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/
Priorities
Tech N9ne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mix it up with cocaine and just kill yourself in Los Angeles
Niggas lost and jealous, couple tossed umbrellas
Too hot plus 45's is cocked blazing til we in clouds with Pac
Not to mention, these federal penitentiaries
Locking all my of niggas up giving them half a century
So the day they get out with Alzheimer's they won't remember me
And everything they did before 20 is faded memories
Hated enemies ready to finish me
Government wanna limit these men with G's
Spin it put them in a key, then it's me beginning this chemistry
I am tangled, cause living this got a man strangled,
It's fandagled, hand me a plan from a damn angel
Angels in my city get it gritty, rioting off Henny
In clubs they act fast, packing, they gats got plenty
When you in my streets better open your fucking eyes
Niggas in front wanna take you down, in back wanna break your spine
Stain inside broken glass
And to forget it all we grab a bitch and poke her fast
Walk her out holding ass
Anything for that Lambo, in years of holding cash
Spend it on a couple strippers and forget to hold the gas
Gas high, but it ain't like me, I'm past the sky
You ask us why we emotional and have to cry
Cause the cash is my way that I'm gonna last to die
But when they classify me as bad in the masses eye
Dare you to go through all this sickness
Need a minute come to my senses
On block they pose, throw 'em to the dog
Pitbulls then they place all bets in
Often I cop, often I fight bitches
Launder they thoughts, launder them leave stitches
Street vicious micro missions
Still play the game with the end in a vision
Might
Give a bum a holla, toss em' a couple dollas
Hit the window with them wipers, but forget your babies diapers
And that's the reason why we forever minorities
Hatred for all authorities, fucking up our priorities
The lyrics of "Priorities" by Tech N9ne feat. Game Angel Davanport accentuate the harsh realities of street life, with a focus on the dangers of drug use and crime. Tech N9ne opens the song by describing how his words can be lethal, suggesting as if he's about to mix cocaine and angel dust in someone's mouth to end them in Los Angeles. He goes on to describe the envy and resentment that exists between criminals, referencing the violence that ensues when "niggas in front wanna take you down, in back wanna break your spine." Tech N9ne explains how federal penitentiaries have taken away entire lives of his friends, making them forget everything before they turned 20.
The chorus highlights how the desire for money and material possessions overrides all else, leading to a dangerous cycle of violence and bad decision making. Tech N9ne talks about giving a bum some money while forgetting to buy diapers for his own baby, reflecting a reality of being so consumed in survival mode that everything else becomes just something you hope to deal with tomorrow. The song touches on the concept of police brutality, racism, and poverty, showing that to Tech N9ne and Game Angel Davanport, these are all symptoms of a larger disease of manipulation fueled by "fucking up our priorities."
Overall, "Priorities" is a social commentary through the perspective of two rappers who have lived in the underbelly of society. They question the social inequality that forces people into a life of crime and destruction, and highlight how greed and moral decay have destroyed urban communities in the US.
