Chris Corn is an everyday average guy. He is 29, and a Colorado native. He keeps it Strange, like the rest of us. The major difference between most of us, and this soft spoken, intelligent guy is that he has stage 3 Brain Cancer, Oligoasrocytoma. When I called to interview Chris, it was one of the hardest interviews I have ever done. I have had my own experiences with cancer, and of course, none of them were good. Strange music helped me pull through the hard times, and the story is no different for Chris. Continue reading

The trip from Tech N9ne’s hometown of Kansas City, Missouri to Northeast Pennsylvania is a little over 1000 miles: a far way for any person to travel, but a short hop for the powerful lyrical genius of Tech N9ne.  The sounds of Tech and the rest of the Strange Music family found their way to Jamie Snyder’s ears in the early stages.  Jamie Snyder was an average kid during his freshman year of high school in 2006 when he first heard Tech’s banger “I’m a Playa” and has been hooked ever since. Continue reading

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“Tingling baby got me feeling like mingling baby, this is hella higher learning than singleton baby. One minute I’m cold, next one I’m heat. Get me some big red, so I don’t grind my teeth.” - “T9X”, Absolute Power

Tech is infamous for songs with smooth, sexy beats that make you want to take your clothes off and slither, and if you happen to be tripping, you can feel them tingle up your spine, sway your hips, and lock your brainstem into a true Strangeland. “T9X”, “Trapped in a Psychos Body”, “Poisonous”, “Shadows on the Road”, just to name a few off the top of my head, if you know these songs, if you have ever felt these words captivate you like I have, you know Tech must have been tripping something serious.

It’s hardly possible these days to go to a show, where someone isn’t under the influence of something. Hip Hop shows are famous for alcohol, ecstasy, coke, marijuana, and many other kinds of drugs. Drugs are highly influential, to singer/songwriters and artists all over.

Jason Logsdon of English, Indiana, an artist of sorts, and die-hard Tech fan, going back to K.O.D., is one of the many who likes to open his mind, and let the music creep inside and give him I would like to think and might be able to relate too, a sense of a deeper understanding of the music that leaks from the mouths of the artists on Strange Music.

Jason attended his first Tech show 4 years ago, in Louisville, Kentucky, while only under the influence of alcohol. While Tech spits many a verse about alcohol and drugs, and have many songs like “KC Tea”, and “Caribou Lou”, I have found and experienced that mixed drinks at the shows are often almost necessary, but never anything close to as good as they should be. It’s rare to find a venue that will serve 151 Bacardi Rum, with a “Caribou Lou”. If you have ever listened to “Riot Maker” you would understand why.

An event that Jason describes to me of his substance induced state-of-mind played out to me like this; he built a circus style tent, and him and three buddies of his, indulged in a wide range of drugs, including marijuana, whippettes, whiskey, and some other unmentionables that I have decided to leave unnamed.

“Seriously we listened to Sickology for a month, every night one November. I didn’t sleep the whole month. I don’t remember that November,” says Jason.

“Dysfunctional” by Tech N9ne, is Jason’s all time favorite. His response to this song and how it makes him feel,

“Tech can be my cult leader any day!” A statement we have heard from many a Technicians worldwide.

Strange Music has had us gripped for years because of the emotional connection that Tech N9ne has with his fan base. Strange will never forget their fans, and he has proved that time and time again. This is why Jason loves everything Strange is about. It’s real.

“My impression of Tech N9ne and Strange Music, no one comes close to the quality of their work. When I heard ‘Riot Maker’ I was like blown the fuck away, but then the entire K.O.D. shit was how I feel on a daily basis. I will always be a Tech fan because his music speaks to me in ways no one else’s shit does. Yes, I’m calling everything else shit. Strange Music are the only mother fuckers making music now a days.” A statement that I can agree with wholeheartedly, everyone is competing with Strange Music these days, but we all know, no one can truly touch the talent that Tech has tapped into.

We choose to pop our pills, smoke our shit, or whatever it is that gets us to where we want to be. But when it comes down to it, we all do it for the same reason. We all want to be on some level as close to the experience that we hear in many songs that Tech has put out there for us. A night of pure ecstasy you might say, as Strange Music crawls into our inner lobe. The music alone is a drug enough.

