Strange Music Logo PNG
The Strange Music logo adorns everything associated with this label. You can find it on CDs, merchandise, cars, the front doors of the company’s main office, and Tech N9ne’s body, proudly sporting a tattoo of his brand’s emblem. It symbolizes love for Music as an inexhaustible source of life force.
Strange Music grew from the stalled career of Aaron Dontez Yates, better known as Tech N9ne. By the late 1990s, the Kansas City rapper had underground credibility through his rapid flow, a spot on “The Anthem” with Eminem, RZA, Xzibit, KRS-One, and others, and exposure through Sway & King Tech’s The Wake Up Show. Offers from QDIII and Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis followed, but his business ties remained tangled.
Travis O’Guin, an entrepreneur with a national furniture business and work in the Paradise Originals clothing brand, met Tech through fashion shows and stage outfits. In 1999, he reviewed Tech’s situation and urged him to find money and lawyers. After hearing the track “This Ring,” O’Guin decided to enter the music business with him.
In 2000, Tech N9ne and O’Guin formed Strange Music as equal partners. The name drew from Tech’s EGN Arts publishing company and his interest in Jim Morrison and The Doors. Operations began in O’Guin’s basement in Blue Springs, Missouri. JCOR released Anghellic in 2001, but the deal ended after one album. Absolute Power followed in 2002 through a joint venture with M.S.C. Music & Entertainment.
The breakthrough came after Fontana/Universal first rejected the label, then signed a deal after seeing Tech N9ne perform at the Key Club in Los Angeles. Everready (The Religion) arrived in 2006 under Fontana distribution. Strange Music then signed Kutt Calhoun and Krizz Kaliko, moved to Lee’s Summit, and built its own studios, a warehouse, a merch operation, a tour fleet, and a video unit. Billboard later identified it as the largest independent hip-hop label in the United States.
Meaning and History
The name Strange Music was inspired by the songs “Strange Days” and “People Are Strange” by the American rock band The Doors, which Tech N9ne is a fan of. Moreover, the rapper conceived the logo for his label: a stylish yet slightly comedic fusion of a snake and a bat. From there, an aggressive advertising campaign began to popularize the brand. In the 2000s, many promotional merchandise items with the Strange Music emblem were released – from office supplies and car decals to underwear and winter coats. Tech even got a tattoo of the corresponding image to show his dedication to the label’s creation.
What is Strange Music?
Strange Music is an American record label based in Lee’s Summit. It was founded in 1999 by two hip-hop enthusiasts: the talented rapper Tech N9ne and the natural-born businessman Travis O’Guin. Their joint venture quickly progressed, acquiring its recording studio and a substantial fleet for artist transport. The label has collaborated with rap stars such as X-Raided, Jehry Robinson, Jay Trilogy, Prozak, and Big Scoob.
1999 – today
Although Strange Music primarily collaborates with hip-hop artists, its logo style resembles heavy metal. At least, the imagery of snakes and bats is more often associated with rock. In one interview, Tech explained why he chose these particular animals.
- The snake was derived from the rod of Asclepius from Greek mythology. This ancient symbol evolved into the caduceus, which in medicine symbolizes healing and recovery.
- The bat made its way onto the emblem because of its nocturnal lifestyle. Here, the night shouldn’t be taken literally but metaphorically: as the darkness, people often have to navigate throughout life.
According to Tech, the emblem encapsulates the idea that Strange Music is a remedy, helping one find one’s way through the darkness.
A large coiling snake with a lengthy tongue forms the letter “S” in the center. In the background is the silhouette of a bat (somewhat reminiscent of one of the older Batman logos), its wings forming a stylized “M.” Below sits the label’s name, a bold inscription with merged glyphs. It appears bold and confident, capturing the brand’s essence.
Font and Colors
The Strange Music logo’s font is stencil-like because some letters are segmented by thin, straight lines. Otherwise, it’s a standard bold sans-serif with very tight spacing between glyphs, making the inscription clear and legible.
Black was chosen for its symbolic link to the bat and night, and for its resonance with the moody vibe of rap music. Black embodies mystery, intrigue, and a pull towards the forbidden. White is used to bring balance where there’s darkness; light must also exist.