robinson | Drink More Water[59] | ||
| Joey Cool | Enjoy The View[60] | ||
| King Iso | iLLdren[61] | ||
| 2024 | Tech N9ne Collabos | COSM (Class Of Strange Music)[62] |