As the date approaches for Tech N9ne at Crossroads KC (August 24), we must take a look back at what being at a Tech N9ne show is all about: the Tech N9ne experience (T9X).

Here we have a story from Jeremiah Sullivan from Detroit, who wrote us his detailed account of his Tech N9ne experience. In case you were ever wondering if knowing all the words to every single one of your favorite rap songs would ever pay off, Jeremiah can answer that for you: YES.

Let’s let him tell it…

The sickness is something you’re born with. You may not know it; you may not even know what it means. All you know is that when you hear something twisted into a beautiful masterpiece of poetry, you can’t do anything except take it in. Some call it its own religion, some call it a cult, but in all reality it’s a family. This is my experience at what some may call a family reunion and some just call a Tech N9ne concert.

On June 7th, 2012 Mitch, my brother, and I started our 3.5 hour journey from the Grand Rapids area to Detroit, MI. At approximately the ten hour mark after arriving in Detroit, we hear nothing other than the loud and energetic voice of Scenario waking everyone up and getting us ready (as if we needed it). There were talks in the crowd of everyone’s experience with Tech concerts and listening to his music, and then it began. Meet and greet started, it went pretty smooth and as quick as we were in the door we were out. It was awesome meeting everyone; Krizz, Mayday, Stevie Stone, MGK, Prozak, and finally Tech N9ne.

Showing up early and being in the front of the line has its perks. After another wait, following meet and greet, they started the line to get in the show. Mitch and I got dead center, front row. Openers started and ended more quickly than we wanted. Through all the pushing, elbows, knees, punches, fights, mosh-pits and everything else; about 5 hours later Mitch and I were still center stage, front row. I literally could not have been closer when Tech N9ne took the stage. I don’t mean just stepped on stage, I mean he TOOK it. As soon as his first stride hit; the stage, the building, the crowd, and the world was his.

Listening to the speed of his lyrical delivery for years, I have always been able to keep up with most all of Tech N9ne’s songs. I’m not saying that I am the best or the only one by any means, just that I’m good enough to get by. Some songs require me to listen to them a few times to pick up on the flow and the lyrics and some are immediate. I never knew what this little ability would do for me but I was about to find out.

“Midwest Choppers” kicked off the set and as Tech rapped I rapped (more like yelled) along with him rewarding me a point and a nod of acknowledgement from the king himself. Several songs later Tech takes to the crowd stage left, my right, and performs his verse of “Midwest Choppers 2”. Minutes later I find the man we were all there to see directly in front of me using my shoulder and the bodies of the rest of the crowd to keep balance as he sits on the guard rail. Ironically the words “follow me” started the verse to “Worldwide Choppers”, and follow him I did. As I look up I notice him looking down, seeing my pants to breath in the crowd and the sweat dripping off my head as I scream every word with everything I have. Tech one-ups himself with even more acknowledgement by jumping down throwing out a handshake and bursting out a “HELL YEAH.” I was at what I thought would have been an impossible precedent of excitement to beat. I could not have been more wrong.

Later in the show the song “He’s a Mental Giant” started and the crowd went insane. Preceding this song, the show came to a screeching halt and so did my breathing when Tech N9ne stopped the show to recognize a fan in the front row of the crowd. That fan, was me. Complete silence was around me as all eyes tuned to me all I can remember was the pounding of my brothers hands on my back and squeezing of my shoulders as my hands are in the air and N9na’s pointing strait at me. He mentions the fact that I have said every word to every song throughout the set and hadn’t missed a beat and at that point breaks down into an acapella of the fast part of “He’s A Mental Giant”. I was awe-struck when he encouraged me to join in with a wave of his hands, at which point, I did.

Not very often can a fan say that he sang, rapped, or played with their favorite performer. I can proudly say I did. I wish there were video, pictures or any kind of visual record of this event but at the end of the day, a great memory is something I will have forever.

—-

Thank you to Jeremiah Sullivan for all of his support to this movement we call Strange Music. It’s fans like him that are the reason that the rest of the industry is taking a look at what Tech N9ne is doing and how they can keep up. However, the answer isn’t hard, make real music and connect with your fans, one by one.

Thanks again to Jeremiah and the rest of you out there that continue to make us proud to do what we do and for allowing us into your hearts and souls with our music and message.

It Goes UP!

Click here for your VIP Experience Packages to KC Crossroads, August 24

“I just wanna die. I don’t want to wake up. I don’t wanna ‘cause that’s the way that I feel.
I’m barely hanging on. I don’t want to wake up. I don’t wanna ‘cause that’s the way it has to be.”

