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/
Trippin' Comin'
Tech N9ne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Some might call me uh paranoid
But I think I would just say that I was very aware of my surroundings!
Retrogression
Lets go back to an earlier state
Back when a bunch of cats was jumping to this world via hate
Gang bang shit, yeah I'm guilty of it
Wave they flags high, for the world to see
Even though we know we don't want our son and little girls to be
Nothing like we were, some of these youngsters got no thumbers
Bet they want no funk, but they could get shook up like a seizure
If bangin' retrogresses, now the color's no longer measures
Stresses of rival, says get weapon, go get the Tec, and press it
To make sure they get the message, why don't these motherfuckers
Rep and Stets know they faking just like they not afraid don't f with Texas
But still oblivious and fans see free
But real life is mo' serious than a damn TV
Like '85 they might be gunnin'
Why you living like a drummin'
When you sippin' wit' your woman
I can feel the trippin' comin'
[Chorus]
When they all talking loud
Feelin' proud cause no one is gunnin'
Ey, I can feel the trippin' comin'
Yeah, I can feel the trippin' comin'
Yo, I can feel it comin'
When I'm down for the town
And the club beefing with the woman
Ey, I can feel the trippin' comin'
Yeah, I can feel the trippin' comin'
Yo, I can feel it comin'
They was family, used to love you
Swear to God that they would never put nothing above you
It's just to, see your successes, then 'bout plug you
Put slugs to, cause they ain't with you so now it's fuck you
I get so much love, I get to searching
For the evil 'cause is coming, I can see right through the curtain
But the haters fill with anger, I can feel it's about to worsen
The bigger that I get, I can feel these tricks is stake for certain
When I'm partying without my body guardians, I'm hardly and chill mo'
'Cause I'm feelin they wanna scar me and feel those
Tips with lead and head it to kill foes
They real hoes plus they fake fuckers like dildos
Envy can equal murder, she love when they preferred her
Heard her servers, picks alert us, quick with the squirt her
Like '85 they might be gunnin'
Why you living like a drummin'
So you steppin' with your woman
I can feel the trippin' comin'
[Chorus]
Why do I see mayhem?
'Cause when I watch the news I say damn
Everybody living in they last days
Are in hate and waste and
Innocent children, evil it feels the nation
Facin', life sentences are the case man
It's just too good to be true
Or maybe not huh?
Buried in the hood could be you
'Cause you got some
Extra, but next bra, ain't lookin' for no kinda lecture
When you sittin' on something better, gotta be alert
Or you off in a stretcha
When I'm 'sposed to be here in fun
I'm standing near a gun
'Cause I ain't gotta have no demons
Scheming on me, tryin to tear a lung
I'm just a real one
I keep my eyes open for the bullshit
Never am I clueless
I'm looking every direction
Everywhere he comes
From
[In backwards:]
No matter how big I get, or how much money I make
The seepage will always find a way
[Chorus]
The song Trippin' by Tech N9ne is a contemplative take on the inevitability of violence in society, particularly in the context of gang culture. The artist expresses his concerns about the glorification of gangs and gun violence in the media, and how it affects young people who are easily influenced by what they see. He paints a picture of an environment in which loved ones turn on each other for success or personal gain, and where envy can easily turn to murder. He uses the phrase "trippin' comin'" to refer to the feeling of impending danger, and how it can be sensed even when things seem calm on the surface.
The artist uses a number of techniques to convey his message in the song. He begins with a backwards recording of himself saying "Some might call me uh paranoid, but I think I would just say that I was very aware of my surroundings!" This sets the tone for the song as a warning about the dangers of complacency. He also uses a repetitive chorus to build tension throughout the song, with the line "I can feel the trippin' comin'" becoming more urgent with each repetition. The verses are filled with metaphors and wordplay, creating a sense of unease and disorientation.
