His tenth studio album, K.O.D., was released October 27, 2009. He has spent his illustrious career making sure he’s been grinding harder than the average rapper, and is the best selling artist out of his hometown. With nine solo albums and two powerhouse collaboration projects under his belt, the Kansas City MC’s flow is sharper and slicker than it’s ever been.
“This is another roller coaster ride,” explains TECH N9NE about the release. “When it came time for Sickology 101, I knew I wanted to do a collabo album based on the study of being sick. It’s a beginner’s course for people who don’t know how to be sick lyrically or how to choose sick beats. It all starts with beats because they tell me exactly what to do.” Epic beats from YoungFyre, Wyshmaster, Seven and Matic Lee set the stage for TECH N9NE to weave his introspective and sometimes roguish lyrics around.
Sickology 101 brims with stellar appearances from lyrical heavyweights. On the opening title track, TECH N9NE slays alongside Chino XL and Crooked I, pulling listeners into the Hip-Hop classroom for a lesson in murdering a beat. It’s a twisted vision forged on undeniable grooves and quixotic wordplay.
The single, “Nothin,’” is an inspiring, honest anthem that features Messy Marv and Big Scoob. Meanwhile, on “Midwest Choppers 2,” TECH N9NE and Krayzie Bone cruise to the depths of darkness. “Krayzie Bone came through and murdered it,” says TECH N9NE. “I modeled the song after movies. When you do a sequel, there has to be a bigger body count and more people have to die. ‘Midwest Choppers 2’ is Autobahn-style. It makes you want to speed.”
TECH N9NE’s inimitable flow and rhyming take center stage on solo tracks, including the haunting, hypnotic “Red Nose.” He doesn’t pull any punches on the vitriolic, YoungFyre-produced “Blown Away,” either. It’s an open letter to several prominent urban artists who refused to play before him at radio festivals despite his massive concert draw.
With hits like “I’m A Playa,” “Caribou Lou” (which boasts 7.2 million MySpace plays), “Riotmaker,” “Like Yeah” and “Everybody Move,” it’s no wonder TECH N9NE counts a total of over 4.5 million YouTube video plays and an average of 40,000 MySpace visitors each day. His success knows no limits. The July 2008 release, Killer, debuted at Number 1 on the Billboard Top Independent Albums chart and Number 12 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart. He did it all on his own. There was no major label — just TECH N9NE’s own record company, Strange Music. TECH N9NE’s tracks have appeared in films like Gang Related and Alpha Dog as well as various TV shows, and he recently made his motion picture debut in The Life of Lucky Cucumber alongside members of MTV’s “Jackass” crew.
It hasn’t been an easy road, but TECH N9NE soldiers on and he’ll never stop. “They call me devil worshipper because I’m different. I give you music for my core. They’re the people that put me over the million mark. I raise my middle finger to everybody who judges me because my core audience is there for me. They will always love me, but I’m trying to reach others, too. It’s not over. My music is supposed to be for everybody, but some people just don’t get it. This album is the result; swallow it. It’s middle finger music, all-day and all-night.”
TECH N9NE never stops bringing that music directly to his fans, constantly reinforcing his status as one of the hardest-touring rap acts in the business. In 2008, TECH N9NE performed over 200 shows and he doesn’t show any signs of slowing down in 2009. In April, TECH will head out in support of Sickology 101 and spend two months on the road, performing live for his rabid fans.
Sickology 101 is prepping the world for TECH N9NE’s next masterpiece, K.O.D. “I want people to know that I’m getting better and better and I’m a machine. I do these collabo albums to give the fans more. This is a bridge record to K.O.D. It’s the farewell to the TECH N9NE you’ve known lately. It’s getting darker. A lot of people might not be able to go to the place I’m going, but this place is my specialty.”
“I don’t need people to kiss my hand,” assures TECH N9NE. “I’m not trippin’ on status, and I’m not a narcissist when it comes to rap. It’s my heart and soul pouring onto the paper. I write my life and I can’t hold back. This is what I know.”
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri
Year Formed: 1991
Official Site: http://www.therealtechn9ne.com/
Brightfall Confession
Tech N9ne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tonight only be held inside of me
Between the wrong with the right in me
Because the demon I was, they won't confide in me
I come from a religious background being raised a Christian of Barker Temple Church of Christ
Also studying Islam from 12-17 after my Christian mother married a Muslim
Mom loved that I rapped, she wanted me to do it for Christ
But the worldly me began when I ran away from home at 17
The worldly things I did would catch up with me
And try to pull me right back down
Right back down
Right back down
Right back down
Right back down
The lyrics of Tech N9ne's song "Brightfall Confession" reflect a deep internal struggle between the artist's spiritual upbringing and the temptations of the worldly life. The singer acknowledges his religious background, having been raised as a Christian and later studying Islam after his mother's marriage to a Muslim. He prays that the light within him, representing his faith and goodness, remains hidden from those who perceive him as a demon due to his past actions.
The artist opens up about his journey from a religious upbringing to his rebellious phase, which started when he ran away from home at the age of 17. Despite striving to become a better person, he is haunted by the consequences of his previous worldly actions, which threaten to pull him back down. The repetition of the phrase "Right back down" emphasizes the ongoing struggle and the constant temptation to return to his old ways.
Overall, these lyrics capture the internal conflict experienced by Tech N9ne as he grapples with his past, his spiritual beliefs, and the challenges of living in a world that often pulls him away from righteousness.
Line by Line Meaning
I prayed that the light in me
I fervently wished for the purity within myself
Tonight only be held inside of me
Only to remain within my soul, just for tonight
Between the wrong with the right in me
Balancing the mistakes and virtues within me
Because the demon I was, they won't confide in me
Since I possessed a dark side, they refused to trust me
I come from a religious background being raised a Christian of Barker Temple Church of Christ
Growing up in a devout Christian family affiliated with Barker Temple Church of Christ
Also studying Islam from 12-17 after my Christian mother married a Muslim
Additionally, between the ages of 12 and 17, I delved into studying Islam when my Christian mother married a Muslim
Mom loved that I rapped, she wanted me to do it for Christ
My mother embraced my talent for rapping and wished for me to dedicate it to spreading Christian messages
But the worldly me began when I ran away from home at 17
However, my rebellious nature emerged when I left home at the age of 17
And no matter how much better of a person I became
Despite my efforts to improve myself
The worldly things I did would catch up with me
My previous indulgence in worldly activities continued to haunt me
And try to pull me right back down
Attempting to drag me back into my old ways
Right back down
Right back down
Right back down
Right back down
Right back down
Right back down
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT
Written by: Joseph Bishara, Michael Summers, Aaron Yates
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind