King Tech

Rod Sepand (born June 30, 1968), better known professionally as DJ King Tech, is an American DJ, B-boy, VJ and audio engineer. He is one half of the duo Sway & 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 Year Album details Record 1991 Concrete Jungle 5 versionsGiant 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 versions360 Enterprizes 1999 Sway & King Tech featuring DJ Revolution - This Or That 5 versionsInterscope 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 versionsBolo Entertainment 2005 Back 2 Basics 3 versionsBungalo 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) All City Records 1996 Wake Up Show Freestyles Vol. 2 3 versions Not On Label