Tech N9ne

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Tech N9ne
Background information
Birth name	Aaron Dontez Yates
Also known as	Tecca Nina, The Killa Clown, T-9, Kansas City King
Born	November 8 1971 (1971--) (age 35)
Origin	Kansas City, Missouri, United States
Genre(s)	Hip hop, Rap,
Years active	1987 – present
Label(s)	Strange Music
Associated acts	The Regime Kabosh 57th Street Rogue Dog Villians Big Krizz Kaliko, King Gordy
Website	TheRealTechN9ne.com

Aaron Dontez Yates (born November 8 1971 in Kansas City, Missouri) better known by his stage name Tech N9ne, is an American rapper. In the 20 years since his first amateur performance, he has performed sold out shows from Los Angeles to New York City, and is the best selling MC out of his hometown of Kansas City.

Career

Tech N9ne has recorded 5 albums that have later sold more than 550,000 copies collectively. He has collaborated with artists such as 2Pac, Sway and King Tech, Brotha Lynch Hung, E-40, C-Bo, D12, Kottonmouth Kings, Insane Clown Posse, Twiztid, Yukmouth, (həd) p.e., Jurassic 5, Roger Troutman and various others. In 1999, Tech N9ne was included on the track (and accompanying video) "The Anthem" from Sway and King Tech, two radio personalities based in California. The track and video featured Eminem, RZA, KRS-One, Chino XL, Pharoahe Monch, Xzibit, Kool G Rap, and Jayo Felony.

Early in his career, Tech N9ne was a member of a group called "NNUTT HOWZE", which he pays tribute to in many of his lyrics by saying "Six, six, triple eight, forty six, ninety nine, three" (6688846993), which spells out NNUTT HOWZE on the touch pad numbers of a telephone. However, the group disbanded when they were dropped from their label, Perspective Records. Additionally, he saw glimpses of success as a member of the 57th Street Rogue Dog Villians, who are also a Kansas City-based group, with their single "Let's Get Fucked Up".^[1]

Strange Music label

Tech N9ne and Travis O'Guin co-own the record label Strange Music, which was created in 2002 after Tech N9ne's release from JCOR Entertainment.^[2] Under the label, Tech N9ne has released five albums, Absolute Power, Anghellic: Reparation, Vintage Tech, Everready (The Religion), and Tech N9ne Collabos: Misery Loves Kompany. The label has signed several other performers and bands including Kutt Calhoun, Skatterman & Snug Brim, Project: Deadman which consists of Prozak, and producer Mike E. Clark, Big Krizz Kaliko, and Kabosh which is a joint effort by Tech N9ne and Kaliko where they will venture into the rock world.

In popular culture

Four of Tech N9ne's songs have been featured in the 2006 Universal Pictures film, Alpha Dog. Two of those songs, "Caribou Lou" and "Night and Day" are from his most recent album, Everready: The Religion. Also included are "Slither" from his 2002 album Absolute Power and "LA LA Land" featuring Gina Cassavetes (daughter of film director Nick Cassavetes) which is featured on the Alpha Dog film soundtrack. Originally, Tech N9ne was behind scoring the entire movie but the movie studio decided to remove some of his music to add more commercially known songs.^[3]

His song "I'm a Playa" featured on the album Absolute Power samples the song Rock Me Amadeus by Falco

The tracks "Jellysickle" and "My Wife, My Bitch, My Girl" are featured on the soundtrack to 25 To Life, a 2005 video game, in which Tech N9ne is also an unlockable character. A censored version of "The Beast" is featured in the game Madden NFL 2006.

In early 2007, Tech N9ne was featured on the MTV program I'm From Rolling Stone.

Tech N9ne has been confirmed for several upcoming collaborations. Among them are an appearance on Bizarre's (of D12) second solo album titled Blue Cheese & Coney Island, Bay Area rap pioneer E-40's upcoming album The Ball Street Journal^[4], Bay Area MC San Quinn's album From A Boy To A Man, Ill Bill's The Hour of Reprisal and Brotha Lynch Hung's Dinner & A Movie album^[5].

It has also been rumored^{[citation needed]} that he will appear on Lil' Flip's new album Ahead of My Time, though this has yet to be confirmed. Another rumored album to appear on is Three 6 Mafia's upcoming album Last 2 Walk.^{[citation needed]}Twista was originally set to appear on "Welcome To The Midwest" from Everready, but his recorded verse wasn't sent to Tech in time to be fully mastered without delaying the album. Tech says he still plans to use the verse in the future. ^[6] Referring to bringing back the midwest, Krayzie Bone stated that him and Tech will definitely do work together in the future.

