The Twin Cities welcomed a twin to The Myth this passed Friday (March 24, 2017) as Tech N9ne, independent rapper and killer clown, made his way to the stage. The Strictly Strange tour passed through St. Paul and some are probably thinking, wasn't he just there, and yes he was. Tech N9ne has the energy of multiply people, releasing three albums in the last two years and another set to release in April of this year. Tech N9ne was at The Myth in October of 2016, just five months prior to today, but this time he brought out some of Strange Music's heaviest hitters. The night started with local artist K-Sno, who has opened a number of times for Tech N9ne, but was then followed by a cast of all Strange Music artist.

First off on the bill was Strange Music's baby girl, who has been apart of Strange Music's music for the past 9 years. Mackenzie Nicole, daughter of Strange Music Inc found Travis O'Guin, put out her first solo album with Strange Music and played her single "Deleted" as well as being brought back on stage with Krizz Kalico for their new song together and Tech N9ne for "We're Not Sorry," a song dedicated to Technicians.

Second on stage was Ces Cru, a duo unlike most. The thing that separates Ces, consisting of Ubiquitous and Godemis, is their ability to effortlessly switch the flow back and forth between each other. While many groups allow each to flourish separately, Ubi and Godemis feed off each other in their songs and that translates perfectly to their stage presence. Playing old hits like "Klick Klack Bang" and "When Worlds Collide" and mixing in new hits like "Slave" and "Average," the Cru had The Myth energized.

Following Ces Cru is never easy, but my personal favorite artist on Strange was up to the task. Stevie Stone brings a deep growl that makes his voice one of the easiest to recognize. Keeping with the theme of Ces, Stevie played old and new tracks including a brand new track. Having been almost seven years since the last time I had seen Stevie Stone perform it was a treat to hear "My Remedy" as it was the first song I'd ever heard him perform and speaks to me on a personal level because “...music becomes my remedy, all of my problems fade away.”

The next act is one I knew little about but was pleasantly surprised at his live presence. Brother Lynch Hung is a bit of a niche rapper, but if you know anything about Technicians and Strangers they love their niche rappers. Being a bit of a horrorcore rapper his lyrics don't speak to me personally, but his live energy was that of a veteran in the business. He jumped off the stage to give some high fives and become more personal which energizes any crowd. His signature “grrr” sends shivers down your spine every time you hear it and his music leaves your mouth wide open.

The clock was set, literally, to 3:30 seconds as “Starting to Turn” ft Jonathon Davis of KoRn played over the speakers. As the clock struck zero, Strange Music's fearless leader emerged from beneath the stage to strobe lights and steam. The Kansas City king reminded everyone that he can still chop with his signature “Stamina” acapella. The journey had begun, and much like Tech N9ne's albums he divided his performance into separate 'zones.' With a slew of costume changes, Tech has brought his live performances into the realm of theatrics while still delivering a show that would leave anyone breathless. It amazes me how Tech can continue to bring the same amount of energy as the young guns surrounding him, that is, until the Strange Music Luitenant makes his way to the stage. As the screens behind Tech flashed Spiders I knew the crowd was in for a shot of adrenaline. Krizz Kalico bum rushes the stage for an all-out assault of energy to the song “No Can Do” where he reminds everyone that “y'all can't fuck wit us.” Going from the G zone, to Clown town, to the Kingdom, Tech performed for over two hours and didn't show signs of slowing down.

One thing that never ceases to amaze me is Tech's range. Playing songs like "Demons" for all the wanting to dive into the deep devilish end of his repertoire, while still being able to break out a song like "Hood Go Crazy" for those just wanting to party. After chant after chant Tech had no choice but to give the crowd what they wanted, and that was to see some nudity...from the crowd of course. "Aereolas" is a classic fan favorite, not just for the beat and clever lyricism but because like the song says “those shirts come of their shoulders.”

Being a fan of Strange Music for nearly a decade I have watched an evolution of music in front of my eyes. From the new artists range to Tech and Krizz's unmatched energy a Strange Music show is truly unlike any show I've been a part of. The best part of Tech N9ne's performance is that after two hours of pouring his heart and body into his performance he leaves the stage with a smile that reminds me why I listen to music, because it truly makes the pain, the stress, the evil and turns it into a smile.