Tech N9ne Collabos

Prolific Kansas City rapper and head of the Strange Music label Tech N9ne released his first Tech N9ne Collabos effort in 2007. His sixth LP overall, Misery Loves Kompany would be the start of a successful series of collaborative albums that attracted both up-and-coming and high-profile guests from across genres. Kompany featured an extensive roster of guests, including frequent collaborators Krizz Kaliko, Yukmouth, and Kutt Calhoun, and debuted in the Top 50 of the Billboard 200. Sickology 101 followed in 2009, adding Bone Thugs-N-Harmony's Krayzie Bone, Chino XL, and Big Scoob into the mix. The album debuted near the Top 20. After releasing a pair of darker solo efforts, Tech unveiled the third Collabos LP, The Gates Mixed Plate. Krizz, Kutt, Yukmouth, and the gang of familiar guests returned for another round, adding new faces like Devin the Dude, Jay Rock, 816 Boyz, and more. Gates debuted at 13 on the charts -- topping the Independent Albums chart and peaking at number five on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart -- and spawned the summer hit, "O.G." Two albums and a mixtape were released before 2011's Welcome to Strangeland, another Top 30 debut and showcase for his label's artists. Tech issued two albums and three EPs before the fifth Collabos album -- the longest stretch between Collabos releases -- that arrived in 2014. Strangeulation featured the entire Strange posse, including new addition Murs, as well as figures from the rock world like Serj Tankian (System of a Down) and John 5 (Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie). The most successful Collabo to date, Strangeulation debuted at number five on the Billboard 200 and topped the R&B/hip-hop, rap, and independent charts. A 2015 sequel -- Tech's second release that year -- once again featured the entire Strange clan. Following 2016's solo effort, The Storm, Tech returned with the seventh Collabos album, Dominion, in the spring of 2017. Months later, another Collabos collection arrived. Strange Reign featured appearances by JL, Jay Trilogy, Rittz, Big Scoob, Murs, Krizz Kaliko, MAYDAY!, CES Cru, and more. ~ Neil Z. Yeung