TECH N9NE

Although I am fairly new to the genre of Rap and Hip-hop, I have found a mentor. His name is Aaron Dontez Yates, A.K.A. Tech N9ne.  This man is not only an extremely talented musician; he is a brilliant businessman.  He and his business partner and manager, Travis O'Guin, started their own independent label, Strange Music, located in Kansas City, Missouri. This label now also houses publishing, merchandising, booking, and touring.

First and foremost, I respect his originality- from his appearance, to his style of music.  He does not conform to what society expects from him.  According to Billboard Magazine, “N9ne started his rap career with a simple dream: to bring his music to the world without compromising his style or integrity” (Mitchell, 2009). 

I also respect his business sense.  His label realizes that it’s the fans that made them successful.  Without the fans, they wouldn’t be anywhere as successful as they are today.  Tech N9ne and his label go out of their way to make it a personal experience for their fans, for example he frequently tours all over the world, offers free merchandise to his fans, as well as his involvement with social media to interact with his fans.  According to Tech, if you “take care of your customers,and they will take care of you” (Alonzo, 2013).

What fascinates me most is how he made a name for himself without the use of radio promotion.  He created his buzz on his own merit. He had no problem performing in front of seven people, because he knew they would spread the word of his awesome talent. He gained his following “one fan at a time” (Mitchell, 2009). Today, he performs for sold out shows all over the world. Tech also utilizes his street teams from all over, to spread the word about him; by offering prospective fans sample CDs of his music.

         Tech N9ne and his label, Strange Music, are the future of underground Hip-Hop. His talent and his admiration for his fans will continue to help him prevail long into the future.  I wish him continued success with his future endeavors.

Austin, A. (2013). Let These Aspiring Hip-Hop Moguls Drop Some   Wisdom. Kansas City Business Journal.

        http://m.bizjournals.com/kansascity/print-edition/2013/09/20/entrepreneur-let-these-aspiring.html?r=full

Mitchell, G. (2009). Nine Lives. Billboard, 121(26), 20-21.