Over the decade, we’ve seen Tech N9ne solidify himself as one of the best live performers in hip hop. From the accuracy of his delivery, to the theatricality of the light show and to his impeccable dance moves, there’s no doubt that he will be forever known as one of the best performers in music, much less hip hop, to hold down a stage.

But there’s a side of him that we have yet to see that could yield results far more intriguing…

What would happen if you took all the lights away, put a stool on the center of the stage and surrounded Tech N9ne with a live band?

What you would have is Tech N9ne Unplugged.

What began in the early 90s as a series on MTV soon turned into a phenomenon: artists forced to convey their songs without the aid of electric instruments. The results have yielded classic performances that have arguably become more popular than the original recordings themselves: from Eric Clapton’s rendition of “Layla” to Kurt Cobain’s heart-wrenching performance of “All Apologies”, the understated delivery of the songs cleared the way for the songs’ emotional weight to hit people square in the face.

Unplugged took a turn for the innovative when hip hop was thrown into the mix. LL Cool J was the first to turn the rap game on its head with his now-classic performance that almost became more infamous for his deodorant stains than his ear-shattering ability to rock a microphone with no DJ.

Later on Unplugged and hip hop took an even bigger marriage when Jay-Z performed with The Roots as his backing band. The album that resulted would end up in the top 20 of the Billboard pop charts and sell gold.

So what would happen if you put Tech N9ne in the same setting? Pure magic.

Which songs would he want to perform?

Which songs would you want him to perform?

• With Tech N9ne’s extensive catalog, we can only imagine the possibilities: what would it be like to see a band keep up with all the twists in turns in “Come Gangsta”?
• How about “Holier Than Thou” or “Fuck Food” with Tech N9ne backed up by choir section?
• Picture a single spotlight shining directly on the piano player as he opens up with the ominous riff to “K.O.D.”
• Since it already sounds like he’s rapping over a jazz band, why not just give him one for “KJOMD”?
• How many songs on the Bad Season mixtape sound like they’re begging to be performed by a live band? Almost all of them.

We could go on and on and on (the first Tech N9ne performance without face paint?), but we want to know what you think.

• Which songs would you want to see Tech N9ne perform Unplugged? Why?

Leave your thoughts in the comments section below!

On Sunday, February 10, 2013 you’re about to see Tech N9ne like you’ve never seen him before on MTV2′s When I Was 17.

We decided to take a look back in time to see what life was like when Tech was 17.

On November 8, 1988 Aaron Dontez Yates celebrated the ripe young age and would live it out in much of 1989, a time of transition and many regrettable fashion and music trends.

Let’s take a look…

MUSIC

1989 saw the first arrival of the suburban boy band who were called New Kids On The Block, causing headaches for many that still resonate to this day. 1989 also saw the rise of another manufactured group, Milli Vanilli. The duo went 6x platinum but suffered a major media backlash when it was revealed that the voices on the record were not those of Milli or Vanilli.

In hip hop, 1989 marked a transitional period which is apparent in some of the albums that hit the shelves. The D.O.C.’s No One Can Do It Better is a West Coast classic produced entirely by Dr. Dre, and would be one of the last big records from the West Coast that wasn’t completely influenced by G-Funk. Tech N9ne even referenced the album in an interview as the album that made him want to rap for good. Check out the song “It’s Funky Enough” below, the track that Tech N9ne paid homage to in “It’s Alive” with the lines “One, and then comes the two to the three and four!”

MOVIES

1989 saw the arrival of many dramatic classics and a few blockbusters that still have an influence to this day. Films like My Left Foot, Born On The Fourth Of July and Field of Dreams all carried a melodramatic tone and feel. ’89 was also a game-changing year for adventure and science fiction, as it saw the arrival of Batman, The Abyss, Back To The Future II and Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade.

A monumental film to arrive in 1989 was Spike Lee’s Do The Right Thing. Taking place in Brooklyn’s infamous Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood, the film follows the various characters through one of the hottest days on record in New York City. The film marked the arrival of Spike Lee as a major force in cinema and proved to be a landmark in the study of race relations in American culture.