Line by Line Meaning
Retrogression
Let's go back to an earlier state
Lets go back to an earlier state
Going back in time to revisit gang culture from the past
Back when a bunch of cats was jumping to this world via hate
Referring to the intense gang culture during that time period
Gang bang shit, yeah I'm guilty of it
Admitting to being involved in gang culture
When I'm looking at the TV, man seem like everybody really love it
Overexposure to gang culture on TV
Wave they flags high, for the world to see
Boasting about gang culture in public
Even though we know we don't want our son and little girls to be
Disapproval of exposing children to this toxic culture
Nothing like we were, some of these youngsters got no thumbers
New generation of gang members lack loyalty to the older generation
Bet they want no funk, but they could get shook up like a seizure
New gang members may not be prepared for the danger and violence that comes with gang life
If bangin' retrogresses, now the color's no longer measures
If gang warfare intensifies, the color of one's clothes will no longer be the only defining factor
Stresses of rival, says get weapon, go get the Tec, and press it
Encouragement to arm and defend oneself against rival gang members
To make sure they get the message, why don't these motherfuckers/Rep and Stets know they faking just like they not afraid don't f with Texas
Questioning why some rappers pretend to be gang members and disrespect Texas when they know the dangers that come with gang culture
But still oblivious and fans see free
Despite the dangers of gang culture, many people still idolize these false rappers
But real life is mo' serious than a damn TV
Reminding people that real life is much more dangerous than what they see on TV
Like '85 they might be gunnin'
Referencing the high crime rates of 1985
Why you living like a drummin'
Questioning why people continue to engage in gang violence
When you sippin' wit' your woman
Even when trying to relax with a loved one, the danger of gang culture is constantly present
I can feel the trippin' comin'
The anxiety and danger of gang culture is always present and rapidly approaching
When they all talking loud
People boasting about their involvement in gang culture
Feelin' proud cause no one is gunnin'
Feeling prideful and invulnerable because nobody is currently targeting you
They was family, used to love you
Gang members who were previously close friends or even family
Swear to God that they would never put nothing above you
Promising never to betray or harm one another
It's just to, see your successes, then 'bout plug you
Friends become jealous of each others' success and turn against each other
Put slugs to, cause they ain't with you so now it's fuck you
Friends turn against each other and become violent
I get so much love, I get to searching
Receiving a lot of attention and success makes Tech N9ne more cautious
For the evil 'cause is coming, I can see right through the curtain
Anticipating danger and deception
But the haters fill with anger, I can feel it's about to worsen
Anticipating the negative reactions of those who are not happy with his success
The bigger that I get, I can feel these tricks is stake for certain
Becoming more successful makes Tech N9ne more vulnerable to danger and deception
When I'm partying without my body guardians, I'm hardly and chill mo'
When Tech N9ne is without his security team, he is more cautious and wary
'Cause I'm feelin they wanna scar me and feel those
Sensing an intent to harm him
Tips with lead and head it to kill foes
Reference to using guns to harm others
They real hoes plus they fake fuckers like dildos
Referencing the cowardice and deception of gang members
Envy can equal murder, she love when they preferred her
Jealousy leads to violence and people enjoy being the favorite
Heard her servers, picks alert us, quick with the squirt her
Sending one's associates to spy on enemies and prepare to attack
Why do I see mayhem?
Relating a sense of impending danger
'Cause when I watch the news I say damn
Seeing the negative impact of gang violence in the media
Everybody living in they last days
People constantly living as if they don't have a future due to the dangers surrounding them
Are in hate and waste and
Living in a state of anger and destruction
Innocent children, evil it feels the nation
Current events are causing a sense of evil and danger in society
Facin', life sentences are the case man
The harsh reality of consequences for violent actions
It's just too good to be true
Distrust of success and prosperity
Buried in the hood could be you
The danger of gang culture is always present and nobody is immune to it
'Cause you got some
By having something of value, one is more at risk of danger
Extra, but next bra, ain't lookin' for no kinda lecture
Not seeking advice or guidance despite the danger present
When you sittin' on something better, gotta be alert
Being successful makes one an even bigger target for danger and deception
Or you off in a stretcha
Greater risk of harm or death
When I'm 'sposed to be here in fun
Trying to enjoy oneself in social situations
I'm standing near a gun
Always aware of the danger present in public places
'Cause I ain't gotta have no demons
Not succumbing to the destructive and violent nature of gang culture
Scheming on me, tryin to tear a lung
Potential for harm and violence is ever present
I'm just a real one
Tech N9ne prides himself on his authenticity
I keep my eyes open for the bullshit
Always vigilant for danger and deception
Never am I clueless
Tech N9ne always has a sense of what's going on around him
I'm looking every direction
Being cautious and observant to potential threats from all angles
No matter how big I get, or how much money I make
Success and wealth can't protect one from the dangers of gang culture
The seepage will always find a way
The dangerous nature of gang culture will always impact those involved in it, regardless of status or wealth
[Chorus]
The refrain of the song
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind