Strange Music is an American independent record label specializing in hip-hop and founded by Tech N9ne and Travis O'Guin in 1999.
History In 2009 Skatterman & Snug Brim fulfilled their commitment to Strange Music and left the label.
In 2010 Jay Rock signed a multi-album deal with Strange Music.
In 2011 Stevie Stone joined the label in March and Prozak in December.
In 2012 Strange Music signed the duo CES Cru, made up of rappers Ubiquitous and Godemis, in January and Slumerican rapper Rittz in August.
In 2014, Murs signed with Strange Music in February and Kutt Calhoun and Jay Rock left Strange Music in September.
In 2016 Chicago-based pop group AboveWaves signed to the label.
In 2018 Strange Music announced a new pop music subsidiary Strange Main in February, and Murs left in March after completing his contract.Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine:
In 2019 Krizz Kaliko announced his intentions of leaving the label on October 6, then signed a new contract on stage on October 20. However, Kaliko officially announced his departure from Strange in order to form his own label Ear House Inc. on May 15, 2021.
Subsidiaries Strange Music West was announced in 2009 with Dave Weiner, formerly of Priority Records and JCOR Entertainment, as Vice President. Weiner immediately signed Brotha Lynch Hung to the label.
Strange Lane Records was started in 2010 and signed Young Bleed as its first artist.
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.
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. It currently distributes artists Saigon, Jelly Roll, Dax & ¡Mayday!
Roster
Current artists ArtistYear signedAlbums released by StrangeDescriptionTech N9neFounder23Rapper 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 23 albums, 12 EPs, and one mixtape, and has gone on to become the #1 independent artist in hip-hop. Released his twenty-fourth studio album, Bliss, on July 14, 2023.Big Scoob20094Rapper 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.Prozak20114Rapper 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 Nicole20152Singer 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 featured Tech N9ne and appeared on his sixteenth album, Strangeulation Vol. II. Released her second album, Mystic, on February 14, 2020.AboveWaves20161Pop 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 Cool20175Rapper from Kansas City, Missouri who worked with Tech N9ne on the Special Effects song "Life Sentences", as well as with several other Strange Music artists. 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 Trilogy2017 |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.Maez30120183Rapper from Gaithersburg, Maryland, who was discovered by Erving Pope and Jerome Taylor in 2017, both of whom 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. Released his third album, Hello, Goodbye on January 14, 2022.King Iso20193Rapper from Omaha, Nebraska. His contract with Strange was announced on Instagram on May 10, 2019. Released his second album with Strange Music, Get Well Soon, on January 21, 2022. King Iso subsequently released his debut EP, 8 P.M. Med Call, on September 30, 2022.Jehry Robinson20192Rapper 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$H20211Multi-genre musician from Fairfield, Iowa, whom had previously worked with Tech N9ne on their collaborative EP BL1GHT. His signing was confirmed the following year, and he released his debut Strange Music LP, SKUNKWORKS, on May 12, 2023.X-Raided20221Legendary rapper from Sacramento, California, whom alongside Brotha Lynch Hung was a member of the Black Market Records hip-hop collective in the 1990s. At Tech N9ne's ASIN9NE Red Rocks performance on May 1, 2022, X-Raided was brought back onto stage and announced as the newest member of the Strange Music roster.Nnutthowze20231Rap 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 Tech's albums BLISS and Asin9ne.
Former artists ArtistYear signedYear leftAlbums under StrangeDescriptionProject: Deadman200420071Hip-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 Plott200820081Rap 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 Brim200420092Rap 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.Cognito200920101Rapper 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 Bleed201120121Rapper 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 Calhoun200420144Rapper 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 Rock201020141Rapper 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 Hung200920153Rapper 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. In 2017, he joined Tech and fellow Strange Music artists for the Strictly Strange Tour 2017.Rittz201220174Rapper 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.MURS201420193Rapper 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.Godemis20192021