Strange Music
| Strange Music | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1999 |
| Founder | Travis O'Guin Aaron "Tech N9ne" Yates |
| Distributor(s) | JCOR Ent. (2001) MSC Ent. (2002–2006) Fontana (2006–present) |
| Genre | Midwest Hip hop, R&B, Horrorcore |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Location | Los Angeles, California – Kansas City, Missouri |
| Official website | www.StrangeMusicInc.com |
Strange Music 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, 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.
Tech at the time had several commitments and deals pulling him in several directions. He was currently 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 set up, 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 where 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 is signed to the Strange Music label. Cognito did not tour with other labelmates during the KOD Tour in order to complete his 2010 stated release of "Automatic".
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.[4][5][6]
Roster
| Artist | Year Signed |
# of Albums under Strange Music |
|---|---|---|
| 816 Boyz (Krizz Kaliko, Kutt Calhoun, Makzilla & Tech N9ne) |
2009 | — |
| Big Scoob | 2009 | 1 |
| Brotha Lynch Hung | 2009 | 1 |
| Cognito | 2009 | 1 |
| Grave Plott | 2008 | 1 |
| Kabosh (Krizz Kaliko & Tech N9ne) |
— | — |
| Krizz Kaliko | — | 2 |
| Kutt Calhoun | 2004[7] | 3 |
| Prozak | 2008 | 1 |
| Tech N9ne | 1999 | 7 |
Former artists
| Artist | Year Signed |
Year Left |
# of Albums under Strange Music |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Deadman (Prozak & Mike E. Clark) |
2004 | — | 1 |
| Skatterman & Snug Brim | 2004 | 2009 | 2 |
ryan is a faggot
Strange Music releases
Past Album releases
| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions | Sales | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billboard 200 [8] |
Top Heatseekers [9] |
Top Independent [10] |
Top R&B/Hip-Hop [11] |
Top Rap [12] | |||
| 2001 | Tech N9ne – Anghellic [note]
|
59 | — | 46 | 50 | * | 278,000[13] |
| 2002 | Tech N9ne – Absolute Power
|
79 | — | 3 | 28 | * | 313,000[13] |
| 2004 | Skatterman & Snug Brim – Urban Legendz
|
— | — | — | — | * | |
Project Deadman – Self Inflicted
|
— | — | — | — | * | ||
Kutt Calhoun – B.L.E.V.E.
|
— | — | — | — | * | ||
| 2006 | Tech N9ne – Everready (The Religion)
|
50 | — | 2 | 23 | 11 | 180,000[13] |
| 2007 | Tech N9ne – Misery Loves Kompany
|
49 | — | 3 | 23 | 7 | 82,000[13] |
| 2008 | Krizz Kaliko – Vitiligo
|
167 | — | 19 | 50 | 20 | 15,634[14] |
Grave Plott – The Plott Thickens
|
— | — | — | 95 | — | 1,189[15] | |
Prozak – Tales From The Sick
|
— | 8 | 25 | 52 | 20 | 12,560[16] | |
Tech N9ne – Killer
|
12 | — | 1 | 8 | 6 | 124,000[13] | |
Skatterman & Snug Brim – Word on tha Streets
|
— | 48 | — | — | — | 1,158[17] | |
Kutt Calhoun – Feature Presentation
|
— | 19 | — | 60 | — | 2,658[18] | |
| 2009 | Tech N9ne – Sickology 101
|
19 | — | 2 | 12 | 6 | 81,120[19] |
Krizz Kaliko – Genius
|
85 | — | 12 | 14 | 3 | 5,300[20] | |
Big Scoob – Monsterifik
|
— | — | — | — | — | ||
Tech N9ne – K.O.D.
|
14 | — | 1 | 7 | 3 | 102,500[19] | |
| 2010 | Brotha Lynch Hung – Dinner and a Movie
|
69 | — | 7 | 18 | 6 | 11,000[21] |
Cognito – Automatic
|
— | 36 | — | 57 | — | 1,290[22] | |
Kutt Calhoun – Raw and Un-Kutt
|
162 | 4 | 27 | 27 | 15 | 3,500[23] | |
Tech N9ne – The Gates Mixed Plate
|
13 | — | 1 | 5 | 4 | 22,000 | |
| "—" indicates albums that did not chart. "—" with a light gray background indicates albums not eligible for chart. "*" with a light gray background indicates albums released prior to charts existence. | |||||||
- Past Album releases notes
- 1. ^ This listing combines the numbers of both the original 2001 release, Anghellic, as well as the 2003 re-release, Anghellic: Reparation. The peak position on the Independent Chart comes from the re-release, while the other positions are those of the original. As of July 29, 2009, the original release has sold 82,700[24] or more copies, while the re-release has sold 180,520[24] or more copies. The number in the table is a collective total between the two releases.
Upcoming Album releases
| Artist | Album | Scheduled Release Date |
|---|---|---|
| Krizz Kaliko | Shock Treatment | September 14, 2010[25][26] |
| Kabosh | Amafrican Psycho | October 19, 2010[25] |
| Prozak | The Hitchcock of Hip-Hop | TBD |
| Big Scoob | Damn Fool | TBD |
| Brotha Lynch Hung | The Coathanga Strangla | TBD |
| Brotha Lynch Hung | Mannabal Lector | TBD |
| Tech N9ne | All 6's and 7's[27] | TBD |
Past EP releases
| Year | EP details | Peak chart positions | Sales | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billboard 200 [8] |
Top Heatseekers [9] |
Top Independent [10] |
Top R&B/Hip-Hop [11] |
Top Rap [12] | |||
| 2010 | Tech N9ne – The Lost Scripts of K.O.D.
|
117 | — | 9 | 31 | 13 | 5,599[28] |
| "—" indicates EPs that did not chart. "—" with a light gray background indicates EPs not eligible for chart. | |||||||
Past Compilation/Soundtrack releases
| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions | Sales | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billboard 200 [8] |
Top Heatseekers [9] |
Top Independent [10] |
Top R&B/Hip-Hop [11] |
Top Rap [12] | |||
| 2003 | Beef (Soundtrack)
|
— | — | — | — | * | |
| 2005 | Tech N9ne – Vintage Tech
|
— | — | 19 | 63 | — | 89,000[13] |
| 2009 | Tech N9ne – The Box Set
|
— | — | — | — | — | |
| "—" indicates albums that did not chart. "—" with a light gray background indicates albums not eligible for chart. "*" with a light gray background indicates albums released prior to charts existence. | |||||||
Past Video releases
| Year | Video details | Peak chart positions | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billboard Top Music Video | |||
| 2004 | Tech N9ne – T9X: The Tech N9ne Experience
|
— | 13,148[24] |
| 2008 | Tech N9ne – The Psychumentary
|
7 | 8,826[24] |
| 2009 | Tech N9ne – Strictly Strange
|
— | |
| 2010 | Tech N9ne – K.O.D. Tour (Live in Kansas City)
|
— | 2,654[29] |
| "—" indicates releases that did not chart. | |||
References
- Steve Reissner (Director), Soren Baker (Writer) (July 27, 2004). T9X: The Tech N9ne Experience (Documentary). Strange Music/MSC Entertainment. Retrieved June 12, 2008.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Ill Bill update on "The Hour Of Reprisal" album. August 4, 2008. Retrieved August 5, 2008.
- ^ "Skatterman & Snug Brim Leaving Strange". February 9, 2009. Retrieved February 9, 2009.
- ^ "Hip Hop Press: Strange Music Names Dave Weiner Vice President Of Strange Music West". May 14, 2009. Retrieved May 13, 2009.
- ^ Gamble, Ronnie (May 14, 2009). "Brotha Lynch Hung Signs To Tech N9ne's Strange Music Label". BallerStatus.com. Retrieved May 14, 2009.
- ^ "Hip Hop Press: Strange Music Signs Brotha Lynch Hung". May 19, 2009. Retrieved May 20, 2009.
- ^ Yuscavage, Chris (2010). "Kutt Calhoun: This Midwest MC shines bright onstage". XXL. Retrieved June 22, 2010.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ a b c Billboard 200 peak position citations:
- "Brotha Lynch Hung – Billboard 200 Chart History". Billboard.com. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved April 1, 2010.
- "Krizz Kaliko – Billboard 200 Chart History". Billboard.com. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved August 5, 2009.
- "Kutt Calhoun – Billboard 200 Chart History". Billboard.com. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
- "Tech N9ne – Billboard 200 Chart History". Billboard.com. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
- ^ a b c Top Heatseekers Albums peak position citations:
- "Cognito – Heatseekers Albums Chart History". Billboard.com. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved April 29, 2010.