Discography

Albums

• The Calm Before The Storm
  • Released: November 9 1999
  • Label: Midwestside
  • Chart positions: –
  • U.S. sales: –
  • Singles: "Cloudy-Eyed Stroll", "Mitchell Bade"

• The Worst
  • Released: September 12 2000
  • Label: Midwestside
  • Chart positions: –
  • U.S. sales: –
  • Singles: –

• The Worst: 2K Edition
  • Released: 2001
  • Label: Midwestside
  • Chart positions: –
  • U.S. sales: –
  • Singles: –

• Anghellic
  • Released: August 28 2001
  • Label: JCOR Entertainment
  • Chart positions: 59 Top 200, 50 Top R&B/Hip-Hop
  • U.S. sales: 173,511 ^[7]
  • Singles: "It's Alive"

• Celcius
  • Released: September 2002
  • Label: Midwestside
  • Chart positions: –
  • U.S. sales: –
  • Singles: –

• Absolute Power
  • Released: September 24, 2002
  • Label: Strange Music / MSC Music Entertainment
  • Chart positions: 79 Top 200, 3 Top Independent, 28 Top R&B/Hip-Hop
  • U.S. sales: 250,000 ^[8]
  • Singles: "Here Comes Tecca Nina", "I'm A Playa", "Imma Tell", "Slacker",

• Anghellic: Reparation
  • Released: February 11 2003
  • Label: Strange Music / MSC Music Entertainment
  • Chart positions: 46 Top Independent
  • U.S. sales: –
  • Singles: –

• Vintage Tech
  • Released: March 22 2005
  • Label: Strange Music / MSC Music Entertainment
  • Chart positions: 19 Top Independent, 63 Top R&B/Hip-Hop
  • U.S. sales: 13,000 ^[9]
  • Singles: –

• Everready (The Religion)
  • Released: November 7 2006
  • Label: Strange Music
  • Chart positions: 50 Top 200, 2 Top Independent, 11 Top Rap, 23 Top R&B/Hip-Hop
  • U.S. sales: 112,000 ^[10]
  • Singles: "Jellysickle", "Bout Ta' Bubble"

• Strange Noize
  • Released: July 7 2007
  • Label: Strange Music / Suburban Noize Records
  • Chart positions: -
  • U.S. sales: -
  • Singles: -

• Misery Loves Kompany
  • Released: July 17 2007
  • Label: Strange Music
  • Chart positions: 49 Top 200, 3 Top Independent, 7 Top Rap, 23 Top R&B/Hip-Hop
  • U.S. sales: 37,000^[10]
  • Singles:

• Killer^[11]
  • Released: Summer 2008
  • Label: Strange Music
  • Chart positions: –
  • U.S. sales: –
  • Singles: –

Music videos

• 1999: "My Dogs 4 Life" (with 57th Street Rogue Dog Villians)^1-1
• 1999: "Still Ballin'" (by Yukmouth)^1-2
• 2000: "The Anthem" (with RZA, Eminem, Xzibit, Pharoahe Monch, Kool G Rap, Jayo Felony, Chino XL & KRS-One)
• 2002: "Slacker"
• 2002: "Here Comes Tecca Nina"^1-3
• 2003: "Imma Tell"
• 2004: "I Gotta Know" (with Figg Kidd)^{1-4 1-5}
• 2004: "I'll Pass"^1-6
• 2005: "Rockstar" (by Bizarre)^1-2
• 2005: "Sick Sick 'Em" (with J-Flo)^1-5
• 2006: "Bout Ta' Bubble"
• 2007: "City 2 City" (with Kottonmouth Kings & Big Krizz Kaliko)
• 2007: "White Trash Life (by Big B)^1-2
• 2007/2008 "Caribou Lou"

Note 1-1: Remains unreleased, was released in clips of each verse through an old Tech N9ne fansite.

Note 1-2: Tech N9ne makes a cameo appearance in this video.

Note 1-3: This video can only be found on the Das Bus DVD.

Note 1-4: There were two versions of this video made, the first was released normally, the second was made available through FiggKidd's forum, completely different then the first, this one having a more adult theme.

