Tech N9ne will celebrate his 25th year of being a rap artist in 201. Kansas City MC has certainly accomplished a lifetime's worth of work. Despite not releasing a proper album until 1999, he has put out fifteen full-length commercial releases since. Tech N9ne exists in the horrorcore realm, but with a serious flow, his music is taken much more seriously than that of someone like Insane Clown Posse.
When you're an underground artist, 'singles' aren't necessarily going to climb up the Billboard charts, but they are used to catch the ears of potential listeners by giving them a dose of your skill set. Cuts like "Mitch Bade" channel that funky, midwestern Bone Thugs style with a twist -- there's that and nine more of those bad boys as we dive into Tech N9ne's early cuts.
"Mitch Bade"
Bone Thugs might have created this midwest-meets-G-funk steez, but Tech N9ne ran with it well enough on "Mitch Bade." Released in 1996, Tech N9ne hadn't released any albums when he released the song, along with the similarly west coast influenced "Cloudy-Eyed Stroll."
"Cloudy-Eyed Stroll"
Do you know how far west Kansas City is? It's pretty much smack-dab in the middle of the country, but if we're getting technical, it's further east than it is west. In the mid 90s, however, the west coast was inflitrating the sounds of smaller rap markets everywhere, including those of Texas and, of course, Tech N9ne's Kansas City. Peep this remix of "Cloudy-Eyed Stroll" if you pine for smoked-out, hazy beats with a strong MC in the pilot's seat.
"Big Bad Wolf"
Tech N9ne is well-known for his chopper style, double-time flow. Like Twista, he has made this style his trademark over the years, and while the first few songs didn't have that rapid-fire style, "Big Bad Wolf" employs Tech's quick tongue for its bars.
"It's Alive"
Tech N9ne's third album Anghellic is an iconic horrorcore album. If you dig that style and haven't heard it, it's a must-listen. "It's Alive" sees our subject coming into his own; he's channeling Bone Thugs, but with his own unique swagger. The drum-and-bass fills add a whole new component to the track, and as the lone single from the album, it represents one of Tech N9ne's best works.
"Slacker"
While Anghellic only had one single, Absolute Power had four. "Slacker," the first of those four, channels Tech N9ne's inner Biggie Smalls while maintaining a style similar to Eminem's at the time.
"Imma Tell"
You just have to check the flow on this one. Alternating between regular and double-time flows, Tech N9ne demonstrates why he's been one of the underground favorites for decades now. With a hook that says "This is the town where the clowns put it down, baby," it's no wonder Tech has found himself performing at the Insane Clown Posse's festival in the past.
"I'm A Playa"
If you're going to begin a song with the "We Will Rock You" sample, you better not mess it up. "I'm A Playa" is one of Tech N9ne's most popular songs due to its infectious hook, and helped to propel Absolute Power, his fourth studio album, into the Billboard 200 charts.
"Here Comes Tecca Nina"
If you don't know what to expect from a Tech N9ne single, he spells it out for you: "I'm talkin 'bout hoes and I'm talkin' bout Kansas City."
"Bout Ta Bubble"
Here's the lone single off 2006's Everready. Produced by fellow Kansas City representative Seven, the big crosses Tech N9nes crazy style with pop aesthetic sensibilities.
