Although the mainstream has yet to give props to rapper Tech N9ne, he isn’t short on confidence.
Just patience.
Frustrated by music business politics, Tech N9ne has likened himself to Michael Jordan sitting on the bench–or to a pro playing college ball.
But with songs on the soundtrack to “Alpha Dog” and a new CD in stores, “Everready (The Religion),” Tech N9ne is hoping that it’s time to proclaim his eligibility for the big-league hip-hop draft.
“The scouts are lookin’ at me now,” he said, phoning from a tour stop. “You know what I’m sizzlin’?”
Born Aaron Yates in 1971, Tech N9ne grew up watching MTV and soaking up all sorts of music–not just rap. As a result, his music often strays outside hip-hop norms, as does Tech N9ne’s image. A proud non-conformist, the Kansas City native styled his hair into a red mohawk until recently. He wears face paint on stage. He also chants and speed-raps, a tongue-twisting technique popular in the Midwest.
Tech N9ne’s rap songs aren’t typical club fodder. He swiped the infectious melody from Falco’s “Rock Me Amadeus” and changed the chorus into “I’m a Playa.” During the song “Slither,” which is included on the “Alpha Dog” soundtrack, he rhymes about getting a lap dance at a strip club, then having the dancers morph into horny vampires.
Imagination is not something Tech N9ne lacks.
“Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the mainstream had a bit of Tech N9ne?” he said. “It’s so watered down right now.”
The coming year will be important for Tech N9ne. As one of the nation’s busiest touring rappers, he’s built solid fan bases in the West and Midwest. But he’s only recently begun penetrating the eastern U.S. Meanwhile, “Alpha Dog”–which stars Justin Timberlake and Bruce Willis, among others–could help spread Tech N9ne’s message-filled music to a commercially lucrative demographic.
“We love college ball,” Tech N9ne said. “It does a lot for us. But we can do so much more. And what I mean by doing so much more is infecting so many more people with this beautiful virus of music.”
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Tech N9ne has multiple songs on the “Alpha Dog” soundtrack, which could help him move into mainstream music.