FASHION

Pictures say more than words in this case.

COOL

The Air Jordan IV

Chicks In Dance Wear

And Miniskirts

Flat-top Fades

Big Gold Chains

NOT COOL

Shoulder Pads

Roadkill-Like Perms

And Mullets

Fingerless Gloves

Slap Bracelets

TUNE IN TO MTV2 AT 12PM CST THIS SUNDAY (2/10/2013)
TO WATCH WHEN I WAS 17 FEATURING TECH N9NE

• What do you remember from ’89?

Leave your thoughts in the comments section below!

With Tech N9ne gearing up for his biggest album of all time, we put together a list of producers he has yet to collaborate with that we think would take his sound up another notch.

With music certain combination of musical elements are combined, what would be normal to most, could prove to be incredibly Strange when combined with Tech N9ne’s unique brand of lyrical mastery.

Hit-Boy

Undoubtedly one of the hottest producers in the game, this California native broke out with probably the most played song in 2012, Jay-Z and Kanye West’s “Ni**as In Paris”. Since then he’s produced heater after heater, including GOOD Music’s “Clique”, A$AP Rocky’s “Goldie” and Kendrick Lamar’s “Backseat Freestyle”. Unlike many producers who also opt for soundscapes full of unidentifiable blips and beeps, Hit-Boy combines the abstract new school with the melodic and groove-oriented old school, resulting in a new sound that doesn’t get played out. - Jeff Nelson

DJ Premier

Icon, wizard, greatest of all time…what else can you say about DJ Premier that hasn’t already been said? The master on the boards and musical encyclopedia has been producing classics for more than 20 years and shows no signs of stopping. To pick examples of his sampler mastery and knack for drum patterns that break your neck would take forever, but here’s a few: Nas “Nas Is Like”, Royce Da 5’9 “Boom”, Gang Starr “Above The Clouds”, Jay-Z “So Ghetto”, and Notorious B.I.G.’s  “Unbelievable”. One thing that DJ Premier is known for is scratching in vocals from the artist’s previous songs in the chorus. Given Tech N9ne’s long catalogue, Premier would have a lot of samples to choose from. We’ve seen what happens when Tech hops on east coast beats with the Bad Season mixtape. DJ Premier would take that to the next level.   - Jeff Nelson

Big K.R.I.T.

Over the last couple years, Big K.R.I.T. (which stands for King Remembered In Time) has made quite a name for himself among Hip Hop heads and casual listeners alike with his southern drawl and meaningful lyrical content, but a surprising amount of people don’t know that he’s produced the majority of his own music, as well as tracks for some pretty notable rappers (Ludacris, Wiz Khalifa, and T.I. among others). K.R.I.T.’s production style is obviously influenced by the sounds of the south, and I think the laid-back, lush soundscapes K.R.I.T. constructs would give Tech the opportunity to slow things down. But I also think Tech’s rapid-fire delivery would sound incredible over one of these slowed-up beats. - Brent Bradley

Alchemist

Alchemist is another producer who’s considered to be one of the best of all time, and for good reason. His beats are sinister as fuck, a sound that would pair perfectly with Tech’s equally sinister rhymes. Alchemist has produced for damn near everyone, and more than likely has production credits on some of your favorite albums (Prodigy’s H.N.I.C., Nas’ God’s Son, and Slaughterhouse’s S/T just to name a few). - Brent Bradley

Just Blaze

Another innovator of the sampling game and a veteran producer responsible for a plethora of hit singles, Just Blaze is arguably the baddest producer to ever hook up with Jay-Z, contributing to classics like The Black Album and The Blueprint.

From clean and elegant string samples to bouncy cuts that can border on grimy, Just Blaze has flexed his versatility with some of the best including Eminem, Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, and XV. Much like the Kansas City King, you can’t really place Just Blaze in a box and personally, we wouldn’t mind hearing a “Just Blaaze!” and “Tech N999ne!” exchange. - Victor Sandoval

Rick Rubin

The most decorated producer on this list, Rick Rubin is largely responsible for the success of the hip hop industry and has worked with just about every artist in every genre imaginable including Jay-Z, The Beastie Boys, Johnny Cash, Metallica, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Geto Boys, Slayer, and Run D.M.C.

As the co-founder of Def Jam, no one has a better understanding of hip hop’s meager beginnings and it’s his often bare-bones production style that perfectly reflects this. Known to completely re-invent an artist’s sound and direction, Rick Rubin is who people go to for fresh ideas. Having explored so many sounds and deliveries, we can’t even imagine what would happen if Rick Rubin pushed Tech N9ne to revamp everything he’s ever known and start from scratch in the studio.

This is not just a beatmaker kids. - Victor Sandoval

• What do you think of the producers in this list? What are your favorite tracks by them?
• Which producers do YOU want to see Tech N9ne work with in 2013?

Leave your thoughts in the comments section below!

Last Saturday, CNN published an article written by Eliott C. McLaughlin titled “A Case for Nas, Hip Hop’s Finest MC”, in which Mclaughlin orchestrated a reasonable and well thought-out case for why he believed Nas is the greatest emcee of all time.

While my love for Nas is huge and I can’t argue with many of the points Eliott made in his article, I felt compelled to hold it down for the Kansas City King and make a case for Tech N9ne, hip hop’s Strangest emcee.

I’m not out to rank Tech N9ne among any other emcees in Hip Hop, because to be honest it’s a completely relative matter of opinion, no matter how much people may try to claim otherwise. However, I am out to acknowledge a cemented spot in hip hop history for one of my personal heroes and an emcee I’ve been listening to for over a decade.

On November 8th, 1971, just 2 years before DJ Kool Herc made history on Sedgwick & Cedar in The Bronx, Aaron Dontez Yates came into the world. It would take another 28 years for Tech N9ne and Travis O’ Guin to form Strange Music Inc., which, in my opinion, is one of the most amazing effects of Herc’s cause in ’73. Since it’s inception in 1999, Strange Music has come to be the standard by which all other independent hip hop outfits should be compared to, and Tech N9ne has been at the helm of it all.

Let me start by addressing Tech N9ne’s sound, because I feel that is the main root of Tech’s appeal. In hip hop, the emcee’s voice is often just as much of an instrument as those he’s rapping over, and nowhere is this more easily observable than in Tech’s flow. A unique voice in and of itself, coupled with a percussive cadence and powerful intonation make Tech N9ne’s delivery incomparable. Tech is able to match and often lend aid to drum patterns with his voice, something I feel a lot of today’s rappers could learn from.

The next logical thing to acknowledge is Tech’s lyrical abilities, which coupled with his delivery make him one of the most (if not the most) unique rappers in hip hop. Tech N9ne has this weird ability to bend and manipulate the English language to make it serve his purpose. For those not willing to venture beyond the surface, some of Tech N9ne’s lyrics may come off as borderline nonsensical. However, damn near every time that appears to be the case, a closer listen will reveal depth and meaning beyond what one might have imagined possible from words that sometimes don’t even exist until Tech N9ne decides they do. If you doubt this at all, look at “Caribou Lou” (arguably Tech N9ne’s most club-type  party track) on RapGenius.

As part of Tech’s lyrical ability, I’d also like to address a skill that was mentioned in Eliott’s case for Nas: storytelling. In this category, I feel Tech N9ne easily matches Nas. Both emcees are incredibly talented at the art of storytelling, and both use examples from their own lives to tell their own stories as well as the stories of others. One could argue that Tech N9ne’s body of work is basically an auditory autobiography, and they wouldn’t be wrong. One thing I’ve learned for certain while working at Strange Music is that Tech N9ne raps what he lives.

The final point that I will make in my case for Tech N9ne is another one that was made in the case for Nas: longevity. While Nas is turning 40 in September, Tech N9ne is over 40 already and is still putting out quality hip hop at a rate much more frequent than Nas.

Again, I’m not here to rank the quality of these two rappers or their work, just stating my opinion along with the fact that Tech has put out quite a few more projects than Nas. Tech N9ne has been in the game for over 20 years, and has continued to not only remain relevant, but grow as an artist and challenge new listeners and long time Technicians alike with new content and musical styles.

It’s hard to say how much longer Tech N9ne will remain a fixture in Hip Hop. He’s recently expressed his desire to remain a part of the business even after he’s no longer behind the mic, and knowing Tech N9ne, it could be another decade before that’s even a possibility.

All this writer knows is that for the last 20 years, Tech N9ne has continued to challenge, inspire, and even save lives with his inventive and 100% genuine content and delivery, and that alone reserves him a seat at the table of all time hip hop greats.

- Strange Music Social Media Dept., Brent Bradley

Follow Brent Bradley On Twitter @HipHoptimistic

Photo credit: Cheetah King Pein

• Who do you think is the greatest rapper of all time?

Leave your thoughts in the comments section below!

2012 may have been missing a full-length release from Tech N9ne, but it certainly didn’t go without some of the indie king’s best verses.

Between three consecutive Top 3 Rap releases – KLUSTERFUK, E.B.A.H., and Boiling Point, and a slew of guest appearances, Tech N9ne managed to once again challenge the boundaries of what an emcee could do and displayed an unfathomable ability to improve on his already elite delivery.

With 2012 just about wrapped up, we’ve taken a look back at the very best of the Kansas City King and compiled the Top 10 Tech N9ne Verses Of 2012.

Check out the top picks!

10) “Can’t Be The Only One” – Krizz Kaliko Featuring Tech N9ne

It may be easy to fall in love with a rapper, but Tech N9ne dissected the entire concept with his verse on Krizz Kaliko’s “Can’t Be The Only One”. Perhaps not as flashy or explosive as his contributions to other tracks, this verse still had plenty of wordplay and more importantly, fed off personal experiences from the N9ne.

9) “Edge Of Destruction” – MGK Featuring Tech N9ne And Twista

The Midwest was definitely in the house as MGK recruited two of the finest the middle of the land had to offer for his major label debut.

Kicking off the track, Tech N9ne showed off his range with a bit of singing and immediately fired off into an emotional verse reflecting on what it took for him to earn his spot at the top. Haters, you get nothing – fuck the world.

8) “Badlands” - ¡MAYDAY! Featuring Tech N9ne

It’s hard to argue that ¡MAYDAY! didn’t have one of the most impressive debuts ever on the Snake and Bat, but when it came to the opener on Take Me To Your Leader, Tech N9ne unleashed a delivery unlike any he had used before and dropped hardcore bars like, “Bismallah, in a minute wah lah, you’ll be in darkened days/ Where the people don’t ride Maybachs, they pack and sparkin’ Ks”

That’s a madman on the mic.

7) “Ugly Duckling” – Tech N9ne Featuring Aqualeo

The oddball flourished here as Tech N9ne embraced his unique and often slept-on style with a mean flow that drew inspiration from his 2009 hit, “Red Nose”.

The Great Yates was in top shape for this one.

6) “Bloody Murdah” (Remix) – Rittz Featuring Tech N9ne

Just when you thought Tech N9ne couldn’t get anymore animated, the Mental Giant let loose and dropped one of the most livewire verses of his career as he teamed with White Jesus for the “Bloody Murdah” (Remix).

From speedy delivery to ridiculous enunciation, it’s all here kids.

5) “808 Bendin’” – Stevie Stone Featuring Tech N9ne

Rap anthems were redefined when Stevie Stone bulldozed through 2012 with his smasher “808 Bendin’”.

Produced by Johnny Juliano, “808 Bendin” proved to be a huge hit in the urban market and even though most would expect Tech N9ne to tone it down, the Strange Music general actually turned up the weird delivery and dropped one of our favorite intros ever, “My name is Aaron..”

4) “Spaz” – Krizz Kaliko Featuring Tech N9ne

“Spaz” was most definitely the appropriate title for a track that featured erratic dub step-influenced production and choppy, yet technical flows from both Krizz Kaliko and Tech N9ne.