- Tech N9ne, Suicide Letters

Even someone who would seemingly have it all has his low points, as Tech N9ne clearly puts to words in a song a lot of fans might relate to – “Suicide Letters”. One of the biggest reasons why it’s easy to connect with Tech’s music is because he writes about the real shit. Joseph, much like many other Technicians out there, has gone through some of the unimaginable and made it through with the help of Tech’s lyrical messages.

Not only did Joseph have to witness his parent’s long, volatile, violence-filled divorce growing up, he also struggled with obesity in his teenage years which produced, as it often does, teasing and bullying throughout middle and high school. Joseph tried to deal with his depression quietly, even contemplating suicide multiple times to escape from the chaos. It was some of Tech’s older tracks like “Suicide Letters” and “Happy Ending” that prevented him from fixing temporary strife with a permanent solution. Eventually, Joseph underwent a surgical procedure that would help correct his obesity and depression, but it wasn’t long after that he’d be right back where he started.

Shortly following his surgery, Joseph fell in love. Due to his struggles throughout high school, he was always very cautious of whom he opened up to. He had finally found someone he could trust and who made him feel safe and genuinely happy. He knew that he had stumbled upon something special, but nothing is ever perfect. The problems started when Joseph introduced her to his family. Right off the bat they didn’t like her even though she brought him the comfort and joy he so desperately desired. When he stood up to them and they threatened to cut him off financially, she called things off so he wouldn’t end up completely stranded. Once he found a job and was able to support himself, they slowly started to try things again. It wasn’t until she had a male friend of hers in town to explore schools when she told Joseph that she would be exploring other options. Since it was such a painful process to open up to her, he was, of course, crushed and wondered if it was all for nothing. Songs like “This Ring”, “Come Gangsta”, and “Einstein” helped Joseph work through a variety of emotions and gave him the confidence he needed to move forward.

Currently, Joseph is 20 years old and holding down a job that many people don’t get until they graduate college, and, ironically, he’s attending college full time simultaneously. He’s slowly rebuilding his relationship with his family, and he and the girl he wanted to marry remain friends. But, right now, he is more concerned on finishing school and his own happiness. Joseph states that the song that he’s listened to the most this month is “Last Sad Song”. Joseph writes:

To Tech, I thank you for all the hard work you’ve done, for not giving up on us fans, and, most importantly, for not giving up on yourself. Your hard work, creativeness and cleverness are not unnoticed. Your music not only sounds good, looks good, or IS good, it’s all good in a way that it speaks to the heart and soul of the people that listen and understand. It’s easy to be sad when you’ve lived a dark past, but it’s easy to be happy when you’re looking ahead fast, and that’s what your music has done for me.

- Written by Callie Brown, Strange Music Blog Contributor

• What did you think of the story?

Leave your thoughts in the comments section below!

Strange Music caught up with this ‘Master of Covers’ over the weekend, one Mr. Robert Nix, 21, from Poway, California, and had this conversation.

Tell us a little bit about yourself, your family, and your aspirations.

I was born in California, grew up in Las Vegas, and moved to Poway in ninth grade. I joined the Marine Corps in 2008, got out in 2011, and currently I live at home with my mother, two brothers, and my sister. Right now I‘m looking into going to school for music production, as I’ve always been infatuated with entertaining people – I’ve always been the class clown, the guy that just lived to make people laugh.  I would probably die without music, so I want to get a career somewhere in the industry, I would love to be able to work with Tech and the rest of Strange in one way or another.

How did you get into Strange Music?

I used to have a passionate hatred for hip-hop.  I was, and still am, a die-hard Slipknot fan, and one day a friend of mine played “Breathe” when we were hanging out, and right off the bat I couldn’t help but be astonished by what I was hearing. It was in that moment that Tech quickly showed me that hip-hop was capable of being more than “snap your fingers – do your step” and all that crap.

I will argue with anyone to the death that Strange Music is the greatest and realest label out, there is not one artist on Strange that is whack – they are all lyrical geniuses. Kind of like Crooked I says on “Sickology 101“, “The English language gotta do whatever my verse say!” – that applies to all the Strange artists, they force the English language into submission with every bar.

What was your first cover?

My first cover was honestly not even a Strange song; it was actually “Good Morning SwizZzle” by SwizZz.

What inspired you to do Strange covers, as well as just covers in general?

Like I said, my first cover wasn’t even a Strange song, and I did it because someone said posting me doing a cover was something they didn’t think I had the balls to do, and after I did it I was so pleased with the final product that I wanted to do more.  When All 6′s And 7′s came out and I heard “Am I A Psycho?”, I was so pumped for Hopsin, and I loved one particular part of his verse, when he says, “With the wicked wreckage I contain, I could probably jeopardize your name, no lovey-dovey let’s ignite the flame, if you’re lucky you’ll survive the pain.” because that was THE LINE that made me feel I could handle doing something like “Worldwide Choppers”, and it was all history from there.

