Krizz Kaliko

Krizz Kaliko is an American rapper and singer from Kansas City, Missouri, known for a genre-blending style he calls Funkra — a mix of funk, rock, R&B, rap, and even operatic vocals. He first made his name as a background singer and hook man before stepping into the spotlight as a solo artist, distinguishing himself from typical rap acts through his singing ability and eclectic sound that draws as much from rock and R&B as it does hip-hop.

He is best known for his long-running partnership with fellow Kansas City native Tech N9ne, who discovered him in the late 1990s through a mutual connection. Kaliko became a mainstay of Strange Music, the label Tech N9ne co-founded, appearing on countless Tech N9ne records and releasing his own solo albums through the imprint for many years, building a reputation as one of the most versatile voices in independent hip-hop.

Songs like «Kill Shit», «Unstable», and «Damage» showcase his range, moving between aggressive rap verses and melodic, sung hooks within the same track. In 2021 he left Strange Music to found his own label, Ear House Inc., marking a new chapter after decades as one of the genre's most distinctive and hard-to-categorize performers.