High-pitched and a clinic on smashing syllables, Tech’s feature served as an example of an emcee’s craft just getting better and better. SPAZ!!!

3) “A Real 1″ – Tech N9ne Featuring JL Of B. Hood

2012 was a year that saw Tech N9ne deal with a lot of negativity thanks to the easy access of social networks like Twitter.

Always the first to express his true feelings, Tech N9ne’s opening verse on “A Real 1″ gave listeners an honest depiction of his anger and hostility towards those openly attacking him and his loved ones. Easily one of the most emotional verses on any Tech N9ne release.

2) “Klusterfuk” – Tech N9ne

Coming off the blockbuster year that was 2011, Tech N9ne opened 2012 with “Klusterfuk” and never looked back.

Clocking it a nearly three minutes before the hook hits, Tech runs through a gamut of flows and sick lines with a single verse on KLUSTERFUK‘s opening track. If there was any doubt that Tech had lost anything – well, this silenced it all.

1) “Kill Shit” – Krizz Kaliko Featuring Twista And Tech N9ne

When we think of the amazing progress Tech N9ne continues to make, there’s no way that his jaw-dropping feature on Krizz Kaliko’s “Kill Shit” doesn’t come in at the top.

Aside from obliterating the beat, Tech N9ne pulls off one his most remarkable tricks ever halfway through the verse when he executes a unique slow-down and speed up delivery that has yet to leave our minds.

Tech N9ne is getting better. We don’t know how, but he is.

- Victor Sandoval, Strange Music Social Media

• What did you think of our list?
• Did we miss any?

]]> http://blog.therealtechn9ne.com/2012/12/tech-n9ne/the-top-10-tech-n9ne-verses-of-2012/feed/ 20 http://blog.therealtechn9ne.com/2012/12/tech-n9ne/10-tech-n9ne-collabs-we-want-in-2013/ http://blog.therealtechn9ne.com/2012/12/tech-n9ne/10-tech-n9ne-collabs-we-want-in-2013/#comments Tue, 18 Dec 2012 04:45:33 +0000 Brent Bradley http://blog.therealtechn9ne.com/?p=36590

Given some of the little hints Strange Music fans have been privy to over the last few months, it’s becoming apparent that 2013 is set to be the year of the Snake and Bat.

One thing we know for a fact is that Tech N9ne has a new album coming out in 2013, and it’s expected to be even more epic than All 6′s And 7′s (if that’s even possible), so we decided to take some time to make a wish list of sorts for collaborations we’d like to see happen, if the world doesn’t explode on the 21st that is.

10. Action Bronson - Bronsolini has been damn near EVERYWHERE this year, with features ranging from Riff Raff to The Alchemist, yet somehow the Snake and Bat hasn’t nabbed one of the dopest emcees to touch a mic in 2012. Who knows what 2013 could bring, and we think it’d be dope to hear Tech N9ne on some East Coast type shit.

9. Snoop Lion - Since having a re-birth of sorts in Jamaica, the S-N-double O-P has transformed from Dogg to Lion, and from the looks of it some Reggae work is in his future. Not only would we like to see these two work together again, but we think Tech’s double-time flow would sound dope over some Reggae shit. Have you heard “Smoke Sumting”? Exactly.

8. A$AP Rocky - A$AP is another dude that’s been turning a lot of heads this year, and you can’t deny that he’s a chopper in his own way, so we think these 2 would fit perfectly together. Throw them on a slowed up beat and let them tear it to pieces. And we wouldn’t mind if it had this next emcee on it as well…

7. ScHoolboy Q - So we already know that A$AP & ScHoolboy sound dope as shit together (See: “Hands On The Wheel”), and we’re pretty positive A$AP and Tech would sound dope together, so why not just throw them on the same one? Can you imagine if Tech had been on “Hands On The Wheel”?? Us either, but it’d be awesome to see this come to fruition and find out!

