Strange Music

Strange Music
Parent company Strange Music Inc.
Founded 1999
Founder Travis O'Guin
Aaron "Tech N9ne" Yates
Distributor(s) JCOR Ent. (2001)
MSC Ent. (2002–2006)
Fontana (2006–present)
Genre Rap, Hip hop, R&B,
Country of origin United States
Location Lees Summit, Missouri
Official website www.StrangeMusicInc.net

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

History

Travis O'Guin, an established businessman in the world of furniture, was looking to get into the music industry. He had been a fan of Tech N9ne's and had seen how his career was being handled.

At the time, Tech had several engagements pulling him in several directions. At the time, he was signed to Qwest Records as well as MidwestSide Records. He also had commitments with both QDIII's Soundlab and Sway & King Tech of The Wake Up Show. Travis came into the picture and offered Tech something he never had, his own label. They agreed upon a 50/50 division of profits, with Travis acting as President and Tech as Vice President.

Their first venture was a deal with JCOR Entertainment to release Anghellic, though JCOR mishandled the album. They would then seek another 50/50 deal, this time with Mark Cerami (previously of Priority Records) & Dave Weiner (previously of JCOR Entertainment) who were doing their own joint label at the time, MSC Entertainment. The first album Absolute Power was a success, selling about 250,000 copies.

The label is now independent, no longer joined with MSC Entertainment, instead having a distribution deal through Fontana Distribution. Their first release under the deal with Fontana was Tech N9ne's 2006 effort, Everready (The Religion). While many albums were advertised for 2007 releases in the artwork for that album, only one release was seen in 2007 from Strange Music, Misery Loves Kompany.

The other albums advertised inside the Everready case would however see release a year later in 2008, along with a solo effort from Project: Deadman/Bedlam member, Prozak. For the majority of 2008, Ill Bill looked to be releasing his The Hour of Reprisal through Strange Music, though the talks would fall through and he would instead sign with Fat Beats Records to release the album.[2]

February 7, 2009, it was announced on Tech N9ne's official website that Big Scoob had joined the Strange Music label.

On February 9, 2009, it was announced on Tech N9ne's official website that Skatterman & Snug Brim had decided to leave the Strange Music label after fulfilling their commitment.[3]

May 2009, Tech signed Brotha Lynch Hung to his Strange Music label. Brotha Lynch released his Strange album, Dinner and a Movie on March 23, 2010.

July 19, 2009, Cognito signed to the Strange Music label. Cognito did not tour with other labelmates during the KOD Tour in order to complete his 2010 album, "Automatic".

It was announced by XXL magazine on September 27, 2010 that Jay Rock had signed with Strange Music for a multi-album deal.[4] On March 31, 2011, the label announced the addition of Stevie Stone to its roster. Stone officially signed with the label on March 17, 2011.[5]

In December 2011, Strange Music announced that Prozak had signed to the label as a solo recording artist.[6] The artist had previously worked with the label on various projects, including his 2008 Tales from the Sick which was distributed by the label.

In January 2012, Strange Music signed rap duo CES Cru, made up of rappers Ubiquitous and Godemis. They had worked with Strange in the past with albums Bad Season, All 6's and 7's, and recently on Tech N9ne Collabos: Welcome To Strangeland.[7][8]

In August 2012, Tech N9ne signed Slumerican rapper Rittz.[9] Rittz and Tech N9ne immediately began working together, releasing the popular collaboration remix of Rittz's "Bloody Murdah" shortly after Rittz joined the label.[10]

On February 7, 2014, it was announced via Tech N9ne's Facebook page that Murs signed to Strange Music.[11]

On September 22, 2014, it was announced that Kutt Calhoun left Strange Music after fulfilling his commitment. He stated that he's still in good terms with the label. That same month, Tech N9ne revealed that Jay Rock had left his Strange Music imprint and is now only signed to Top Dawg Entertainment.[12]

Subsidiaries

Strange Music West

On May 14, 2009, a press release was issued by the label, naming Dave Weiner (formerly of Priority Records, JCor Entertainment & MSC Entertainment) the Vice President of "Strange Music West." In this new position, Dave will work hand in hand with Label President, Travis O'Guin from his satellite office in Los Angeles. One of his duties for the label will be to find and sign new acts to the label. Weiner was responsible for signing Sacramento, California rapper, Brotha Lynch Hung to the Strange Music label.[13][14][15]

Strange Lane records

In 2010, Strange Music Inc. started a new label called Strange Lane Records. The first artist signed to the new subsidiary was Young Bleed.[16] However, the subsidiary's roster is currently empty after Young Bleed departed in early 2012.

