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/
Kansas City Shuffle
Tech N9ne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Man wake up man, wake up
Damn man (fuck) where we at man?
Shit I donâ
The opening dialogue in Tech N9ne's song Kansas City Shuffle sets the scene for a night of revelry and chaos. The singer and an unknown companion wake up with no memory of how they arrived at their current location. The chorus paints a picture of a city in which anything can happen, with no guarantees or safety nets. The lyrics allude to the unpredictable nature of life in Kansas City, a sentiment that Tech N9ne explores throughout the song.
The verses are filled with vivid imagery and wordplay, showcasing Tech N9ne's prowess as a rapper. In the first verse, he describes a world filled with violence and corruption, where people are forced to hustle to survive. The second verse focuses on the darker aspects of addiction and mental health, and the struggle to maintain a stable existence in the face of these challenges. Throughout the song, Tech N9ne emphasizes that life in Kansas City is not for the faint of heart.
Overall, Kansas City Shuffle serves as a love letter to Tech N9ne's hometown, albeit one that acknowledges the harsh realities of life in the city. The lyrics are a mix of celebration and cautionary tale, warning listeners that success in Kansas City requires both hard work and luck.
Line by Line Meaning
(radio)
This section of the song starts with the sound of a radio transmission.
Man wake up man, wake up
Someone is waking up another person, possibly after an intense experience.
Damn man (fuck) where we at man?
The person waking up is disoriented and questioning their location.
Shit I don't know, but it feels like we've been asleep for a long time
The person being woken up does not know their location either but feels like they have been unconscious for a while.
Where my phone at?
The person is looking for their phone, possibly to call for help or to check their location.
(Hold up just hold up)
The person pauses their search for their phone.
Where the fuck we at?
The person is still questioning their location and the gravity of the situation.
Kansas City, we're in Kansas City.
Finally, the person locates themselves in Kansas City.
Oh shit, we just got caught up in the Kansas City Shuffle
The person realizes they have fallen for a trap, known as the Kansas City Shuffle.
What's the Kansas City Shuffle?
The person asks for an explanation of the trap.
It's when they look left, and you go right.
The trap involves distracting the target by making them look one way while the perpetrator moves in a different direction.
It's when they ask you to speak, but you stay quiet.
Another aspect of the trap involves remaining silent when asked a direct question.
It's when they move in a crowd, you go for self.
The trap also involves going solo instead of following the crowd.
I see, I see, damn man you never cease to amaze me
The person is impressed with the explanation of the trap and impressed by their companion's ability to recognize it.
Contributed by Joshua Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
shaderXluna
idk why but i keep all of techs interludes randomly placed in my playlist. i love them
Ryan Satterfield
this is 1 of the best
MarioThaMonkay
Yes! After i lost my SD card 2 years ago. i lost a lot of tech but now I'm getting some back x)
Noah Thompson
noooooo lol :P
London Wells
Celebrating the late 12th anniversary of Misery Loves Kompany!
Christopher Cleveland
This snaps
Lance Shewalter
This shit right here??????
Jeff D
Shiiiiiiiit