Celebrating “Cafeina Day”, ¡MAYDAY! hit the stage and smashed through a high energy performance for the hometown crowd. Fans heading to Tech N9ne’s “Hostile Takeover 2012″ Tour can expect to see the Miami monsters performing brand new material and leaving destruction in their wake.  Don’t miss your chance to catch ¡MAYDAY! live!

Click here for tickets and VIP packages to Tech N9ne’s “Hostile Takeover 2012″ Tour.

Check out some the exclusive photos shared over Cafeina’s Facebook:

• Have you seen ¡MAYDAY! live?

• Are you excited to see them on tour?

Let us know in the comments section below!

Before the historic tour takes off, fans everywhere are getting their hands on exclusive VIP packages that are full of limited edition merchandise not available anywhere else!  From the official Tech N9ne tie to the Strange Music clock, the exclusive items are going fast as fans anticipate the hottest tour of 2012.  Will you be there to make history with Strange Music?

Click here to purchase a VIP package for Tech N9ne’s “Hostile Takeover 2012″ Tour.

Check out these  exclusive VIP packages:

• Have you ordered a VIP package?

• What’s your favorite item in the new VIP package?

Let us know in the comments section below!

In anticipation, fans on TheRealTechN9ne.com created a discussion to share their their favorite Strange Music concert moments.  The discussion was so popular that it found its way to Facebook.  From the original “Hostile Takeover” in 2004 to The Lost Cities Tour, fans recalled the most significant experiences in their journey to Strangeland.  Will you be a part of history when Tech N9ne and Strange Music smash through the country on the “Hostile Takeover 2012″ Tour?

Click here to purchase VIP packages and tickets.

Check out some of the stories that fans had to share!

“My favorite moment was at the 10th anniversary tour up in Santa Cruz, when Tech was doing his whole T9X and IMMA TELL beat boxing routinue. Just when he was finishing up with that, a crowd of people started chanting “ooh Areola, ooh Areola!” and Tech laughed and then just started rambling totally off-script for a few minutes! It was so great and totally added to the whole intimacy of the show.” – B@$$EL

“Mine, even though recent was Tech going into a most pit sorta, small venue, and singing WWC and going crazy on the floor in between a bunch of technicians.” – Rupesh Saran

“My favorite moment at a Tech concert was right before K.O.D. came out.  We had the first verse of Blackened the Sun on a sampler.  When Tech did that verse, everybody was so loud during it.  But as soon as he started the second verse that nobody had heard, the whole place went silent.  It was fuckin epic.

My second favorite was at my second show.  During Psycho Bitch, I was in the front row.  Tech pointed at me and said, “You,” then looked at the chick right next to me (who I didn’t know), and said “She’s a psycho bitch, so you better watch what you do.” – Nick Clark

“the Strange noize tour, in NY! When the show was done, tech was going down the elevator with a kid in a wheelchair, and some gaurds. Well the elevater set to stop on each floor on the way down. Me and my buddy were walking by the elevater each time the doors would open, perfectly in synch, we would yell out N9NE! and things of that nature, and tech was laughing after every floor all the way down. Cant wait till the poughkeepsie show at the chance!” - Ralph McQuiston

“All 6s and 7s tour in Tempe, AZ shit was tight front row tech n9ne all day keep it strange pimpin” - Ryan Blue

“When tech opened in Minneapolis with Stress Relief and the speaker almost fell on him from the bass and he went straight into BEEF…sickest intro ever” – Anthony Anderson

“Met Tech at a signing last fall 3 days before I had my snake and bat he was the first one to see it and when I explained what it meant to me he gave me a huge hug and said that the meaning was the most beautiful part of it I walked away almost in tears cuz I wasn’t expecting that kind of love because I’m ftm but he confirmed my place in Strangeland” - Eryhn S Rountree-Reveile

“Hostile takeover tour 2004 Seattle at the show box sodo! Bad ass!!!!!” – Joseph Meseck

“Dallas House of Blues roughly 6 years ago, Tech stopped mid-song and cut the beat in order to tell the people in the balcony to stand up and enjoy the show or go home. He didnt start the song back up until they did. Cemented in my mind the gravity of his talent… Epic” – Mikey Burns

“2004 hostile takeover at hob sunset. There was like 300 people there. Walked in to Kutt opening. It was awesome. We kicked it with Kutt at the bar. He was amazed 2 white boys knew all his lyrics. Pdm wrecked the house. Snug and skatter got the place jumping. Techs set made me a fan for life. Been to every oc/la show since. Here’s to 8 years of strange. 4/18 will be sold out. Thanks Tech and Travis” – Travis Sod Wooldridge

“Hostile Takeover 04 Seattle. Turned the lights out during psycho bitch, when they came back on tech was right in my face. Scared the shit outta me n Tech n Krizz were both laughing” – Robbie Neble-Sculthorpe

• Can you recall some of your favorite Strange Music memories?

