Tech N9ne would cut a subpar verse from a 20-year collaborator to protect the track's quality.
The episode features an interview with Wrekonize, an emcee and singer from the group Mayday, formerly signed to Strange Music. He recounts signing with Strange in 2011 and leaving in 2022, highlighting the label's 'golden era' with a roster of talented, competitive artists. Wrekonize describes Tech N9ne as a pinnacle artist whose high standards forced everyone to elevate their game, even cutting verses from long-time collaborators if they didn't meet quality. He explains how Mayday's sound 'gritted up' after touring with Tech on the 'All Sixes and Sevens' tour before their first Strange album, 'Take Me to Your Leader,' was released. The host and guest discuss the current music landscape, criticizing cookie-cutter trends and the manipulation of nostalgia through sample repurposing by venture capital firms. Wrekonize shares personal anecdotes, including a disappointing freestyle on Sway's 'Five Fingers of Death' and his top five rappers: Black Thought, Pharoahe Monch, Aesop Rock, Tech N9ne, and Tupac. He also talks about his musical influences, like Pink Floyd and De La Soul, and his journey back to singing after initially focusing on rapping. The conversation touches on ageism in hip-hop, the importance of live performance experience, and Wrekonize's upcoming solo EP and Mayday album. He promotes his Patreon-exclusive project 'The Reckoning' and his podcast 'Get the Fuck Out of Here.'