The blood, the sweat, the tears, every range of emotion so obviously behind every well chosen word, makes our connection to Tech that much more personal, that much more real, and breeds the greatest and most admiring fans. Tech has definitely put in his time, worked his overtime, and still puts out more music than any recorded artist I have ever listened to. I say, “Do what you got to do to get you to your level, sober or not, Tech will always put on the best show I have ever seen, and writes words that easily shadow a dark soul like mine.”

Tech has produced an army of addicts, addicted to his music, his movement, and everything that Strange represents. Isn’t that the best kind of drug in the world? Getting high off the fans that will always stand by your side, Tech has the best drug in the world: satisfaction.

Written by Marissa Knight

Do you remember the first Tech N9ne song you ever heard? Did it stop you in your tracks? Was music as you knew it changed forever? That was the reaction from one Denver fan, the first time Jeremy heard the unbelievably talented Tech N9ne on a road trip with friends four years ago. Driving across Kansas on I-70, an uneventful drive turned into a party when someone popped in Everready and blasted “Bout Ta Bubble”.

“I listened to the whole album multiple times on that trip and was in awe of the talent I heard,” said Jeremy. “I had never heard rap like that before, so musical with crazy fast flows and lyrics for all occasions.  When I was visiting New York, I purchased Everready and was soon introduced to Vintage Tech. From there I have purchased nearly every album and mixed tape that Tech has ever created up until now. I am so excited for the release of Welcome to Strangeland and Klusterfuk.”

Jeremy has gone through difficult times in the last couple years and has dealt with the loss of his family but being a part of Strange Music has helped him cope with that loss. Through the music, Jeremy can relate to Tech as they have shared many similar experiences in life.

“The artists on the Strange Music label never disappoint. I have personally met Tech, Krizz and Kutt as well as heard many others perform and they all amaze me with the talents they bring to the mic. I went to my first show in May of 2010 and was blown away. I have not missed a single show since then, and even made it to a private show Tech and Kutt did at the School of Mines in Golden this past year. Tech inspires me to keep going in life, never give up and do everything to my fullest potential.”

Jeremy just turned 21 and his two year anniversary is coming up in November. To celebrate, he is going to buy himself and his lady V.I.P. tickets to the Lost Cities Tour, where he hopes to have a couple of Vinyl records he purchased from the  HYPERLINK Strange Music Store signed by all of the artists there.

“I am so excited to see Tech perform again, I am encouraging all of my friends to get their ‘techn9tiative’ together and buy tickets to the upcoming show. The Kansas City King is going to throw down and it will be a party to remember. I am a huge fan and will continue to support Strange Music wherever it goes.”

Tech N9ne continues to impress fans around the world with his mad rhymes and musical talent and with yet another   tour underway and a new Collabos to be released on his birthday in November, Tech N9ne continues to increase his following with devoted fans like Jeremy .

- Written By Wendy Maddock

The release of Tech N9ne’s latest single, “The Noose”, has sparked much debate from fans all over.  Inspired by his interaction with fans who serve in the military, Tech N9ne wrote his verse with their struggles in mind.  It is said that the suicide rate within the military has  grown over the last few years, and as soldiers everywhere attempt to cope with life in a different world, Tech N9ne looks to speak up for the ones who lost hope.

Keith Karrmann of  Brookfield, Massachusetts has come to know the reality of suicide within the military through an unfortunate experience with a fellow soldier.  His four years with the US Army took him to places like Germany, Iraq, and Korea.  While a 68W Combat Medic, Keith witnessed many of the troubling things that occur during a time of service.  Through Tech N9ne’s music, Keith found both inspiration and motivation.  Reflecting on Tech’s music, Keith shared how he first came to love the music and what it meant to him:

“I really got into Tech N9ne back in 2004, at the time I was just partying non stop and one of my friends was playing Anghellic and I was instantly hooked. I really felt a connection to a lot of the material in the songs that I heard and the lyrics just really hit me.