Line by Line Meaning
I open my mouth and what comes out is dangerous, angel dust
My words are powerful and can have a detrimental effect on people's lives
Mix it up with cocaine and just kill yourself in Los Angeles
Drug addiction and overdoses are prevalent in Los Angeles
Niggas lost and jealous, couple tossed umbrellas
People are lost and envious, leading to irrational behavior
Too hot plus 45's is cocked blazing til we in clouds with Pac
Gun violence is rampant and can lead to death, even on a legendary level like Tupac
Not to mention, these federal penitentiaries
The prison system is flawed and punishes people who may not deserve it
Locking all my of niggas up giving them half a century
Friends and associates are being unfairly imprisoned for long periods of time
So the day they get out with Alzheimer's they won't remember me
The effects of prison are long-lasting and can lead to memory loss
And everything they did before 20 is faded memories
People's lives are altered forever due to the prison system
Hated enemies ready to finish me
There are people who want to kill me
Government wanna limit these men with G's
The government wants to limit people's freedom
Spin it put them in a key, then it's me beginning this chemistry
The government uses drugs as a way to control people and manipulate them
I am tangled, cause living this got a man strangled
Living this lifestyle can be suffocating and overwhelming
It's fandagled, hand me a plan from a damn angel
I need guidance and direction to escape this cycle of destruction
Angels in my city get it gritty, rioting off Henny
Even the good people in my city are affected by its violence and chaos
In clubs they act fast, packing, they gats got plenty
People carry guns in clubs and can resort to violence easily
When you in my streets better open your fucking eyes
The streets are dangerous and require constant vigilance
Niggas in front wanna take you down, in back wanna break your spine
There are people who will attack you from all angles to hurt you
Stain inside broken glass
The remnants of bad decisions and actions are always present
And to forget it all we grab a bitch and poke her fast
People use sex and objectify women to escape their problems
Walk her out holding ass
They don't care about the person, just the gratification
Anything for that Lambo, in years of holding cash
People will do anything for money and material possessions
Spend it on a couple strippers and forget to hold the gas
Money is often wasted on fleeting pleasures and not invested wisely
Gas high, but it ain't like me, I'm past the sky
The drug high is temporary, but my experiences and mindset are permanently altered
You ask us why we emotional and have to cry
People have deep-seated emotional issues and pain
Cause the cash is my way that I'm gonna last to die
Money is seen as the only way to survive and be happy
But when they classify me as bad in the masses eye
Society unfairly judges and labels people without knowing the whole story
Dare you to go through all this sickness
I challenge you to experience and endure this difficult lifestyle
Need a minute come to my senses
I need to take time to reflect and regain my thoughts and feelings
On block they pose, throw 'em to the dog
People will turn on each other in order to gain power and control
Pitbulls then they place all bets in
Others will place bets on who they think will come out on top
Often I cop, often I fight bitches
I have a history of doing illegal and violent things
Launder they thoughts, launder them leave stitches
People try to clean up their bad deeds and forget their consequences
Street vicious micro missions
Small acts of violence and crime are prevalent in the streets
Still play the game with the end in a vision
People continue to make risky decisions with the hope of achieving success in the end
Might give a bum a holla, toss em' a couple dollas
People may do small acts of kindness, but it doesn't excuse their larger transgressions
Hit the window with them wipers, but forget your babies diapers
People prioritize trivial things over important ones, leading to consequences
And that's the reason why we forever minorities
Our actions and lifestyle keep us separate and disadvantaged from the rest of society
Hatred for all authorities, fucking up our priorities
The hatred and distrust for authority figures lead us to make bad choices and prioritize the wrong things
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Ashley Hart, Michael Summers, Jaceyon Taylor, Aaron Dontez Yates
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
D Mensah
This goes harder than a lot of 3min+ songs, damn they all ripped it
Joe Blazer
oohh yea.. it was real hard..lol
soimboredandtesting
best part of this song is that the instrumental sounds like a film track... and the verses are ill
Fjuncaj
Why don't Game and Tech do more collabs?
Ayo Jinmi
@Isiac Artison game killed this feature
Connər Wælsh
@Isiac Artison I'm 2 years late but Games opening verse was top tier..
Not to mention these penatenaries,/
Lockin all up my people up givin em half a century/
So they day they get out with Alzhiemers they won't remember me/
And everything we did before 20s a faded memory./
I don't even really like Games stuff like that. But that's some chill inducing stuff right there if you can understand what it's like losing friends to the system for decades. Some you'll never see again. He painted a dope story with 4 lines
Akillìz
Game dismantled tech on this don’t play
Heel Spawn
@Akillìz If anything, Game just held his own but the girl did her thing too.. Lets be real, Tech wasn't going his hardest.. If Tech wanted to dismantle Game & that girl, he would have..
Matthew Mendez
Most underrated track on the album.
Stazmatix
I think the fact that this song is quick, doesn't screw around with hooks and a chorus is one of the reasons it's as good as it is. Something a little different, and I like it.