What is your favorite cover you have done?

Honestly I don’t know that I could pick just one.  I love “Midwest Choppers” simply because I think Krizz Kaliko’s verse is the BEST featured verse on ANY of the Chopper songs, so I would say it’s between that one, and the cover I just posted a few weeks ago of Mayday’s “June” – simply because I never thought I could sing, but I’ve gotten a lot of good feedback on the cover.  Ok sorry, I have to throw the “Kill Shit” cover in there too, haha, I mean, hell, I covered the verse the same day the song came out simply because of how much Tech just floored me with that verse.  I just thought “I need to do this verse!!!” so I made it happen after about an hour or so of trying to figure out what the hell Tech was saying, haha.

What cover took the longest to master?  What was the quickest?

The longest cover would probably have to be “Welcome To The Midwest” – just getting the part down where Tech and Krizz go back and forth was difficult as I had to get the breath control down perfectly for it.  The fastest was “Kill Shit” – like I said it took me an hour to figure out the lyrics, and after that it was easy enough after a few listens to perfect the flow of it.

What advice do you have for anybody else who wants to do covers?

I’m a huge believer in this theory I remember hearing a long time ago – “Once you repeat something eighteen times, then it’s committed to memory.”  It also helps a lot if you learn the lyrics slowly on your own, then practice it “acapella” so to speak. Once you have that down, try doing it with the song playing.

Is it different to listen to a track after you have covered it?

Definitely. Now when I listen to new Strange tracks, or anyone for that matter that chops, whether it’s Tech, Krizz, Godemis, MGK, Wrek, anyone, I sometimes find myself playing tracks for friends and asking them, “Does this sound fast?” – because now that I’ve been doing this, I can keep up on a first listen, so I’m not really sure how quick what I’m listening to is.  I even find myself saying shit too fast for people to understand just when I’m talking, it may sound like a displeasing thing I guess, but I love it – it makes it even easier for me to appreciate the lyrics the first or second go round.

What are your favorite Strange Music tracks?

I would have to say “Far Away” from Tech N9ne and Krizz Kaliko, “Peek-A-Boo” by Krizz Kaliko, “Laughing Stock” but Kutt Kalhoun, and “Taking Online Orders” from Brotha Lynch Hung just to name a few.

What are your plans for the future?

I would really like to get into the music industry one way or another as I said, even if I’m just part of the road crew. If I was part of road crew for Strange Music, that would be completely OK with me.

In closing, do you have any words for the world of Technicians?

Honestly I have a little bit of a “beef” with Technicians right now.  I’m tired of so many sleeping on everyone else on Strange Music because they think Tech is the only talented one, or the only one they care to take time out to listen to.  With artists like Kutt, Krizz, Stevie, Brotha Lynch, Mayday!, and everyone else, they all should be just as hyped up as Tech.  I truly believe that if we all get behind all the other artists and hard as everyone is behind Tech, Strange Music could easily take over the mainstream, the only other labels I feel are even on Strange Music’s radar honestly are, Funk Volume, Aftermath, Top Dawg, and MGK by himself. I’m also a huge MGK fan. I’ll be laced up until I die.

Basically all I’m trying to say is give the rest of Strange, and really just other artists in general a shot.

I just want to thank Tech for everything – his amazing music, giving me the amazing story of rapping “Worldwide Choppers” with him at the Lost Cities Tour show, and loving all us fans so much.

Stay Strange and lace the fuck up!

—

Subscribe to TechNIXian816’s YouTube channel here and keep up with all of his covers.

- Jason Ours, Strange Music contributor @JasonIsSTRANGE

There are always a few things that Fan Features have in common. First, and the most obvious, is the individual’s love for Tech N9ne or another Strange artist. It wouldn’t be a Fan Feature otherwise. Second, is the reason behind that love. Much of the time it’s because of the lyrics and the beats. You can’t help but vibe with it. And certainly that’s a good reason, but it’s not too often that we get another musician’s perspective on why Tech has affected them. Even more rare is a musician from another country who genuinely appreciates what Tech N9ne and Strange Music represents.