Tech N9ne is a huge inspiration. I like to write my own music and poetry when I’m down and the darkness he shows has really brought out some deep and twisted themes in my own mind. After getting out of the military I thought I’d be happy to be home, but so much changed, people aged, things were different. I became depressed for a while, but I’ve learned who my true friends are now, and for the last two months I’ve been hitting the gym hard and blasting Tech tomotivate me while I do it. I just feel the intensity he brings to every track and try to match it with whatever I’m doing while listening to the music.”

During his time serving, Keith found that Tech’s music helped him break free and make his situation just a little better:

“I feel as if Tech N9ne’s music really helped me break out of my shell in a way. I learned to embrace the darkness in life, I remember listening to tracks like ‘Paint A Dark Picture’ and ‘Happy Ending’ over and over. Then I decided i’m just going to be who I am, say the strange stuff I say, and make life what I want it to be. I used to just sit in my barracks in Korea, getting drunk all the time alone, but then I made my way out into the village around there. I had bar owner’s downloading Tech N9ne and bumpin that shit for me all the time. It was awesome, a lot of people who heard it thanked me for introducing them to the music. So it helped me meet people and have a good time at the same time.”

Thinking over the meaning of “The Noose”, Keith opened up about his personal feelings and revealed his firsthand experience with suicide:

“I loved ‘The Noose’ the second I heard it. I actually have an extremely personal story I’m about to share that has a very close connection with this subject matter. On February 6th, 2009 I was sleeping in my tent on FOB Caldwell, Iraq,  with about 30 other soldiers and someone came in at 0530 saying they need a medic quick, I ran out barefoot and followed them to another tent about 200 ft away. When I got in they directed me to a bottom bunk four beds in on the left, I opened up the blankets the guy draped down from the top bunk to cover himself the night before. He was lying there so purple I couldn’t tell if he was black or white. He took his riggers belt from his ACU uniform and hung himself from the top bunk, strangling himself to death in his own bed. By the time I arrived he was already in a state of rigormortis and was cold to the touch. There was nothing anyone could do. I had to sit watch over the body for 5 hours until an investigation could take place, I sat in this tent with one other medic, and the dead soldier. I couldn’t help but to think, why did he do this? What could make a man take his own life? We put the soldier in a body bag and had him airlifted out in the late afternoon, it was a horrible day I’ll never forget. War is an ugly thing, it’s true. But, there’s always another way. RIP Christopher Sweet, your death taught me a lot about life.

I really hope soldiers don’t take the song the wrong way, I see it as Tech’s way of showing he respects what we go through and understands that at times we are suffering. A lot of times even the act of war is over, soldiers go through a war in their head for years upon years after the act, and it does seem like some are just ‘waiting for the end.’ His lines ‘for the young soldiers who do exactly what they are told to do, damn, do exactly what they told to do, defend the country and uphold the crew, but give my one and only soul for you.’ That shit rang in my ears, I remember so many times being told to do things I didn’t agree with, but had to do it anyway. I carry some of this shit with me to this day, and that’s why I write music, it helps get my thoughts, regrets, and stress out of my head. I know Tech N9ne is paying respects and I truly feel a deep connection with this track, I hope other soldiers and veterans feel the same way when they hear it.”

While the rest of the world decides where they stand on the message behind “The Noose”, Keith knows exactly what Tech N9ne’s state of mind was going into it.  His unique and personal story helps shed light on the lives that are affected by things like war.  Keith’s experience is sure to ring true for many of our brave men and women serving within the US Army and other branches of defense.  Like many of our fans, Keith was excited to share his story and left us with some lighter closing words:

“I don’t know if you can put a link to my soundclick.com page somewhere in there.  I’m not a serious rapper, I just do it for fun with my laptop and $50 mic, but hope to one day be good enough to put some real stuff together I’d like to give a shout out to the two other Technicians who I met while overseas Tim Turner and Kelsey Scott…We almost died when that ‘KC Tea’ song came out.  Haha.  Thanks again!”

