Tech N9ne
Tech N9ne |
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Aaron Dontez Yates (born November 8 1971 in Kansas City, Missouri) better known by his stage name Tech N9ne, is an American rapper. His musical career has spanned 20 years, during which he has performed sold out shows from Los Angeles to New York City. He is also the best selling MC out of his hometown of Kansas City. Tech N9ne's relative success is most notable for being derived from a strong fan base, regular live performances, and an encouragement of online song sharing rather than media attention, radio play, or extensive music video play.
Career
Tech N9ne is known for his wide range of collaborations with other well-known artists, including 2Pac, Brotha Lynch Hung, E-40, C-Bo, D12, Kottonmouth Kings, Insane Clown Posse, Twiztid, Yukmouth, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, (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 & 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]
Tech N9ne is a member of The Regime, a large collective of MCs including Yukmouth, Dru Down, Gonzoe, Tha Realest and Messy Marv among various others. Fellow Kansas City rappers, BG Bulletwound and Grant Rice, are also included in the collectives roster. Tech N9ne is one of the original member of The Regime, as he has been with the group since it's creation by Yukmouth in 1997.
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. Recently, Strange Music signed Dirty Thug Records, the label that houses Grave Plott (Killa C & Liquid Assassin), to a distribution deal.
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].
Lil' Flip has expressed interest to Tech N9ne in working together, though details have yet to be worked out between the two parties.[6]
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. [7] Referring to bringing back the midwest, Krayzie Bone stated that him and Tech will definitely do work together in the future.
Tech N9ne has also popularized a mixed drink called Caribou Lou which is often asked for when in Kansas City.
In Spring 2008, Tech N9ne will embark on a nationwide tour with Swisha House recording artist Paul Wall.
Discography
Albums
- 1997: Be Warned
- 1999: The Calm Before The Storm: Part 1
- 2000: The Worst
- 2001: The Worst: 2K Edition
- 2001: Anghellic
- 2002: Celcius
- 2002: Absolute Power
- 2003: Anghellic: Reparation
- 2005: Vintage Tech
- 2006: Everready (The Religion)
- 2007: Strange Noize
- 2007: Misery Loves Kompany
- 2008: Killer
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 Figgkidd)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
- 2008 "Caribou Lou"
- 2008 "Girl Crazy"
- Template:FnbRemains unreleased, was released in clips of each verse through an old Tech N9ne fansite.
- Template:FnbTech N9ne makes a cameo appearance in this video.
- Template:FnbThis video can only be found on the Das Bus DVD.
- Template:FnbThere 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.
- Template:FnbFootage of Tech N9ne recording in studio is used for his verse.
- Template:FnbThis video was released on the T9X DVD in 2004, it was recorded several years prior, evident by Don Juan being present.
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 Law2-1
- 2006: Alpha Dog2-2
- 2008: The Psychumentary[8]
- 2008: The Life of Lucky Cucumber2-3
- Template:FnbYet to be officially released.
- Template:FnbTech 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 a song from fellow label mates Skatterman & Snug Brim.
- Template:FnbCurrently in Post-production.[9]
References
- ^ VonHolten, Tim (2003-12-22). "The Belly of the Beast". Lawrence.com. Retrieved 2007-09-26.
- ^ Tech N9ne - Album Bio
- ^ D., Spence (2007-01-12). "Various Artists - Alpha Dog: Music From The Motion Picture". IGN.com. Retrieved 2007-09-26.
- ^ Amter, Charlie (2007-07-12). "Tech N9ne finds his own flow in rap". LA Times. Retrieved 2007-07-17.
- ^ "Interviews - Brotha Lynch Hung". DubCNN.com. 2007-06. Retrieved 2007-09-26.
{{cite web}}
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(help) - ^ Tech N9ne Interview With TheFroHas2Grow Promotions (flv). Event occurs at 00:22-00:35. Retrieved 2007-12-11.
- ^ "Interviews - Twista". DubCNN.com. 2007-07. Retrieved 2007-09-26.
{{cite web}}
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(help) - ^ Tech N9ne dvd info
- ^ "The Life of Lucky Cucumber (2007)". IMDB.com. Retrieved 2007-10-22.
External links
- Official website
- Tech N9ne on IMDb
- Template:MySpace
- Interview with Tech N9ne (Note: Contains some offensive language)
- VH1 article on Tech N9ne
- Short article on Tech N9ne