Sam, better known as Jesta in the UK, has already been featured on Tech N9ne’s blog with his “Overtime” cover. He was hesitant to cover Tech originally, but with the encouragement of his friends, he’s got quite a few covers up on his YouTube channel. There are a few reasons why his versions are different. He can sing smoothly and keep up with the pace of the rhymes, but what stands out most is that he does it all with just an acoustic guitar. Jesta, who is currently 21, states that music runs in his family, and he’s been rapping since he was only eleven years old. After a friend of his introduced him to Tech N9ne during the Everready (The Religion) era, he was hooked. At first, of course, it was because Tech’s music is so infectious, but it didn’t take long for Jesta to realize there was a lot more to the man than talent. Jesta writes:

“[Tech N9ne's] music is a huge inspiration and comfort for me. Not just in a sense of emotions but also knowing that a rapper can do everything independently and build an empire from the profit gained. That’s a beautiful thing.”

“Am I A Psycho?”

Four simple words from a Tech N9ne song help a young struggling artist from Noblesville, Indiana. Through his lyrics this young man tries to share the thoughts in his head with the world. He tries to tell of the path he has walked and all the sights he has seen along his 21 years. “Trapped In a Psycho’s Body” by Tech N9ne has been a song that he has always been able to relate to. He has questioned his sanity and struggled with the good and evil that dance on his shoulders, his mind pushed and pulled in each direction.

Chris Johnson fought on, giving himself the name Bulletproof, he pushed back.

“Words are like bullets. They can kill, change lives, start and end wars. So when I say I’m Bulletproof, not only is it to remind me of my own mortality, it is also saying that it doesn’t matter what you say to me at the end of the day,” the articulate young man states when explaining how he adopted the name Bulletproof and how it became who he is.

Bulletproof has seen calm days and dark days with loud crushing storms. He says that Tech N9ne helped him to keep his sanity through the worst parts of his life. He felt as if Tech N9ne was telling the story of his life through his own words.

Around the age of ten, his grandfather passed away, leaving his family to run the store his late grandfather owned. His grandmother from the other side of the family tried to run the store but had no background or knowledge of running a business, the employees saw this and that her management style was different than what they were used to, so they began to take advantage of her. Soon, his family had to close the store and sell it for a cheaper price. Also, the employee they rented their duplex from had also started to take advantage of his family and kept raising their rent. Eventually forcing his family from the duplex.

Bulletproof’s parents tried to provide. His dad was a truck driver. His mom, unable to find a job to her content, changed jobs many times. They wanted him to believe that he and his family were middle class, but he began to notice they were actually poor. His parents left him with his brother and cousins a lot, making them his example to life. Bulletproof learned from the direction of his brother…until his brother began to get in trouble with the law and in school. He was soon given the choice of reform school or moving to Tennessee to live with his mom. Of course, he chose his mom’s.

When he was 12 years old, Bulletproof’s great grandma passed away, leaving his family her home. He felt he was different to his peers. His family being less fortunate made him a little different than the rest and quite possibly a little strange! So he turned to drugs for comfort, also he turned to different kinds of music. This music included metal, Psychopathic Records and of course, Tech N9ne.

This is the same time that he started really hearing Tech N9ne’s music. He was captivated by the message Tech was putting out there, he was impressed by the speed in which Tech could lay his words. But most of all, he could relate with the stories Tech was telling. He felt it was so close to his own life and story. Bulletproof will always remember that Anghellic was the first album that he really heard, this would keep him listening to Tech, keeping this young man from feeling alone, not just in the world, but his own mind as well.

Inspired by Tech N9ne, Bulletproof wrote his first rhyme at 12 years old. His dad’s adopted son laughed at him but that didn’t stop Bulletproof. He stayed true to his self-given name. By the age of 15, he was recording his own music. When he doubted his own skills, his friend Nick aka LaChe pushed him to continue. Together, Bulletproof and LaChe met Big Young aka The Fool. Big Young had made music all his life and was signed to Black Market Records until he was incarcerated in 1992. Big Young became a influence on Bulletproof. Though Bulletproof still found trouble, he credits Big Young to keeping him from finding more trouble.

While many parts of his life were falling into place, Bulletproof’s family life began to turn again. His mom left his dad and took him out of school because of the many problems he was having there. Finding himself in fights, unable to get to class, and in trouble with his teachers, his mom believed that him going to work would be a better option. Bulletproof saw his dad struggling to pay bills so he resorted to selling weed to help.

Soon after this new twist, he and Big Young started making music together. Though his music was starting to come together, Bulletproof had deep-running conflicts of right and wrong. He had failing relationships with in his family, with so-called friends and with females. But Bulletproof kept his story flowing.

His music today is from his heart and his flow is an art form. Through his smoky voice, he tells his story and speaks his mind. The passions in his music are definitely portrayed through how he puts it all together.