• Did you attend the original “Hostile Takeover” Tour?

Let us know in the comments section below!

Before fans get a taste of Prozak’s 2012 album, AllThingsJuggalo jumped on YouTube to give fans a full review of Prozak’s 2008 Strange Music release, Tales From The Sick.  Featuring appearances from Tech N9ne, Krizz Kaliko, Twista, Cypress Hill, and Twiztid, the album was a star studded event for Strange Music’s macabre emcee.

Check out this excellent review of Prozak’s Tales From The Sick and be sure to stay tuned for more on Paranormal!

Click here to watch or scroll down below.

• What did you think of the review?

• Are you a fan of the album?

Let us know in the comments section below!

Fans recently caught a glimpse of the Strange Music emcee at work inside Phat Buddha Productions when these exclusive photos were shared over Twitter.  From the booth to the boards, Stevie Stone can be seen grinding in the studio as Strangeland eagerly anticipates his Strange Music debut.  Fans can check out more from Stevie Stone on Tech N9ne’s “Hostile Takeover 2012″ Tour this summer.

Stay tuned for more from Stevie Stone!

Follow Stevie Stone on Twitter: @StevieStone09

• Are you excited for Rollin’ Stone?

• Will you be seeing Stevie Stone on the “Hostile Takeover 2012″ Tour?

Let us know in the comments section below!

With so many chilling incidents taking place, there can only be one explanation – Prozak’s Paranormal is near.  Prozak’s latest Strange Music release arrives 4/24/12 – watch, if you dare!

WATCH

• What did you think of the new video?

• Are you excited for Prozak’s return?

Let us know in the comments section below!

Make sure you tune into our LIVE INTERVIEW with David Sanders on Monday, February 20, 2012.

Remind us of some of your work with Strange?

On Tech N9ne’s Misery Loves Kompany I produced “Gangsta Shap”,”Sex Out South”, and “The P.A.S.E.O.” On Krizz Kaliko’s Vitiligo I did “Anxiety”, and “Rewind”. I did “Hard Core” on Kaliko’s Shock Treatment.  Skatterman & Snug Brim’s Word On Tha Streets: “Get Back”, “Foolz”, and “Ups And Downs”. And for Tech N9ne: “Let’s Go”, and “I Love You But Fuck You” from Killer; “Mama Nem” from All 6’s and 7’s and a couple more.

Where are you from and currently live?

Born in Havre de Grace, Maryland. September 8th 1984.  I was an army brat so we traveled a lot in my youth but out of all places I’ve lived, I would say I was raised in Huntsville, Alabama since it’s the place where I have lived the longest. It’s where I live today and damn near all I know.

Give us a brief look at your musical history.

I don’t have the best musical background but I’ve always been a fan of music, not in the creative sense, since the very beginning. When I was growing up I took a liking to a variety of music. I was really into 80s music, as I still am today. I would listen to Phil Collins, Michael Jackson, The Police, Rick James, the Cars, Yes, Billy Ocean–the list goes on and on. The crazy thing about back then was I didn’t listen to hip hop until the ass end of the early 90s. Never was trained in an instrument, but did take lessons about 2 years ago for college credit.  With that I did learn a few things. I’m sure people can tell the difference between tracks I made in 2007 to now.

What made you get into making beats?

Well, I started making beats in 1997. What made me want to make beats was the Mortal Kombat Movie. One day I saw a commercial for this music software called “Magix Music Maker.” It featured a beat similar to the ones I heard on the movie so I went and bought it.

Can you briefly explain the process?

I usually would start either with a lead instrument or rhythm, whatever gives me an idea first. Then I’ll keep adding sounds until it sounds the way I want it to sound.  I usually do drums last unless there is a beat style I’m trying to make. I try to avoid being in a box. Laying down the drums first would do that to you, in my opinion.

What is the most important piece of equipment in the studio?

At one time it was my MPc 200 but I don’t use it anymore.  Now I would say my external hard drives, because without it my beats and sounds would be gone.  That wouldn’t be cool.

Do you think of artist first? Or does finished beat lead towards someone?

I just go with how I am feeling most of the time. In some situations I do think of an artist and make something pertaining to how that person would rap on it. I’m not always there to suggest input so I try my best to make them get on a beat that calls for a certain subject matter without telling them. This works the majority of time.

When you are done with a beat, what do you do with it next?

I do the most important thing a person can do who creates intellectual property.  Get it copywritten.  Then of course after that I shop for a buyer.

Do you remember your first beat used by an artist?

No clue.  It was in my hobby stage and I am sure that it wasn’t too special.  But you got to start somewhere.  All I know it was someone local in my city.

What was the first beat you sold?

I don’t know in general but as far as Strange Music goes, the first beat sold to them was one I named “Gorilla” after I made it.   It’s now a composition called “Twerk” by Tech N9ne featuring Krizz Kaliko, Skatterman & Snug Brim. It was on the Strictly Strange Tour CD. It wasn’t the first one published but it was the first sold to Strange Music.

How did you first connect with Strange Music?

In 2006, a few months before Tech dropped Everready, I sent them and email basically telling them that I am an up and coming producer who would like to submit tracks to Tech N9ne for consideration. They gave me an address, and I slapped some beats on a CD then sent it to them. I think it was 2 months later when they called me, chose some beats and asked to hear more. I’ve been working with them every since.

Any projects you are working on now, that you are able to discuss?

Well Strange Music just wrapped up Welcome to Strangeland; I got two records on that album.  I am working on more tracks for Krizz and Stevie stone for their upcoming projects. I just connected with Irv da Phenom so we might make something happen as well. I’m also working on my own stable of artists: Lola Bleu, Zo, and Mich Blak. Their records will drop sometime next year as well.
How does someone contact you for beats?

Hit the email dsanders2nd@gmail.com

Subject: Music Production and please be serious.

If you haven’t already, pick up Welcome to Strangeland to hear the latest tracks from Tech N9ne and the Strange Music Roster.  And to hear more beats by David Sanders II.  Thank you for your time and your work that you have and will do for Strange Music.

DAVID SANDERS DISCOGRAPHY

Zo – Its Ova (2005)

“Intro”
“A Lifetime”
“It’s Obvious”
“We Right Here”
“Bring It Back”
“Pipes Out”
“If You Want It”
“Time With You”
“Who I Be”
“Get It Poppin”
“God Is My Witness”
“We Don’t Give A…”
“I’ma Be Me”
“That’s Me”
“Outro”

Tech N9ne Collabos – Misery Loves Kompany (2007)

“That Box”
“Gangsta Shap”
“I Can Feel It”
“Girl Crazy”
“Sex Out South”
“The P.A.S.E.O”
“Message to the Black Man”

Krizz Kaliko – Vitiligo (2008)

“Anxiety”
“Rewind”

Tech N9ne – Killer (2008)

“I Love You But Fuck You”
“Drill Team”
“Let’s Go”
“Beat You Up”

Skatterman & Snug Brim – Word On Tha Streets (2008)

“Hold Me Down”
“Get Back”
“Run The Streets”
“Foolz”
“Ups and Downs”
“Heartbreaker”

Tony Capone Presents The Untouchables (2009)

“Punch Drunk”
“All Out”
“Fake Friends ’08″

Lola Bleu – Love Will Find A Way (2010)

“Hate To Wake Up”
“I Found You”
“What Do We Do”
“Love Will Find A Way”
“A Little Hope”
“Journey”
“Where Do We Go From Here”
“So Over You”
“Get Away”

Krizz Kaliko – Shock Treatment (2010)

“Hard Core”

Tech N9ne – Seepage (2010)

“Seepage”
“A**hole”

Matic Lee – Smoke and a Mirror (2011)

“Flight”
“Smoke and a Mirror”

Kristmas – W2 Boy (2011)

“My Good Thang”
“Something Wrong”

Tech N9ne – All 6′s And 7′s

“Mama Nem”

Tech N9ne Collabos: Welcome To Strangland (2011)

“Kocky”

Jose And Mary – Jose And Mary (2011)

“Petals”

Antjuan Adams – Then Til Now (2012)

“N D Air”
“Traffic”
“Down 4 Da count”
“Baby Baby Baby”