6. Slaughterhouse - Alright we kinda cheated on this one by including a group, but it’s not our fault that Slaughterhouse happens to contain 4 of the dopest emcees in the game right now! I don’t think we really have to explain why this collab would be the shit, so let’s just conserve our energy for wishing like hell that it happens.

5. Ab-Soul - We’re not entirely sure how this hasn’t already happened to be completely honest with y’all. This dude utterly destroys every track he touches, and he’s no stranger to heavy lyrical content as well, so we think he and Tech would make a perfect pair.

4. Outkast - We know these two haven’t really done anything together in a minute, but that doesn’t mean we can’t dream about it! Really, we’d take either member to do a collab track with Tech N9ne, but obviously it would be the shit if Sir Lucious Left Foot AND Three Stacks hopped on a beat with the K.O.D.

3. Nas - Few emcees can tell a story and keep it real like Tech N9ne can, and Nas is one of those few. Tech has hinted a couple times at wanting to get Nasty Nas on a track, and every single one of us at the HQ has our fingers crossed that 2013 will be the year it finally happens.

2. The Doors – We know the Lizard King has long since left us *single tear escapes from eye*, but the remaining members of The Doors are still alive, well, and kicking ass! And shit, they just did that collab with Skrillex, so who knows? Besides, how could we NOT want to hear Tech with the band that inspired him to create Strange Music?

1. Eminem - Of course Eminem is number 1! Y’all have been asking, begging, and hoping for this collab for years now, and we’re hoping that 13 will be the lucky number as far as Tech N9ne’s studio albums go. “The Anthem” gave us a little taste, and we’re just as hungry as y’all are for the rest.

•  What does your collaboration wish list look like? Did we miss some of your favorites?

Let us know in the comments section below!

Proof that he doesn’t hear what you hear.

Recently, Tech N9ne jumped on Turntable.fm as a special guest DJ to spin a few tracks and chat it up with fans. While many fans may have expected a Tech N9ne playlist, created by the man himself, Tech instead took everyone by surprise when he played the songs he personally would want to hear.

This allowed us to take a peek into the mind of the N9ne and discover the music he likes to blast.

Check out this Klusterfuk of a playlist below!

1. “Lonely Boy” – The Black Keys
2. “Five To One” – The Doors
3. “Party Monsters” – Kottonmouth Kings Featuring Tech N9ne
4. “Humming” – Portishead
5. “Backseat Freestyle” – Kendrick Lamar
6. “Adore” – Prince
7. “Off The Wall” – Michael Jackson
8. “Aerials” – System Of A Down
9. “Wait And Bleed” – Slipknot
10. “Seed Of Memory” – Terry Reid
11. “Push Thru” – Talib Kweli
12. “A Little Piece Of Heaven” – Avenged Sevenfold

• What did you think of Tech’s playlist?
• Was it what you had expected?

Fans headed to the Gift Of Rap 2012 will have an opportunity to create the experience of a lifetime thanks to the exclusive VIP Meet and Greet that will put them face to face with the Kansas City King, Tech N9ne.

As one of Tech N9ne’s earliest supporters in the music industry, Violet Brown has had plenty of memorable exchanges with the red-haired wonder, but it was another fan’s chance encounter with Tech outside of a hotel in L.A. that would have the makings of the ultimate Tech N9ne experience.

Reflecting on this very special night, Violet Brown shared this incredible story in her own words:

My favorite Tech N9ne experience and the GREATEST Tech show of ALL-TIME for me was actually in a hotel in LA. Tech had just finished playing the House of Blues in Hollywood on the strip. The show had ended so it was time to chill and enjoy our evening and that is when I believe the special party favors came out to play with our heads. Now keep in mind, this was years ago and definitely a thing of the past. 

After about an hour it was time for some air so we went downstairs to the front of the hotel. This was a popular hotel that is known for housing rock, rap, and movie stars,  so people tend to hang around the front of this hotel hoping to see a STAR. We stood out front and may have gotten even more buzzed from the smoke and exhaust of the cars on the packed Sunset Strip.