If he never heard Tech N9ne, would Bulletproof have found his voice? Would he have made it through his self-doubt of his own sanity? These are answers that may never be known, but it is known that Bulletproof has made it through.

He may continue to struggle but there is a possibility that others will hear his music and maybe one day, be telling the tale of how Bulletproof inspired them and kept them sane through the insanity of their life.

- Written by Sara Ellars, Strange Music Blog Contributor

Follow Sara on Twitter: @saraellars

Click here for music from Bulletproof and Big Young.

Like Bulletproof and Big Young on Facebook.

“That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell just as sweet.”
-William Shakespeare. England. 1595

“What’s sizzlin’?!”
-Josh Smith. Jacksonville. 2009

Timeless tales of forbidden love come in all shapes and forms, and the story of devoted Technicians Krystin and Josh Smith could surely give Romeo & Juliet a run for their money. Krystin grew up on the west side of Jacksonville, Florida, where – standing at 4’9”, 70lbs – she fought through the hardships of both a ghetto community on the outside and a horrible family life on the inside. She was mentally and emotionally trapped, with nowhere to go.

“I never got along with my family. My mother was bringing home different guys every night, my older brother was too wrapped up in himself and didn’t have time for me or my younger sister so I turned to drugs. Most of my memory of back then is me and mom throwing shit at each other screaming and when I couldn’t take anymore I’d go in my room, lock my door, light a blunt and hit the play button.”

Everybody has their music of choice for getting through their troubles – like thousands across America, Krystin would usually turn to the highly-effective mood music of the Insane Clown Posse from a very young age. It was only a matter of time before she discovered the King of Darkness himself – Mr. Tech N9ne.

“Tech’s music instantly took me into a world where I wasn’t alone. He reminded me every day that I’m not insane and even if I was that it’s okay because if I never belonged in this world, Strangeland’s doors would never close on my face.”

Tech’s music grew even more near and dear to Krystin when she was 16. While visiting her mother for the Christmas holidays and her birthday in 2009 (her birthday is New Year’s Eve), Krystin spent most of her time in her own world listening to Tech N9ne while watching her older brother play Xbox.

One day, one of her brothers’ friends came to visit and overheard Tech’s voice playing through her speakers…that friend was Josh Smith.

“He started singing along, looked at me with a smile and said ‘Whats Sizzlin?!’ That’s when my world changed We became friends and fell in love and not just the ‘I’m only saying it because I want to know what love is’ kind.”

Unfortunately, what was so far the greatest moment in Krystin’s life would soon turn into a horrible nightmare. Her mother refused to accept her relationship with Josh, and was willing to go to truly terrifying lengths in order to keep them apart. What would happen next is disturbing and heartbreaking.

“She saw how happy I was and she envied it, hated me for it (she admitted this later in life), so she tried to take him away. First she lied, telling me she put a restraining order on him. Then we moved and things got worse because she found out he was still trying to be with me. So she fought back hard and took me down with her. She tied me down with tow straps and shaved my head completly bald. She burned all of my clothes and made me wear a prison uniform. I wasn’t allowed to leave the kitchen or the living room and I was only let out to use the bathroom once every two hours. I could only eat once a day and I had to eat hot dogs which she knew would make me sick. She forged my name on my drop-out papers, ruining my education. I went through this for six months and the whole time I listened to Tech and he motivated me not to give up.”

Through all of the horrors Krystin experienced, it was the motivation of Tech N9ne that kept her seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. She stuck to her guns, held strong, and finally her mother gave up and decided to gradually cut her loose.

It had been almost a year since Krystin and Josh met, and they were forced into making a choice – get married, or forget about it all. The choice was easy. In November, 2010, Krystin’s mother allowed her and Josh to meet once to discuss wedding details – they were to get married in February 2011. The great news also meant one horrible thing for Krystin, though…three more months locked up in her mothers’ house, back to her old schedule of bathroom every two hours and hot dogs once a day. Until she turned 18 (when she was to be kicked out of her house), Krystin was totally under her mother’s supervision.

Christmas came and went, and Krystin began to feel strange leading up to her 18^th birthday…it turns out the emotional roller coaster still had a few twists in store:

“I asked her if for my birthday she could take me to the doctor just to make sure everything was okay before she kicked me out. Three days after my birthday I found out I was pregnant. Florida’s Department of Children and Families somehow caught wind of what was happening and we had to do family counselling before we got married. Unfortunately I knew if I wanted to keep this baby marriage wasn’t an option so we called it off.”

