Tech N9ne
Upcoming shows:
- None scheduled
Genre: Hip-hop / Rap
Sound description: spiritually informed hardcore hip-hop
Web site: http://www.therealtechn9ne.com
E-mail: StrangeMusic@theRealTechN9ne.com
Custom radio station:
Free MP3 downloads:
Appearances on The Turnpike:
Video clips:
"Bout Ta Bubble," Tech N9ne
"Slacker," Tech N9ne
Related links:
- Bad rap: Following murder of Lawrence rapper, local artists speak out on the cultural stereotype equating rap with violence (Oct. 31, 2006)
- The inferno / KC's Tech N9ne takes listeners on drive through his private hell (Nov. 29, 2001)
- The belly of the beast: K.C.'s biggest rapper Tech N9ne leaves for L.A. (Dec. 22, 2003)
- Podcast: The Utmost of the No Coast (Dec. 5, 2006)
- Review: "Anghellic" (Sept. 20, 2001)
- Tech N9ne battles industry (Jan. 24, 2003)
- Interview with Tech N9ne [transcript] (Dec. 11, 2003)
- Podcast: What Tech N9ne is sizzlin' (Jan. 25, 2006)
History:
Although christened with the TECH N9NE moniker by a hometown gangsta named Wee Capone, TECH was born Aaron Yates. As a child, he was raised in a strict religious household by a Muslim stepfather and a Christian mother.
Although rap music was banned from his house, his life changed dramatically when an uncle snuck him a record called "Rap Dirty," by Blowfly. He began amassing an arsenal--Soulsonic Force, NWA, Public Enemy, Boogie Down Productions--hiding the records at a neighbor's house for fear his stepfather would find out.
In 1984, the streets of hometown became infected by the crack trade, as L.A. Bloods moved into his neighborhood and the 57th Street Rogue Dog Villains were born. While his homeboys were getting caught up, TECH was perfecting his rhyme skills, gaining a reputation as a dope rapper and dancer.
At 17, he left home to move in with an aunt. He got his first taste of freedom but with it, came another view of the dark side. But during this time, he never stopped dancing and rhyming and his skills attracted a round-the-way girl named Tanya, who invited him to join her at a rap convention in New Orleans. Through Tanya, who later would rise to fame as the rapper Solé, he got his first big break.
The early break led to him hooking up with longtime collaborator Icy Rock, who turns out some of the dopest tracks on AngHellic. But it couldn't prepare him for the long hard road out of hell. With every industry inroad--and there were plenty--came major setbacks. An early development deal with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis' Perspective Records went up in smoke as the label faultered and TECH returned to Kansas City.
During this time, he hooked up with an old homeboy, a producer named Don Juan, AngHellic's other wiz kid. He started experimenting even further, rhyming backwards and putting out independent singles with dope dealing money, anything to stay in the game.
An L.A. contact at Rappages Magazine turned him on to QD3, aka Quincy Jones III, the son of the famed producer. TECH made his next leap of faith, signing with Quincy Jones' Qwest Records, a label that would follow the same path as Perspective.
Musicians:
Formed:
1994 in Kansas City, MO
Audio interviews:
- Tech N9ne addresses the stereotype that rappers are one-dimensional. (00:49)
- Tech N9ne explains the unexpected message behind his new song, Come Gangsta. (00:48)
Discography:
| Name | Year | Label | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | The Calm Before the Storm | 1999 | Mekah West |
 | Anghellic | 2001 | Strange Music / JCOR |
 | Absolute Power | 2002 | Strange / MSC |
 | Celcius | 2002 | |
 | Vintage Tech | 2005 | Strange Music, Inc. |
 | Eveready: The Religion | 2006 | Strange Music |
 | Killer | 2008 | Strange Music |
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