-Victor Sandoval, Assistant Editor Strange Music

Follow Victor on Twitter: @VicMSandoval

As the number of fans for Strange Music continues to grow all over the world, many fans have looked to these artists to help create their own music. Some have hopes of being good enough in their trade to be able to sign with Strange in the future, while others post YouTube videos of percussion arrangements produced on some of the albums. There is one fan, however, who has taken her talent to canvas. Heather Colon, a native to Florida and fan of Strange Music, began drawing in high school to make time for herself. She was the oldest of two other siblings in a single-parent household. With her mom working anywhere from three to four jobs at a time, taking care of her younger sisters and attempting to have a social life took up the bulk of her time.

“The last 3 years of high school I finally gave art class a try, and found that the teacher would leave me to my own devices, since I believe he felt that I had enough natural skill that with practice my talent would blossom on is own.”

Over the summer, Heather took the time to began drawing her favorite rapper, Tech N9ne, and vocalist, Krizz Kaliko. She currently owns all of Tech N9ne’s discography and three albums from Krizz Kaliko; Vitiligo, Shock Treatment, and Genius.

“After four years of not drawing anything, I was inspired by tech and decided to draw him, and stunned myself at the finished piece. And if it hadn’t been for Tech N9ne, my first completed portrait may never have happened.”

Heather has some of her masterpieces available of the artists available to fans who will ask. She hopes to one day be able to deliver her finished artwork to the artists herself. Heather is currently looking to attend a concert in California during The Lost Cities Tour. Who knows? She just might be able to fulfill her dreams. When asked what she would say to her favorite artist, Heather responded:

“Can I assist Liquid 9 with your next album’s cover art?”

Written by Ebony Brown

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He steps onto the stage wearing his work uniform and nametag.  He forgot to bring a change of clothes after a twelve hour shift at CVS. The crowd roars with enthusiasm and he greets them with smiles and handshakes. The DJ drops the beat and the bass booms throughout the tiny venue in Rhode Island.  Everybody begins to nod their heads to the beat as they hang on his every word. He performs tongue-twisting verses with the charisma and style of a rap veteran.  However, he is only twenty-one.

His name is Kyle Gobern and he is the Passionate MC.

Passion studies the lyrical abilities of KRS-ONE, Canibus, and most importantly, Tech N9ne.

“The second verse on Mental Giant blew my mind. The enunciation of the words and the twists he put on his language is incredible.  The flow and rhyme patterns Tech uses made me so much more aware of the boundaries I can push as an artist. Tech N9ne shows there are no limitations to what you can do as an emcee. Many artists have solid lyrics but Tech combines both. The way you say something is just as important as the content.”

Tech’s influence on Passion doesn’t end with rapping techniques.  Passion’s mother has struggled with various surgeries and medical procedures.  Passion knows the struggles Tech’s mother has faced medically and it is comforting to see that Tech has kept his faith and hope alive.

“My mom is such a strong woman.  She has worked so hard and suffered so much in her life. I want to help her out and make sure she is set for life.”

Passion takes Tech’s strongest qualities and tries to incorporate them into his music and life.

“Just looking at where Tech started and where he is now is crazy. His persistence and refusal to conform are things I really admire.  I give everything to Hip-Hop. I’ve made so many sacrifices to do what I do. Tech’s showed me that it is tough but it’s worth it. I listen to ‘So Lonely’ all the time and I feel like that. I spend twenty hours a day practicing, studying, performing, networking, and writing.”

Passion caught his biggest break when he had the opportunity to open up for Hopsin.

“Everybody looks over the importance of a live show but Tech doesn’t.  He actually puts on a performance. Tech has connected with so many people through his shows and I’m trying to do that.”

A couple of months after the show Hopsin appeared on “Am I a Psycho?”

“I’m pretty tight with Hop and it was awesome to see Tech reach out to artists who have faced the same struggles as him.”

Kyle continues to grind and build his fan base. Passion has already appeared on tracks with underground favorites like Canibus.  However, Passion won’t stop until everyone knows his name.

“Remember me because you will hear me on a track with Tech.”

WATCH
Passionate MC rips the mic for his entry into the “RA The Rugged Man’s Murderous Lyricist” Contest

A Fan Feature by Evan F. Lancia.

Whether it’s used to brighten up an already great day or used as a therapeutic measure in time of need, Tech N9ne’s music is always there, comforting those who have found a deeper connection to tracks like “This Ring” and “Show Me A God”.

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