With her family in turmoil and the wedding cancelled, Krystin’s baby was the only thing her and Josh had to look forward to. They found out it would be a boy and chose a name – Cameron Yates Smith.  As the date of their would-have-been wedding approached, fate dealt them one last ugly card…

“Right around Valentines day 2011 – when I was four months pregnant – I had a miscarriage. It was the most painful thing I’ve ever been through mentally and physically.”

Of all the struggles, hardships, and abuse from her own mother Krystin was forced to endure throughout her life, nothing could compare to the pain of losing Cameron Yates.

Krystin and Josh are warriors, survivors. Having gone through things together at a very young age that nobody should have to go through at all, they’ve managed to stay strong and stick together. A miscarriage would totally destroy some people and cause them to give up, but Krystin’s brought her and Josh even closer and has made them fight even harder.

“The wedding was put back on, we got married and now we are further south and homeless but proud and still happy that we have each other. We still listen to Tech everyday in our shitty lives but when we aren’t motivating each other, Tech has always been there to pick up the pieces.”

Krystin and Josh got married in March of 2011, while Tech N9ne toured across Canada on the Canuck The Industry Tour, having no idea the impact he was having on the lives of these two brave Jacksonville Technicians.

Surely, a very special place will be saved for them in Strangeland.

- Written by Eric D’Intino

• What did you think of this story?
• Has Strange Music brought you together with your loved one?

Let us know in the comments section below!

Meet Sarah Elkins: one tough gal. Her life over the past two years has been a study in misadventure.

Sarah found herself pregnant. In August of 2010, her doctor sat her down and informed her that her baby girl kept having heart attacks in the womb–a condition so rare the medical world doesn’t even have a name for it.

The rest of her pregnancy was spent in a constant state of worry. When her daughter was born, the doctors found that the heart attacks had ceased but had turned some of the tissue on and around her heart into scar tissue. She would live, but she would have to see a cardiologist every six months to monitor tissue growth, an expensive venture for a family of five.

Life for the Elkins family settled down to a normal pace. Two months later, news came that rocked Sarah to the core. Her husband Sam was diagnosed with testicular cancer.

When I first received the news I was shocked. Tears started flowing instantly, but there was no time for grief. I was pressured to get everything ready for his emergency surgery that was scheduled three days later. They also were going to start his on chemo treatments a week after that. I didn’t have much time to soak in the news.

One of Sarah’s biggest worries..explaining the situation to the children.

We told the kids about his cancer when they arrived home from school that night. I told them what my grandfather had told my brother when he was succumbing to the disease. Cancer is like mold on cheese, it starts out small and spreads everywhere eventually taking over the cheese and leaving nothing. I explained to them that their father was going to have surgery to remove some of the cancer and that he would have to take special medicine at the hospital to get rid of the rest. They had a hard time coping with everything as any kids their age would in such a situation. Neither one of them really had a severe reaction when they found out. I don’t think they could comprehend what was going to happen. Each day we all watched his health decline as the chemo made him more sick and weak; eventually the kids curiosity of disease turned into fear for their daddy. We all struggled through those six months and we are still trying to recover from it all. Some days it seems so surreal. They say that God only puts on your plate what you can eat; apparently he thought we were starving to death.

During the time that Sam had to take off of work, he started having problems with his ankle. It turns out when Sam was born, his ankle did not form properly. Instead of having a normal, functioning joint, they found out Sam’s bones were not formed normally. Sam had to have yet another surgery to form an ankle out of his pre-existing bone. He also had to have surgery on his spine to replace three herniated disks, the result of not walking correctly for his entire life. Pain and arthritis were commonplace.

Six months of chemotherapy later, Sam went into remission, the absence of disease. One would think this would be a joyous occasion, but the joy turned out to be short lived. During the time of his treatments, not one, but both of their Grandmothers passed away.

Sam was close with his grandmother, but he took the news really well. Her health was bad and we all knew she would be going soon which made it easier for him to deal with. My grandmother and I hadn’t spoken in a few years. Our lack of a relationship made her death harder to cope with for me. Its hard to even write this knowing how many chances I had to see her and didn’t. Now I don’t have the chance. I loved her very much and still do, but if I had a second chance I would call her everyday.

Then, the final blow. A very close friend of the family died due to a ongoing heart condition.

How do you stay sane when you continuously get hit with horrible news?

We tried to stay as positive as possible and let everything run its course. Music was a big emotional outlet for us and the kids; we listened to a lot of Tech, Krizz and ¡MAYDAY!.

Sarah was introduced to Strange Music by a friend. After she heard Tech N9ne, she was hooked. Soon, her children were listening in as well, and Sarah is fine with it.