Note 1-5: Footage of Tech N9ne recording in studio is used for his verse.

Note 1-6: This video was released on the T9X DVD in 2004, it was recorded several years prior, evident by Don Juan being present.

Appearances

• (həd) p.e. - "Wind me Up" (with Kottonmouth Kings)
• 2Pac - "Thugs Get Lonely Too" (OG Remix)
• Arapahoe T.R.U.E.S. - "We Does That" (with Yukmouth)
• Beef (documentary) - "Beef" (with Big Krizz Kaliko)
• Brotha Lynch Hung & C-Bo - "187 On a Hook"
• Big B - "Million Miles"
• Big B - "White Trash Life"
• Big Hamm - "Fist Fulla Dollaz" (with ESG & Slick-50)
• C4 Entertainment - "Testin"
• Ceza - "Dark Places"
• D-Loc & Dalima - "Bang" (with Big Krizz Kalico)
• Don Juan - "Get Low"
• Don Juan - "In Mizzery"
• Fal$e Profit$ Coalition - "Saw"
• Fat Tone - "Kansas City Niggas Keep It Real" (with Filthy Fattz & Young Fierce)
• Figg Kidd - "I Gotta Know" (with Red Foo)
• Gang Related (Original Soundtrack) - "Questions"
• George Zelaya - "Clappin"
• Insane Clown Posse - "Madhouse"
• Insane Clown Posse - "Thug Pit" (with Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Esham & Kottonmouth Kings)
• JJ So Sick - AZ to KC
• Judge D - "Voicez"
• Kalibur - "Killin' It" (with Kostik)
• Killa c - "Die"
• Killa c - "Downfall" (with Big Krizz Kalico)
• Kottonmouth Kings - "F.T.I. 2"
• Kottonmouth Kings - "City 2 City"
• Kottonmouth Kings - "Sacrifice"
• Kutt Calhoun - "Hit Me Back"
• Low Life Mafia - "Who Got The Keys" (with Spice 1)
• Mike D. Chill - "Midwest Connection" (with Jesse James)
• Mr. Stinky - "Armed Criminal Action" (with Fat Tone, Tone Capone & The Popper)
• Okwerdz - "Like It or Not"
• Potluck - "Say What Ya Wanna"
• Potluck - "What We Are"
• Project: Deadman - "Access Denied" (with King Gordy)
• R.O.C. - "No Mercy" (with Mario D)
• Sin - "I Want It All" (with Crood, Juan Va Shati & Sandman)
• Solè - "Ain't Nobody Fuckin With It"
• Tragedy - "Snuff You" (With Prozak)
• Twiztid - "Bury Em All" (with Potluck & Big Krizz Kalico)
• Twiztid - "Need Some Help" (with Big Krizz Kalico & Project: Deadman)
• Twiztid - "Serial Killa"
• X-Clan - "Respect"
• XTA-C - "So Heavy (remix)" (with Grant Rice)
• Young Droop - "Under Pressure"
• Yukmouth - "Stallion" (with MC Ren)
• Yukmouth - "Regime Killers" (with Gov Mattic, Poppa LQ, Mad Max & Phats Bossi)
• Yukmouth - "Regime Mobstas" (with Big Krizz Kalico, Grant Rice, Gonzoe, Dorasel, Poppa LQ & Monsta Ganjah)
• Yukmouth - "Regime Life" (with Lil Keke, Lil Mo, Mad Max & Phats Bossi)
• Yukmouth - "Somebody Gone Die Tonight" (with Hussein Fatal & Benjilino)

Selected filmography

• 2003: Beef
• 2003: Das Bus
• 2004: T9X: The Tech N9ne Experience
• 2004: United Ghettos of America Vol. 2
• 2005: Hip Hop Nation Vol. 1
• 2006: Jack's Law^2-1
• 2006: Alpha Dog^2-2

Note 2-1: Yet to be officially released.

Note 2-2: Tech N9ne does not physically appear, but he did have a helping hand in scoring the movie, this includes the placement of several of his songs in the films score as well as the appearance of on song from fellow label mates Skatterman & Snug Brim.

References

External links

• Official website
• Tech N9ne on IMDb
• Tech N9ne at MySpace
• Interview with Tech N9ne (Note: Contains some offensive language)
• VH1 article on Tech N9ne
• Short article on Tech N9ne

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