It’s been damn near a year since Strange Music acquired the talents of the Miami based 6 piece that would ultimately take the label in a completely new direction.  It’s never been a secret that Strange Music artists have a tendency to love pushing the envelope, but in the months since their signing, Mayday has been pushing the envelope in both directions (I’ll explain in a minute).  Before I get excited and ahead of myself, let me first address the fact that these dudes are one of the few bands in hip hop that doesn’t come across as a third string Limp Bizkit trying to blur the lines between our beloved hip hop and something that the universe has made clear shouldn’t exist.  I have a high amount of respect right outta the gate for anyone that can create beats that dirty with live instruments.  Let’s also address the fact that these dudes are the FULL PACKAGE as far as artists go.  They produce their own music.  They direct, edit, and often help shoot their own videos.  They’re handing Tech N9ne some of the dopest beats we’ve ever heard on the reg.  What can’t these cats do?

Now that I’ve covered all that, I can get on to why I’m here, which is Mayday’s upcoming album Take Me To Your Leader, dropping on March 26th.  I have been following these cats closely, gobbling up every leak, remix, and teaser they release with mad anticipation, and as if there wasn’t already reason enough to be excited about these cats, they keep giving us another and another.  The latest reason would be the features these dudes are announcing lately, DWAMN!!  In the last week,  I’ve heard the names Ace Hood, Del The Funky Homosapien, Dead Prez, Murs, Pharoahe Monche, Jon Connor, and Black Thought.  I’mma give y’all a second to let that seep in.

Now as far as features go, Tech N9ne has always had a great sense of who to work with, and more often than not it’s come out super dope, but I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen collabo’s of this caliber from a Strange artist as far as hip hop  legends go. Dead Prez? Black Thought? Pharoahe Monch??  These are the type of cats that have done (and continue to do) more for hip hop than any of the dudes you’ll see on the top 40 list at any given time (with the exception of maybe Hov).  This is what I mean by pushing the envelope in both directions.  Mayday is one of the most creative groups I’ve seen in a while, constantly coming up with new beat structures, sounds, and generally just re-engineering the way you react when you hear the term “hip hop group”, and yet they’re completely embracing their roots (quite literally with the Black Thought collab) by working with some of the most influential hip hop artists of all time.

These are obviously some dudes that, just like me, bit their fists and wanted to pimp slap whoever was president at that moment the first time they heard “Hip Hop” by Dead Prez, or started having spazms and speaking in tongues the first time they heard “Simon Sez” by Pharoahe.  I’m sure there was a time in Plex Luthor and Gianni Cash’s lives when they heard Deltron 3030 with Del The Funky Homosapien and thought,  ”We too would like to create some of the most glorious beats in hip hop history.”  It’s that type of thinking that has really shone through in their music so far.

With the acquisition of acts like Mayday and CES Cru, we are beginning to see the age of the hip hop head at Strange Music, and seeing a deeply rooted respect for the old school mixed with the haze of creativity lingering over Strange Music HQ is making this particular ‘head’ incredibly excited for the things to come.

-Brent Bradley, Blog Contributor

Check out more from Brent at: TheDharmaOfDope.com

Click here to pre-order Mayday’s Take Me To Your Leader.

• Are you excited about Mayday’s guest features?

• Which one surprised you the most?

Let us know in the comments section below!

This episode of SM Live featured the deadly midwestern rhyme-slingers CES Cru and a special mid-show appearance from Tech N9ne as they all mused over the question: what really gets on your nerves?

This episode also featured a special “Fuck You” from T-Pain to none other than Strange Music artist Krizz Kaliko! What!? Of course upon watching it you will understand that it was actually out of a great respect for The Genius that T-Pain uttered those two special words.

WATCH BELOW

• What did you think of T-Pain’s “Fuck You”?

Let us know in the comments section below!

Well now we have the definitive answer! BEATS @ STRANGEMUSICINC.COM

• .MP3 or .WAV Please for reviewing purposes, make sure all of your beats are in a playable format such as .wav or .mp3.
• Two-track bounces only! If the beats are selected then we will certainly take the session file for mixing and studio purposes, but for reviewing purposes we only want your two-track mixes.
• No more than 3 beats will be considered! Obviously those listening are very busy and only have a small amount of time, so make sure you send no more than 3 of your finest pieces of work so you can make the best impression in the least amount of time.
• Send only ONE e-mail! You can send up to 3 beats but please only send ONE e-mail.

A lot of producers on Strange Music recordings have gotten noticed in this fashion. YOU could be next!

Send your beats to beats @ strangemusicinc.com !