Music is an art form…I try not to censor what the kids listen to. I myself couldn’t live without it. “Absolute Power”, “The Beast”, “Dysfunctional”, “Show Me A God”, these are just a few songs that keep me going on a daily basis. I used to do work for the Strange Music Street Team and we just recently started up our own production company, ’4 0 Six Entertainment’ so we can continue to support Strange Music any way we can. I have met a few of the label’s artists on several occasions, and I am always so stoked on how cool they are. They are real people. There is no “rockstar” attitudes. They talk to you like they have known you forever. I appreciate that.”

Sarah ended up going down to her local tattoo shop. After all she had been through, and for all that is to come, she wanted to get a tattoo to remind her of why it is important to keep going, even in the face of adversity.

It is the intro to the song “Absolute Power”, and it runs backwards on my back.

One day I was so intrigued to know what he was saying that I had my husband run it backwards for me so I could understand it. The beauty and simplicity of the poem inspired me to realize that every situation can be beautiful when looked at from a different perspective. That’s when I decided that it would make the best tattoo to represent me as I stand today. It’s a permanent reminder to myself that today is a new day and even if the day is bad I can just look at it backwards and it will be beautiful!

Sarah and her family have been through a lot these past months. When asked what she would say to others that are dealing with their own hardships, she leaves us with the following.

“If I had to give advice to someone in my shoes I would quote ¡MAYDAY:

‘Up and down it goes, ride these highs and lows. I ‘ve been up and down, down and up that’s just the way it goes.’”

- Written by Meagen Clark

• What did you think of Sarah’s story?

Leave your thoughts in the comments section below!

TJ Rackley has been a Strange Music fan from the young age of 11. The Texas native has seen a lot of strife in his 17 years.

When TJ was in elementary school, his mother started having seizures. They found out she was suffering from epilepsy.

“I remember when I was in 3rd grade, she picked me up from school and we went to the corner store. She ended up having a Grand Mal seizure right there in the store. I was so young, I thought she was dead. They rushed her to the hospital. I don’t remember everything that happened, as my Dad would hide a lot of it from me.”

TJ’s mother not only struggled with epilepsy, she began to have horrible stomach pains. The doctors said that she had ulcers amongst other problems and scheduled her for surgery. After that, things went from bad to worse.

“She had a lot of pain, so they prescribed a bunch of pain medicine. Then she started getting anxiety attacks so they prescribed her Xanax.  I guess she really liked the feeling, because she started taking it more and more. She was fully addicted.”

TJ’s parents, their relationship already strained, ended up getting divorced. TJ found himself living with his grandparents. His mother went to rehab.

TJ found solace in Strange.

“I started listening to strange when Everready came out. I think I was around 11. When I listen to strange, I can relate to it. It’s not just music that talks about bitches, money and drugs. I know some of the music gets buck as fuck, but it’s not the only things they rap about. And I respect that.”

TJ has made it to four shows and has the lyrics to “One Good Time” tattooed on his leg. He plans on dedicating that same leg to nothing but Strange Music tattoos.

He lists Kutt Calhoun and Tech as his favorite artists, closely followed by Jay Rock and Brotha Lynch Hung. “Hey Hey Hey”, “One Good Time” and ‘The Last Sad Song‘ make his daily play list as well as “All By My Lonely“ and “Calling My Name”.

“Strange Music definitely has had a positive effect on my life. I love the fact that all the artists are all about their fans.”

TJ has such a love for hip-hop that he is about to start recording and produce his own music.

His inspirations? Strange Music and also the artist Flawless Real Talk.

His aspirations? To eventually work with Strange Music.

TJ is also busying himself with going back to school to get his GED. He has a two-month-old daughter, who has brought not only joy but responsibility to his life. The mother of his child has also been a key component for TJ piecing his life back together, as well as his sister, who is currently in school to become a pastor.

When asked what advice he would give to folks who are going through hard times, TJ lays it down proper.

“Keep your head up. Everything gets better if you just keep faith in god. He put you on this Earth for a reason. Listen to some Strange Music. It will make your day better.”

TJ would like to give shout outs to his mother and his friends Brandon Perez and Dalton Anderson.

- Written by Meagen Couch

• What did you think of TJ’s story?

Leave your thoughts in the comments section below!

For a select few, merchandise can be far more than just a way to represent – it can be a hobby of sorts.  Shiven Desai of Chicago, IL has taken his love for all things Strange and used it to gather an impressive collection of t-shirts, jerseys, jackets, and even rare one of a kind pieces once worn by Tech N9ne.  The large collection has taken him several years to put together, but his hunt for the best Strange Music merchandise has helped him acquire unbelievably unique items.  Shiven shared with us just what it was that drew him in:

“In 2008, I noticed that Tech was about to be the number 1 independent rapper in the world. Before wearing much Tech merch I used to wear only Psychopathic merch for 10 years every day straight. So after Killer dropped and  it was announced he became the number 1 independent rapper, which was a great accomplishment, I started collecting a lot more Strange merch. I started listening to Tech in 2002 and had a couple of shirts here and there. The reason I buy so much merch is because the merch quality of the t-shirts, jerseys, hoodies, etc. are a good material and because he’s the greatest rapper alive. Since 2009 though I wear Strange merch every day.”