It wasn’t a few minutes until a young guy approached Tech and proceeded to tell him that Tech was his favorite rapper. The kid said he was in town from Seattle to play in an orchestra for a huge star. I vividly remember the kid telling Tech that he was a true musician and he heard Tech’s voice as a percussion instrument. He said that Tech’s syncopation and flow was like a musical instrument. He told Tech that “you drum with your voice.” He was only in LA for that weekend and much to his surprise that night, he saw Tech’s name on the marquee of the House Of Blues so he “HAD TO GO TO THE SHOW”. This guy was so excited to meet his hero.

After talking to him awhile, Tech invited him to come back to the room with us, so upstairs we went. When we got back to the room Tech says, “What is your favorite album?” The star struck kid answers very quickly with, Anghellic. Well that is my favorite too so I was happy to hear this news. Tech reaches over  and turns on a boom box at about 3AM he pops in Anghellic and proceeds to perform and rap the entire Anghellic album from start to finish, just for us…LIVE & FLAWLESSLY…FAST, INTENSE, WITH PURE TECH N9NE PASSION. Tech stood in the middle of the floor as we sat on the beds and just a few feet from our face he put on the most intense show ever…Tech was in the zone and his voice was almost hypnotic. Just imagine hearing “This Ring” in such an intimate, personal way. This was so unreal for me and I was around Tech all the time so I could not imagine how this kid/fan off the street was feeling. It was amazing watching Tech and this young guy’s face. It felt like a dream and that I would soon wake up from the BEST DREAM EVER…BUT NO, THIS WAS REAL!

When Tech spit the last line from Anghellic the kid started calling his friends and waking them up in Seattle, trying to tell them this wild story about his night. Now I was there and even to me his story sounded too unreal and over the top. So what does Tech do? He grabs the phone and starts talking to this guy’s friends. So even his friends shared something special & CRAZY that night…..THIS WAS THE GREATEST MUSICAL EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE and I have had many legendary experiences over the years, but NOTHING has ever topped this one for me…Now, if only I could find and talk to this guy again. I know it may be hard to find this guy, but I am sure he is still telling this story to this day.  I have faith that some Tech fan will lead me to this guy. I just want to finally hear his take on this mind-blowing evening…

I guess it was pure fate that put him in L.A. on this evening and took him from the street to the most intimate, private, and memorable TECH N9NE SHOW OF ALL-TIME…If ANYONE has heard this story and knows this guy tell him I am looking for him. And NOW,  you can really believe him because I was there too….IT WAS NOT A DREAM.

- Violet Brown

Fans can get their own special Tech N9ne experience with a VIP Pass at the Gift Of Rap 2012 – don’t miss out!

CLICK HERE FOR VIP PASSES TO TECH N9NE’S GIFT OF RAP 2012.

• Have you ever had a similar experience with Tech N9ne?

Let us know in the comments section below!

It’s no surprise that the Kansas City King is an avid fan of metal. He’s mentioned numerous times his love for bands such as Avenged Sevenfold, and has been caught sporting Black Sabbath, Slipknot, and System of a Down tees.

With Tech recently venturing back into the dark side with Boiling Point, we decided to put together a short list of metal vocalists that we felt would be perfect for a collaboration with the Nina.

5. Randy Blythe (Lamb Of God)

Randy Blythe has some of the most unique vocals in metal, so we felt he would be perfect for an intense collaboration with one of the most unique artists in hip hop. Randy’s terrifying growls and piercing high screams give him an almost demonic sound that could not only darken any song, but amp it up at the same time. With Tech often dabbling in the hard rock area, this collaboration could send a hardcore N9ne track through the roof.

4. M. Shadows (Avenged Sevenfold)

Another collaboration that everyone, including Tech, would love to see is with Avenged Sevenfold. This one is easier to imagine as lead vocalist M. Shadows and lead guitarist Synyster Gates were recently featured on MGK’s debut album,  Lace Up. Mixing someone like M. Shadows with Tech N9ne could be a recipe for greatness. M. Shadows can keep it catchy with his singing, but still throw in those vicious screams that would make a Tech track more explosive than anything hip hop has ever seen.

