Tyson Froehlich, (born October 5, 1980), better known by his stage name Tycoonius™ (formerly Tycoon), is an American rapper, producer, and singer of Irish, German, and English descent and is currently under his own label PWT Productions (a moniker for “Poor White Trash”). Tycoonius™ is known for his prior work as a member of The P.A.K., his original blend of hip hop, country, and blues, and his mixtape work, in which he parodies popular songs by other artists into his own “PWT” style. He released his first album with The P.A.K. in 1999 (The Rebirth) and a follow-up in 2001 (Sikamental). He released his first official solo albums in 2014 (Retirement Home Vol. I & II) and a follow up in 2015 (The American Classic Vol. I). His next solo album (The American Classic Vol. II) is scheduled for a late 2015 release, along with an LP with DJ Press entitled Full Court Press (A Moment in Hip Hop) and a PWT compilation, 805’s Finest. Tycoonius™ has also released four mixtapes in the span of one year.
1980–1999: Early life and career beginnings
editTycoonius™ was born and raised in the small city of Lompoc, CA. As a student he excelled in school, even receiving straight A’s through middle school and being placed in honor programs. As he entered high school, his grades began slipping as he found new friends and developed an interest in basketball. When he realized he did not have much of a future in basketball, being only 6’2 with limited athletic ability, he began following a lifelong dream of making music and began to rap. In the early days he faced much discouragement, as he was one of only a small handful of white rappers and constantly had to prove himself as an MC. Besides rap, Tycoonius™ also began a love affair with classic, “Outlaw” country music, which he would incorporate into his music in later years.
1997 - 2007: The P.A.K Years
editTycoonius™ connected with two other local MC’s and childhood friends, Dephkhan and YUNGDEZ (now known as DEZOnly), and together formed the P.A.K. Together they independently released two critically acclaimed albums, “The Rebirth” (1999) and “Sikamental” (2001), blending space-age next level raps and horrorcore sounds into a blend of completely original music.
Though they drew some criticism for their hardcore attitude, lyrics, and beats (which utilized things like electric guitars and different sounds not normally heard in hip hop), the three continued on making music, never changing their style to fit into the mainstream or garner radio play. After releasing two albums and over a span of nearly 10 years, together Tycoonius™ and DEZOnly regrouped and released two mixtapes, “Now or Never Vol. 1” and “Now or Never Vol. 2: We Deserved This.” Both were extremely well received locally in their hometown of Lompoc and the 805 area code. The independent releases further cementied their status as local underground legends and they began to become the very definition of “never selling out” and “keeping it real.”
Tycoonius™ and DEZOnly also became known as not only part of a group, but as legitimate solo acts as well.
Tycoonius™ as a solo artist: After hooking up with local Producer and Engineer Reckah of MadeMan Productions, he began embarking on a ever-growing solo career. He released his first solo mixtape, “Out the Vaults” in 2007, followed by an unreleased album in 2008, titled “Anywhere but Here.” However things weren’t all smooth sailing, as Tycoonius™ began to stray from music. Trouble with the law and an incident in which he was stabbed five times left him questioning his role in music, and he decided to move out to the farmlands of Indiana. The stay was not for long though. After five years in the Hoosier state Tycoonius™ began to miss California and his life in hip hop. In 2013, he returned home to the 8-0-Nickel (a moniker he coined for his home area) with his children in tow, and began getting back to work on his music and his life.
2007 - 2014: Tycoonius™
editIn 2011 Tycoonius™ experienced a life changing event when he was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. After receiving treatment and feeling as though he had received a second lease on life, Tycoonius™ got back to work in the studio. An older and wiser MC and musician at this junction in his life, Tycoonius™ began blending rap, blues, and country with other forms of music. He used increased sampling and instrumentation for his official solo debut album, “Retirement Home” (poking fun at his age, now in his early 30’s). The rapper hasn’t gone soft though, as he proves on numerous songs that his abilities as an MC have only improved and grown with time. He also has expanded his repertoire, even singing and playing the guitar on various tracks.
After recording nearly 50 tracks for the album, Tycoonius™ made the decision to split the album into two volumes, one strictly hip-hop and the other experimenting with other forms of music. He utilized beats by longtime collaborator and friend DEZOnly, Cynical, Conceal, and produced the rest of the albums himself. All tracks are recorded, mixed. and co-produced by Reckah, under the umbrella of MadeMan Productions and Tycoonius’ own “SikamentalDesperado Records.” The result is an epic musical event that can be enjoyed by both the hardest of hip hop heads and appreciated by listeners of other genres as well. In anticipation for the new album(s), he dropped the well received mixtape, “Overdue” in 2014, proving that his MC and hip hop skills are still in top form, as some worried his ability as an MC had diminished with the new experimental project. “Retirement Home” Vol.s I & II are available now.
In mid 2014, Tycoonius™ began working with renown local producer Cynical (of Dopetown Records), who had previously worked with The Moonshine Bandits, Spice-One, Rappin’ 4tay, and B-Legit among others. Cynical approached Tycoonius™ with a country-tinged beat, not quite sure what to do with it. Tycoonius™ loved the instrumental and the song “Silver Wings” was born, which contains an interpolation of the country Merle Haggard song of the same name on the chorus. Placed as a track on Dopetown’s Compilation CD Volume I, the track quickly became a favorite of many, even to those who don’t usually appreciate that type of music. The two found a mutual respect for one another and a desire to create new music unlike anything ever heard before. The result became “Dreamchaser: The Dopespot EP.” Produced, Recorded, and Mixed entirely by Cynical himself (excluding one Tycoonius™-produced track, “River Water.”) The EP’s sounds lends itself as much to metal, rock, and country, nearly as much as to hip-hop.
2015 - Present:
editTycoonius™ continued his forward momentum into 2015, releasing two more mixtapes, “The Home of the Brave” and “Trailer Park Noise” along releasing a pre-album LP to “The American Classic” simply titled “The Pre-American Classic,” which ironically (as patriotic as the title is) became well received overseas, in countries such as China and Russia. Tycoonius™ opted for a much more organic, live sound with elements of country and blues mixed into his distinctive brand of hip hop. He also changed the name of his label and production company, quoting a line from his verse as a feature on “The Central Coast Cypher,” as he rebranded his company PWT Productions. That label would go on to release his next solo album, “The American Classic Vol. I.” The album contains features from Madchild, Whitney Peyton, Bay Area legend Rappin’ 4tay, Thizz Ent.’s Sleepdank, YBV, and Dosia out of nearby Santa Barbara. Tycoonius™ is currently working alongside a private glass retailer to release a compilation entitled “The 805’s Finest” and “The American Classic Vol. II,” as well as several new mixtapes and an LP, as a duo (Full Court Press), with the locally renowned DJ Press.