Roster

Current artists

Artist Year
Signed 		# of Albums
under Strange Music
Big Scoob 2009 2
Brotha Lynch Hung 2009 3
Ces Cru
(Godemis & Ubiquitous) 		2012[7] 2
Krizz Kaliko 2006[17] 5
¡Mayday!
(Bernz, Wrekonize, Gianni Cash, Plex Luthor, L.T. Hopkins & NonMS) 		2011[18] 3
Murs 2014[19] 1
Prozak 2011[6] 3
Stevie Stone 2011[20] 2
Rittz 2012[21] 2
Tech N9ne 1999 12
Wrekonize 2011[18] 1

Former artists

Artist Year
Signed 		Year
Left 		# of Albums
under Strange Music
Cognito 2009 2010 1
Grave Plott
(Killa C & Liquid Assassin) 		2008 — 1
Project: Deadman
(Prozak & Mike E. Clark) 		2004 — 1
Skatterman & Snug Brim 2004 2009 2
Young Bleed 2011 2012 1
Kutt Calhoun 2004 2014 4
Jay Rock 2010 2014 1

References

  • Steve Reissner (Director), Soren Baker (Writer) (July 27, 2004). T9X: The Tech N9ne Experience (Documentary). Strange Music/MSC Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-06-12.
  1. ↑ Roberts, Steven (March 25, 2010). "Tech N9ne Says He Found Success On The Road". MTV.com. MTV Networks. Retrieved 2010-03-30. 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. ↑ Ill Bill update on "The Hour Of Reprisal" album. August 4, 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-05.
  3. ↑ "Skatterman & Snug Brim Leaving Strange". February 9, 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
  4. ↑ "XXcLusive: Jay Rock Signs to Tech N9ne’s Strange Music". XXLmag.com. Harris Publications, Inc. September 27, 2010. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
  5. ↑ 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
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Nelson, Jeff (December 15, 2011). "Prozak Signs To Strange Music". Strange Music Inc. Retrieved 2011-12-15.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Strange Music, Inc. "Strange Music". Strange Music, Inc. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  8. ↑ HipHopDX (January 13, 2012). "Missouri Duo Ces Cru Signs With Strange Music". HipHopDX. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  9. ↑ Strange Music, Inc. "Strange Music". Strange Music, Inc. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Rittz f. Tech N9ne - "Bloody Murdah [Remix]"". HipHopDX. 2013-01-10. Retrieved 2013-05-05.
  11. ↑ Rys, Dan (2014-02-07). "Murs Signs With Tech N9ne's Strange Music - XXL". Xxlmag.com. Retrieved 2014-07-13.
  12. ↑ "Tech N9ne Says Jay Rock Is No Longer Signed To Strange Music". XXL. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Hip Hop Press: Strange Music Names Dave Weiner Vice President Of Strange Music West". May 14, 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-13.
  14. ↑ Gamble, Ronnie (May 14, 2009). "Brotha Lynch Hung Signs To Tech N9ne's Strange Music Label". BallerStatus.com. Retrieved 2009-05-14.
  15. ↑ "Hip Hop Press: Strange Music Signs Brotha Lynch Hung". May 19, 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-20.
  16. ↑ "Exclusive Presidents Day Interview With Travis O’Guin".
  17. ↑ Year signed with Strange Music Krizz Kaliko on Twitter. April 6, 2013. Retrieved April 6, 2013.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Martinez, Tim. April 2011 "Strange Music Calls¡Mayday! – ¡Mayday! Signs To Strange Music".
  19. ↑ http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2014/02/murs-signs-tech-n9ne-strange-music/
  20. ↑ Nelson, Jeff. "STRANGE MUSIC GETS STONED – Stevie Stone Signs To Strange Music". Strange Music. Retrieved April 5, 2011.
  21. ↑ "Rittz Signs with Strange Music". Retrieved August 29, 2012.

External links

See also