Dripping with sweat as he exited the stage for a quick wardrobe change, Middle Tennessee State University alumnus and hip-hop artist Tyrone “Tyke T” Stroble found himself being ushered back on stage by friend and MTSU College of Media and Entertainment Dean Beverly Keel during his recent concert at the Orpheum Theatre in Memphis.
Keel had told him in advance that “something’s going to happen” at the concert, but the Jones College of Business graduate wasn’t expecting such an honor from his alma mater — with photos from the moment showing a smiling Stroble in awe of the framed honorary professorship certificate freshly clutched in his hands after Keel presented it before the roaring crowd.
The Smyrna, Tennessee, native and independent Memphis-based artist held a special Sept. 17 concert at the Orpheum celebrating the 10th anniversary of his groundbreaking debut album, “The Overlooked.” The live show was titled “Ten Years of Driven,” a reference to his record label and brand, DrivenByMusic.
“What I’m about to give you cannot be bought,” Keel said during the onstage presentation, noting that a few years ago it was another Memphis-based artist, Grammy-nominated producer Tay Keith, who also received the honor. “Memphis is strong at MTSU and Memphis makes MTSU strong. You make us strong and we’re going to learn more and more from you now that you’re an honorary professor.”
“I'm still in shock. I really don't know how to accept it,” Stroble shared by phone days later. “I was the first person on my mom's side to get an undergraduate degree (B.B.A. with a marketing concentration). I was the only person in my family at the time to get a master’s degree from MTSU (an MBA also with a marketing concentration). It just wasn't the path, like nobody was going to college.
“And so for me now to be an honorary professor. … I'm just thankful (Keel) saw something in me to make this happen.”
Before the concert, Stroble invited area youth and high school students and Keel to sit in on his sound check for a behind-the-scenes look that many youth from that area may never see again. Keel said that in addition to his industry success, Stroble’s dedication to music education and giving back to his community makes him such a worthy recipient.
“In fact, he spends time with students from Memphis’ Crosstown High who are studying songwriting, production and music business, and he is dedicated to building his career in Memphis, as opposed to moving to New York or L.A., and making things easier for the next generation,” she said.
Stroble’s career includes landing in the Top 50 of four Billboard charts with his sophomore EP, 2017's “The Prelude.” His main influences were '90s R&B and New Jack Swing by the likes of Jodeci, Bobby Brown, and Bell Biv Devoe, as well as rap from Master P, Kanye West, Drake, 8Ball & MJG, UGK, and Outkast.
According to his biography, his early work appeared on various television shows, and he was a Top 10 finalist on VH1's “Make a Band Famous.” He made a name for himself in the underground Memphis hip-hop circuit, then expanded his local base by becoming the first rap artist to appear on a local televised showcase for up-and-coming artists and also by winning a local Memphis radio station’s "Next Big Thing" contest. In addition, he’s opened for both B.o.B and Boosie Badazz.
