Tech N9ne & E-40

Out of the Midwest, Tech N9ne broke all of the rules, subverted expectations, dumbfounded the system, and set a precedent for hip-hop and independent music often imitated (but never duplicated) by generations to follow. At the helm of his own Strange Music proudly based in Kansas City, MO since 2000, he has personally notched four platinum singles, eleven gold singles, and two gold albums. As a whole, the Strange Music catalog also houses 23 RIAA gold and platinum records. The company’s Kansas City headquarters consists of six buildings: Strange Music (label offices), Strangeland (recording studios, soundstage), Strange World (merchandise manufacturing plant), Strange Box (vehicles), Strange Carwash, and Strange Works (construction company). Representing the underground, Tech is practically “a regular” on the Forbes “Cash Kings” list. Beyond gracing the cover of XXL and the stage of ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live!, he wound up on the playlist of none other than Sir Elton John and performing to 1 million-plus at the parade for the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory. He’s the only artist (on this planet) who has collaborated with Eminem, Tupac, Lil Wayne, and Kendrick Lamar as well as The Doors, Slipknot, System of a Down, Deftones, Jelly Roll, and MGK. He holds down the record for “most Top 10 albums on the Billboard Rap Chart” and staked a spot in the Top 5 of the Billboard 200 four times. On top of a thriving self-sufficient merchandising empire, he notably joined forces with Kansas City’s own Boulevard Brewery for his craft beer Bou Lou. After three decades in the game, the rapper landed “the biggest hit of his career” with 2021’s “Face Off” featuring Joey Cool, King Iso, and none other than megastar Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. In unprecedented fashion, he ignited TikTok, generated a quarter-of-a-billion streams, and incited a frenzy from Variety, People, TMZ, NY Post, Today, and Entertainment Weekly. Tech N9ne continued his journey in 2023 with the acclaimed BLISS and more to come.