- "Kutt Calhoun – Heatseekers Albums Chart History". Billboard.com. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
- "Prozak – Heatseekers Albums Chart History". Billboard.com. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved August 5, 2009.
- "Skatterman & Snug Brim – Heatseekers Albums Chart History". Billboard.com. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved August 5, 2009.
- ^ a b c Top Independent Albums peak position citaions:
- "Brotha Lynch Hung – Independent Albums Chart History". Billboard.com. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved April 1, 2010.
- "Krizz Kaliko – Independent Albums Chart History". Billboard.com. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved August 5, 2009.
- "Kutt Calhoun – Independent Albums Chart History". Billboard.com. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
- "Prozak – Independent Albums Chart History". Billboard.com. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved August 5, 2009.
- "Tech N9ne – Independent Albums Chart History". Billboard.com. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
- ^ a b c Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums peak position citations:
- "Brotha Lynch Hung – R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart History". Billboard.com. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved April 1, 2010.
- "Cognito – R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart History". Billboard.com. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved April 29, 2010.
- "Grave Plott – R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart History". Billboard.com. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved August 5, 2009.
- "Krizz Kaliko – R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart History". Billboard.com. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved August 5, 2009.
- "Kutt Calhoun – R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart History". Billboard.com. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
- "Prozak – R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart History". Billboard.com. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved August 5, 2009.
- "Tech N9ne – R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart History". Billboard.com. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
- ^ a b c Top Rap Albums peak position citations:
- "Brotha Lynch Hung – Rap Albums Chart History". Billboard.com. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved April 1, 2010.
- "Krizz Kaliko – Rap Albums Chart History". Billboard.com. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved August 5, 2009.
- "Kutt Calhoun – Rap Albums Chart History". Billboard.com. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
- "Prozak – Rap Albums Chart History". Billboard.com. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved August 5, 2009.
- "Tech N9ne – Rap Albums Chart History". Billboard.com. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f Mitchell, Gail (July 4, 2009). "Nine Lives". Billboard. Vol. 121, no. 26. pp. 20–21. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 29, 2009. Retrieved July 29, 2009.
- ^ "Soundscans – Week Ending 07/06/2008". Retrieved July 10, 2008.
- ^ "Soundscan Week of 05/28/08". Retrieved June 12, 2008.
- ^ "Soundscans – Week Ending 09/07/2008" (RTF). September 10, 2008. Retrieved September 11, 2008.
- ^ "Soundscans – Week Ending 08/17/2008" (RTF). August 20, 2008. Retrieved September 2, 2008.
- ^ "Soundscans – Week Ending 10/19/2008" (RTF). October 22, 2008. Retrieved October 22, 2008.
- ^ a b "SoundScan: Current R&B Albums Overall (Week Ending 6/6/10)" (Document). Nielsen Company. 2010.
{{cite document}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ Paine, Jake (July 22, 2009). "Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 7/19/2009". Cheri Media Group. Retrieved July 25, 2009.
- ^ Jacobs, Allen (April 7, 2010). "Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 4/4/2010". Cheri Media Group. Retrieved April 8, 2010.
- ^ Big Wig (April 28, 2010). "Album Sales Week of 4/20 (Cypress Hill, Ninjasonik & more)". Triumph Media Holdings, Inc.
{{cite web}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help); Missing or empty|url=(help) - ^ Jacobs, Allen (June 16, 2010). "Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 6/13/2010". Cheri Media Group. Retrieved June 16, 2010.
- ^ a b c d "Back to Rockville: Tech N9ne is a million-selling man". The Kansas City Star. August 27, 2008. Retrieved September 3, 2008.
- ^ a b Ringtone Graphic from Cognito's Automatic, taken from Cognito's Official Myspace
- ^ Tech N9ne interviewed by Rocky Flats live on the K.O.D. tour part 3. January 12, 2010. Event occurs at 0:58–1:38. Retrieved January 15, 2009.
- ^ Tech N9ne Interview 6/15/10 Part 3 of 4
- ^ Sam (April 7, 2010). "Album Sales Week of 3/30/10". Triumph Media Holdings, Inc.
{{cite web}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help); Missing or empty|url=(help) - ^ "SoundScan:DVD Music Videos (Week Ending 6/6/10)" (Document). Nielsen Company. 2010.
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See also