King Tech

Career

DJ King Tech began his career in the hip hop scene as a B-Boy in the Bay Area. He initially joined the musical crews "Master City Breakers" and "Flynamic Force," performing with them regularly. As the popularity of B-Boy crews started to decline, he met Sway Calloway, and the two formed a dynamic partnership. With King Tech handling the turntables and Sway on the microphone, they represented Flynamic Force on their debut single, "We Wanna Rock You," which sold 40,000 copies in the Bay Area. Their second single, "Follow For Now," sold over 140,000 copies.

Well-known on the local scene, Tech and Sway chose to start their own record label, All City Records, rather than signing with an existing one. This venture allowed them to release their music independently. Their indie release "Follow 4 Now/Time 4 Peace" achieved significant success, leading to a major label deal with Giant Records and the release of their LP "Concrete Jungle."

Upon entering and winning a local competition, the duo were given a one-shot deal for a 40-minute mix on local radio station 106.1 KMEL. Radio execs realized that the show can be a success with DJ King Tech on the mix and Sway as the front man. The show was named The Wake Up Show, featured music and interviews with well-known hip hop artists as well as up-and-coming ones. The show became very popular and later became NYC’s premiere Hip Hop outlet which aided Eminem to get his start at a very early stage. King Tech is also noted for helping out Wu-Tang Clan and Jay Z’s career in their early stages. The duo from The Bay Area were changing the face of not just urban radio but popular music in general and the way that it was played and appreciated on regular FM dials across the planet. King Tech was named one of the 50 Most Influential DJ’s of all time by BET.

The popularity of the show helped duo in getting another major label record deal with Interscope Records. The album, This or That, reached #30 on Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and #1 on the Top Heatseekers chart in 1999.

In 2016, King Tech is one of the four main judges on the reality show One Shot. The show will be aired on BET in August 2016. In 2017 Tech, RZA and Mike Smith relaunched Razor Sharp Records.

Discography

Albums

Singles & EPs

Compilations

References

References

1. Jost, Matt. (July 24, 2007). "King Tech & MC Sway Flynamic Force All City Records".
2. Christopher O'Connor. (1999-06-17). "RZA, EMINEM PAY HOMAGE TO HIP-HOP ON THIS OR THAT". [[MTV News]].
3. Rodriguez, Jayson. (15 May 2009). "Eminem's 'Wake Up Show' Start: Sway And King Tech Look Back". MTV.
4. Bobb, Maurice. (18 January 2013). "Sway & King Tech Bring The World Famous 'Wake Up Show'". MTV.
5. Kyles, Yohance. (30 September 2014). "Crooked I, Sway & King Tech Announce New Aspiring Rapper Competition Show "One Shot"". Allhiphop.
6. Entzminger, Angela. [http://theanimatorsjournal.blogspot.com/2007/04/office-of-film-theater-and-broadcasting.html Office of Film, Theater and Broadcasting Hosts Second Annual Careers in Television Event] The Animator's Journal: April 28, 2007.
7. Meyer, Frank. (2 April 2008). "Wake Up Show Online Rap Battle". G4tv.
8. Hook, Skyy. (7 October 2013). "The World Famous "Wake Up Show" Gets Unplugged". Allhiphop.
9. Mosi Reeves, Simon Vozick-Levinson. "20 Insanely Great Eminem Tracks Only Hardcore Fans Know". Rollingstone.
10. "Wake Up Show about page".
11. Paine, Jake. (11 May 2011). "How Sway & King Tech's "This Or That" Introduced Eminem, Tech N9ne & Crooked I". Hiphopdx.
12. (28 July 2016). "King Tech talks Eminem's freestyling & Crooked I making a whole album in one flight".
13. (July 2024). "The 50 Most Influential DJs". BET.
14. [{{AllMusic
15. (5 May 2016). "BET Announces New Hip Hop Show One Shot Executive Producers: Mike Smith, Sway, King Crooked, & King Tech".
16. "One Shot: See How Sway Made the Most of His One Shot". BET.
17. "One Shot: Check Out This Sneak Peek Of 'One Shot'". BET.
18. The Hype Magazine™. (6 July 2017). "Video: Mike Smith ‘Alibi’ Ft. RZA, Chanel Sosa and DJ King Tech (premiere): Mike Smith…".