Rod Sepand (born June 30, 1968), better known professionally as King Tech, is an AmericanDJ, B-boy, VJ and audio engineer.[3] He is one half of the duo Sway & King Tech.[4]
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.[5] 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 20,000 copies in the Bay Area. Their second single, "Follow For Now," sold over 40,000 copies.
Well-known on the local scene,[6] 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.[7][8] 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.[9][10] King Tech is also noted for helping out Wu-Tang Clan and Jay Z’s career in their early stages.[11][12] 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.[13]
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.[14]
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.[15][16][17] In 2017 Tech, RZA and Mike Smith relaunched Razor Sharp Records.[18]
Discography
Albums
Year
Album details
Record
1991
Concrete Jungle 5 versions
Giant Records
1994
Best Of The Wake Up Show Free Styles '94 Vol. 1 6 versions
All City Records
1996
The Wake-Up Show Mix Tape 2 versions
1996
Wake Up Show Freestyles Vol. 3 3 versions
1998
Wake Up Show Freestyles Vol. 4 2 versions
360 Enterprizes
1999
Sway & King Tech featuring DJ Revolution - This Or That 5 versions
Interscope Records
1999
Wake Up Show Freestyles Vol. 5 2 versions
1999
The Wake Up Show 9th Anniversary Live Album ?(CD, Album)
2000
Wake Up Show Freestyles Vol. 6 2 versions
2001
Wake Up Show Freestyles Vol. 7 2 versions
2004
Wake Up Show Freestyles Vol. 8 2 versions
Bolo Entertainment
2005
Back 2 Basics 3 versions
Bungalo Records
Hip Hop Wars ?(LP)
Ground Level Distribution
Singles & EPs
Year
Album details
Record
1988
Flynamic Force 3 versions
All City Records
1990
Follow 4 Now / Time 4 Peace 9 versions
All City Records
1991
In Control / Devastating / Bum Rush The Sound 2 versions
Giant Records
1999
Sway & King Tech Featuring DJ Revolution - The Anthem / Underground Tactics 4 versions
Interscope Records
1999
Get You Mad 3 versions
Interscope Records
2001
Sway & King Tech, Crooked I - Wake Up Show Freestyles
2004
Trouble / Everything 2 versions
Up Above Records
2004
Sway & King Tech feat. Chino XL - Trouble (CD, Single, Promo)
Bungalo Records, Bolo Entertainment
2004
I Don't Think So / I Wish U Would (12")
Up Above Records
2004
Back 2 Basics: Watch Closer 3 versions
Up Above Records
Compilations
Year
Album details
Record
1996
Wake Up Show Unreleased Project Vol. #1 (CD, Album, Comp)