“I got my rare merch from the promoter who worked for Strange when I first started with the street team. I’ve never had the opportunity to show Tech, but I got Kutt’s signature from the Strange Noize Tour with Potluck on the ‘Bout Ta Bubble’ workshirt.”

Not everyone may understand what it is that could drive a person to want a collection like this, but as Shiven explained, it’s about much more than just the merchandise itself:

“People ask me all the time why I spend so much money on Strange merch, and I simply say, ‘Because it’s one of the greatest labels out there.’  Strange treats their fans like an equal, VIP packages are well-worth paying for, the 50% off sales Strange does, are off the chain.  Nothing will ever be able to compete with this label.”

Shiven even shared his ever growing list of Strange Music merchandise – it’s quite a lot:

With Tech N9ne’s “Hostile Takeover 2012″ Tour on its way, fans like Shiven will now have another opportunity at owning some of the most sought after Strange Music merch items.  For now, Shiven can proudly display his truly unique slice of Strangeland.

-Victor Sandoval, Assistant Editor Strange Music

Follow Victor on Twitter: @VicMSandoval

• Have you ever seen a collection like this one?
• Do you collect Strange Music merchandise?

Let us know in the comments below!

]]> http://blog.therealtechn9ne.com/2012/02/strange-music/fan-feature-nothing-will-ever-be-able-to-compete-with-this-label/feed/ 1 http://blog.therealtechn9ne.com/2012/01/tech-n9ne/troop-speaks-on-uso-show/ http://blog.therealtechn9ne.com/2012/01/tech-n9ne/troop-speaks-on-uso-show/#comments Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:41:17 +0000 Jason Ours http://blog.therealtechn9ne.com/?p=26249

How far did you travel to work today…10 miles?…15 miles?…30 miles?  CPL Jeff Massong from Yakima, Washington traveled 6,784 miles and hasn’t been back from work for three years. Stationed at Camp Beuhring in Kuwait, Iraq, CPL Massong utilizes the raw power of Strange Music to get him through an “average” day:

“Time to hit up a mission, got you [Strange Music] in my earbuds, time to hit the gym, got you in my earbuds, time to clean my weapon, got you in my earbuds.  Music gets me through my days over here.”

A resident of Strangeland ever since first hearing “This Ring” while he was in high school, CPL Massong was in for a pleasant surprise when Tech N9ne showed up at Camp Beuhring for one of the stops on his USO show roster.  Even more of a surprise was that the CPL wasn’t aware Tech was even there.

“I had gotten off work at about 19:20 and as I walked outside I heard music and was like ‘Hold up, I know this song!’  I had read that Tech was going to be doing his first ever USO tour a few days before that and then it all clicked.  I sprinted to the stage where the show was going on and instantly ran up front and found my way through the crowd!  Tech and Big Krizz had the crowd pumped!  It was so good to see all my brothers and sisters in arms having some fun and jumping on the ‘Strange bus’!”

One of the most memorable moments of Tech’s USO tour was him performing “The Noose” for the first time live to the audience that inspired him to write it: the troops.  “The Noose” is one of the more controversial songs in Tech N9ne’s gamut as it addresses the sensitive subject of suicide among troops returning home–a very real threat.  CPL Massong had this to say of “The Noose” –

“It’s  a song that a lot of people don’t get, but for those of us that have really seen what goes on behind the curtain and know what it’s all about, the suicide rate of military members is no joke.  It’s good that Tech brought this song to light and it’s good to have a strong figure voice his opinion on this subject, much love for that track.”

CPL Massong will be coming home in mid-2012, after his four-year stint is done and he plans on attending school for Law Enforcement – “So if you get pulled over and you hear Strange Music bumping out of the squad car, you know who it is!”

To the fans, CPL Massong says “Strange Music shows their fans the best time. Do yourself a favor and jump on board!”

As for CPL Massong’s family and friends back home, he says “I miss and love you all, and I can’t wait to get back home and have some fun!  Hope ya’ll are as ready as I am!”

A special thank you CPL Jeff Massong for both this interview and everything you do, Godspeed!

Leave your well wishes for Corporeal Jeff Massong in the comments section below!