3. Zack de la Rocha (Rage Against The Machine)

Zack de la Rocha is not your average hard rock vocalist, which is why just about anyone who hasn’t been living under a rock all their lives can recognize his voice. The combination of the energetic delivery of a metal frontman and the flow and rhyme-schemes of a rapper is what makes de la Rocha such a stand-out vocalist. Imagine Tech and Zack trading bars over a bangin’ guitar infused beat!

2. Corey Taylor (Slipknot)

Fans may know Slipknot as pioneers of the New Wave of American Heavy Metal, but also as one of Tech N9ne’s favorite bands. Fans also know that Tech has been pushing for a Slipknot collaboration for a long time, and almost succeeded in getting Corey Taylor on “Killing You”. The Slipknot frontman’s ability to produce both chilling melodies, hardcore vocals, and the occasional rap verse gives him some serious flexibility when it comes to a Tech N9ne collaboration, and it’s something we’d all love to see.

1. Serj Tankian (System Of A Down)

Tech has expressed multiple times his love for System of a Down, most recently with his entertaining cover of “Aerials”. One of the most distinctive aspects to System of a Down’s sound is the haunting vocals of Serj Tankian. Known for his powerful voice, experimentation, impressive range, and the ability to switch intensities in an instant, the possibilities of what Serj can bring to the Strange table are endless. It’s safe to say that this collaboration would be nothing short of epic.

Click here to purchase Boiling Point.

• Which metal singer do you want to collaborate with Tech N9ne?

Let us know in the comments section below!

With the Strangegiving Sale slashing prices to 50% off on all Tech N9ne and Strange Music merchandise, there’s plenty to choose from when you want to rep the Kansas City King.

Here’s a quick rundown of some of the dopest gear now available during the Strangegiving Sale and of course, it’s half off so why not drape yourself out with some threads from the Nina?

Check it out!

Tech N9ne – Black E.B.A.H. T-Shirt

Tech N9ne’s choice of cover for E.B.A.H. broke away from some of his more traditional artwork and made for a dope design that has since inspired a ton of tattoos. Enjoy his Evil Brain Angel Heart with this awesome large print tee!

Tech N9ne – Red Basketball Jersey

These are always pretty damn cool, but they just recently got restocked in 3XL and M, so you have a better chance at scooping one up at half price. Also available in black!

Tech N9ne – Black Sorry N Shit 2012 T-Shirt

Sorry n’ shit, but the last two versions of these were so popular that we sold out. Fear not though, because just in time for the Strangegiving Sale comes the new and updated version for 2012. If you can’t get your hands on one of these, well then – sorry n’ shit!

Tech N9ne – Black Cult T-Shirt

This one has made a few lists before, but with a statement like this, why not include it again? Let the world know what’s up  with your very own!

Tech N9ne – Red Dropdown T-Shirt

It’s red, it’s dope, and it’s simple. We like.

Tech N9ne – Black Caribou Lou 2012 T-Shirt

These always go pretty quick and with so many Technicians knockin’ back Caribou Lous, it makes sense. Celebrate Tech’s world famous mix with an official tee that’ll leave you asking, “What happened last night?”

Tech N9ne – Black Roman Hoodie

Tech’s been spotted wearing this one a lot lately. With hoodie season in full effect, now you can hold it down for the N9ne with this brand new hoodie that features front and back designs with the Snake and Bat logo.

Tech N9ne – Red Ltd Edition Football Jersey

These are actually already running low and with all the love that jerseys get, a limited edition one won’t last much longer!

Tech N9ne – Don’t Tweet This Black T-Shirt

Yup, it’s a shirt now. Party it up, drink it up, but whatever you do – don’t tweet this!

 Tech N9ne – Black Promise Land T-Shirt

Tech took Strange Music to the “Promiseland” in 2011 and now you can keep the big moment with you with this insanely awesome large print tee.

CLICK HERE TO SHOP NOW AT HALF OFF DURING THE STRANGEGIVING SALE!

• What are some of your favorite merch items on sale?