Tech N9ne Explains Executive VP Role At Strange Music With Ballerstatus (Interview)

In the past few years, Kansas City rapper Tech N9ne has emerged as one of biggest hip-hop acts in the biz, despite doing everything independently through his Strange Music label. He's done well. So well, in fact, that in his nearly 20-year career, he's has sold over 1 million units collectively.

While it's his solo career that generates the majority of the Strange Music's profits -- via CD sales, a rigorous touring schedule, and merchandising -- the rapper is becoming quite the businessman, helping the label generate revenue elsewhere through their growing roster of artists.

At Strange Music, Tech holds the title of Executive Vice President, where he works hand-in-hand with CEO Travis O'Guin in making the big decisions.

While in L.A. for a show earlier this month, we caught up with Tech to find out exactly what his duties as a label executive entails.

"I'm the n**** that brings in all the acts. A lot of clothing you see, Travis will run it through me: 'What do you think?'" Tech explained to BallerStatus.com. "As vice president, I sit beside Travis ... when I'm there. We put things together ... together, whether it be merchandise, whether it be the tours. We do everything 50/50 man. Whenever I come back from a tour, he runs it all down to me. If I say 'Yah', we go.

As an exec, Tech has helped sign several artists to Strange Music. Their most recent signee is veteran horrorcore rapper Brotha Lynch Hung, who dropped his label debut Dinner and a Movie in late March.

As a fan of Lynch since his 1993 debut 24 Deep, Tech brought the Sacramento rapper to the label, but it was important, he says, to make sure felt at home. As an artist himself, who's been through ups and downs in his own career, Tech says the treatment of his artists are one of his top priorities ... and so far, so good.

"When people weren't being true [in my career], it let me learn what not to do when it come to my artists. Or to be 100 with my artists and not be shady ... hide money, do all kind of stupid sh**," Tech N9ne explained. "To have Brotha Lynch Hung over here, happy; to have Krizz Kaliko over here, happy; Kutt Calhoun over here, happy; Cognito over here, happy; Big Scoob over here, happy. That's a big thing. Means we're doing it right.

"It lets me sit back and say 'Yes, I did something correct'. "

Even with the "vice president" label on his resume, Tech N9ne says he's still 100% focused on the music side of things, entrusting O'Guin to handle everything, business-wise, day-to-day.

"I don't balance it," the rapper admitted. "Travis handles everything else at home, because I do too much on the artist side. I'm touring, I'm in the studio 24/7. That's why I keep a Blackberry, because it's the business phone. Travis keeps me up to speed on everything."

With all Tech's success, we asked if he plans to retire from music sometime in the future to focus more on label duties. To sum up his answer: "never."

"Music is in my veins ... in my bones. I don't think I'm ever gonna be able to stop until I die man," the rapper said. "I tried to stop around Killer time. I'm 38 years old, and move up there like I'm 19. I'm getting stronger. My hair's getting longer and I'm stronger. I'mma keep moving until my ankles don't work no more."

Strange Music are not resting on its laurels. They have a full schedule of projects set to drop throughout 2010.

Tech N9ne just dropped a five-song EP called the Lost Scripts of K.O.D. weeks ago, but is planning the release of a K.O.D. DVD, a third collabos album called The Ollie Gates Mixed Plate in July, a new solo project from Krizz Kaliko called Shock Treatment, the June release of Kutt Calhoun's Raw And Un-Kut, Cognito's Automatic, and another solo album from Big Scoob. (June 8) (source)

Crooked I Interview With BallerStatus

BallerStatus.com: When I first heard the title of your EP, Mr. Pigface Weapon Waist, I automatically thought of the law boys.

Crooked I: (laughs)

BallerStatus.com: I'm thinking, "Okay, what's this about?" How did you decided on that title for your EP?

Crooked I: When we do Slaughterhouse shows, I used to come on stage with a pig mask. So, a lot of the fans started calling me "Pig Face" ... Then the "Weapon Waist" came from a song that I did ... "The Warriors". That's on Royce Da 5'9's Street Hop. They call me "Weapon Waist." Everybody in Slaughterhouse, they say, when I'm drunk, they say I become Weapon Waist. My temper is this short.

BallerStatus.com: Now, what kind of material is going to be on it?

Crooked I: When I first made the EP, it was for the summer. I made that EP a long time ago. I wanted to make some summertime music for Cali. When you're in Cali and it's summer, people like to drop their tops and people like to ride around. That's what I did it for. What ended up happening was one of the songs had a sample on it ... the particular group, which I don't wish to name right now, because I have more samples from this group. They didn't want to clear that particular sample. So, it took a long time, like back and forth back and forth. Pretty soon, the summer was over by that time.

Now, the concepts on there were very rebellious, because, like I said, when I get too many drinks in me, that's Weapon Waist, right there. He got a short temper, so the concept was like very rebellious. Like Jay-Z did "Death of Autotune" -- It's like they want to see the death of West coast sh**. I could feel it, you know what I mean? I can feel it. I've been all around the world. I've been in this industry for a long time. A lot of people want to see the death of West Coast sh**. So, the whole thing was, we're not buying it. This is what we're doing, so accept it! That's where it came from. I don't know. (laughs)

Read the full Crooked I interview here:
BallerStatus - Crooked I Keeps It 100 — Talks Industry Politics, the New West, Ghosting Writing & More

Cypress Hill: B-Real says new album out in October plus their recent Eurockeenes Music Festival show in France photos & video posted

In this interview, B-Real talks about the 'Unite the Mic' joint forces tour with Bizzy Bone, his 'Smoke N Mirrors' release and a all new Cypress Hill release coming in October.

As reported by Baller Status

B-Real confides to BallerStatus.com that in October the latest, yet to be titled, Cypress Hill album will be released. "We're going to be doing our Cypress Hill Smoke Out in October to coincide with our record release."




You Tube video as B-Real and Cypress Hill were close to rappping up recording of the yet untitled album filmed back in March of this year.



Check out the photos (along with other artists) and video posted online from Cypress Hill's one off show at the "Eurockeenes Music Festival 2009" in Belfort, France Sunday July 5:

Rex Features

Cypress Hill
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