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/
Poisoning The Well
Tech N9ne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But in the end y'all gon' play
Poisoning the well
Y'all gon' hear me, oh yeah
You owe me finer days
I only been going through hell
So drink it up, with no filter I give you my drama
Then ay yo I'll live it, I'll live it
See I'm only funky as my last cut
So be my guest and fill your glass up, playa
Sincerely
Man I love this music thing severely
But it seems some don't wanna feel me clearly
I'm the L in salmon, they can't hear me
So I had to work up to not giving a fuck
But the people thought I was evil
I was brought up at the steeple but they trust it not
But turn and tell a killa that he must kick rocks
When he bust it lots
And you will get a couple in ya muffin top
Me popping will be they D-day
'Cause they can't say the shit he say
Everyone don't have a tongue like a gun
They not trying to be running no relay
Sat in hell for a whole of years
Bread and tales I got a whole lot of cheers
Sold out shows, so 'bout those, foes doubt flows but bros oughta hear
Change in the making
Deep in the Midwest something insane been a-baking
They claiming a nation with brain innovation
Surrounding everyone with strange integration
Poisoning the well
Y'all gon' hear me, oh yeah
You owe me finer days
I only been going through hell
So drink it up, with no filter I give you my drama
So if you don't get it, don't get it
Then ay yo I'll live it, I'll live it
See I'm only funky as my last cut
So be my guest and fill your glass up, playa
Something strange in the agua
When everybody sound like blah-blah
Put the KOD in the pot and he nod
But the God no more rides well Tecca Nina saga
Someway the killa is getting twisted into the mainstream
Gangrene sick of hits again
I can flip from the rip come and sip the sin
That's my dirty water worser than Flint, Michigan
They don't wanna see my progress
But you can't stop or tell it that's God blessed
Over the years I showed 'em with my I guest
To a handsome mansion and from the projects
Wayne Minor, insane kinda, in the brain I'm a strange rhymer
Always gonna change the game grinder
Poison the well
You can tell that, this boy's been in Hell
I'ma joy when inhaled
I'm the reason why everybody cheesin'
I got 'em even making noise in the jail
If everybody had to do what I do
They'd have flows coming out the wazoo
And let the god spew
Alaikumsalam warahmatullahi wabarakatuh
Poisoning the well
Y'all gon' hear me, oh yeah
You owe me finer days
I only been going through hell
So drink it up, with no filter I give you my drama
So if you don't get it, don't get it
Then ay yo I'll live it, I'll live it
See I'm only funky as my last cut
So be my guest and fill your glass up, playa
Something strange and eerie comes
And it ain't nearly done
In Tech N9ne's song Poisoning the Well, he expresses frustration and disappointment of not being understood or heard by some listeners. He knows that initially, some people may not have heard or paid attention to his music, but eventually, they will come around. He talks about how he has gone through a lot of struggles to get where he is, and he has given his all to his music. He talks about poisoning the well, which is a metaphor for infecting the source of something, or in this case, corrupting the music industry. He is willing to give his all and let people drink from his drama, with no filter.
Throughout the song, Tech N9ne touches on themes of resilience, perseverance, and the struggle to be heard and recognized. He had to work hard to overcome the perception that he was evil, and he has sat in hell for a long time. He talks about the strange things happening in the industry, where everyone sounds the same, and he is trying to flip the game on its head. Tech N9ne's unique style of rap makes him stand out, and he's proud of his signature sound.
Overall, Tech N9ne's Poisoning the Well is a powerful song that speaks to the struggle of not just himself but also of many artists who work hard to get their message across. He is determined to have his voice heard, and he's confident that those who listen deeply will appreciate and understand him better over time.
Line by Line Meaning
Mmm, I know at first y'all ain't hear me
I understand that you didn't listen to me initially
But in the end y'all gon' play
Eventually, you're going to listen to and appreciate my music
Poisoning the well
Deliberately contaminating the source of information or discussion
Y'all gon' hear me, oh yeah
You'll hear my music and my message loud and clear
You owe me finer days
I've gone through a lot to get where I am, and I deserve better
I only been going through hell
My journey in music has been difficult and challenging
So drink it up, with no filter I give you my drama
Listen to my music, which is raw and unfiltered, and tells the story of my struggles
So if you don't get it, don't get it
If you don't understand my music, that's okay
Then ay yo I'll live it, I'll live it
But I'll continue to make music and live my life anyway
See I'm only funky as my last cut
I'm only as good as my latest song
So be my guest and fill your glass up, playa
Listen to my music and enjoy it
Something strange in the agua
There's something unusual in the water
When everybody sound like blah-blah
When everyone's music sounds the same
Put the KOD in the pot and he nod
Tech N9ne's nickname is KOD, and people enjoy his music
But the God no more rides well Tecca Nina saga
Tech N9ne doesn't ride the wave of Tecca Nina anymore
Someway the killa is getting twisted into the mainstream
Mainstream music is starting to adopt Tech N9ne's style
Gangrene sick of hits again
Tech N9ne is tired of making hit songs
I can flip from the rip come and sip the sin
Tech N9ne can switch up his style and still produce quality music
That's my dirty water worser than Flint, Michigan
Tech N9ne's music is controversial and disliked by some
They don't wanna see my progress
Some people don't want to acknowledge Tech N9ne's growth and success
But you can't stop or tell it that's God blessed
Tech N9ne's success is divinely blessed and unstoppable
Over the years I showed 'em with my I guest
Tech N9ne has proven himself with his music and performances
To a handsome mansion and from the projects
Tech N9ne has come a long way from his humble beginnings
Wayne Minor, insane kinda, in the brain I'm a strange rhymer
Tech N9ne's style is unique and unconventional
Always gonna change the game grinder
Tech N9ne will always be revolutionary in his music
You can tell that, this boy's been in Hell
You can hear the pain and struggle in Tech N9ne's music
I'ma joy when inhaled
Listening to Tech N9ne's music is an enjoyable experience
I'm the reason why everybody cheesin'
Tech N9ne's music brings joy to people
I got 'em even making noise in the jail
Even people in prison appreciate Tech N9ne's music
If everybody had to do what I do
If everyone had to struggle and work as hard as Tech N9ne, they'd appreciate his music more
They'd have flows coming out the wazoo
If everyone tried to emulate Tech N9ne's style, there would be a lot of unique and creative music
And let the god spew
Let Tech N9ne continue to create and innovate in music
Alaikumsalam warahmatullahi wabarakatuh
A traditional Islamic greeting meaning 'Peace, mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you'
Something strange and eerie comes
There's a mysterious and unsettling feeling in the air
And it ain't nearly done
This feeling is not going away anytime soon
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Aaron Yates, Michael Summers, Samuel Watson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind