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/
Walk These Shoes
Tech N9ne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What!
This is dedicated to the young gang niggas on 56th and
Highland
Get yo money fool, yeah
don't ever let them niggas tell you that they better
than you man
Its all delicious, like this
Till you walk these shoes
You couldn't understand my views
While you on your Caribbean cruise
I'm payin my dues
On the corner tryin to hit licks for slips
Trouble making them flips
So I'm bout to smoke a dipped
Now I'm ripped
How could you make a hypothesis on me and my partnas
With you college degree trying to psycho-analyze me
You can't see what I see
You can't be what I be
When I'm deep in this pit of violence
Without parental guidance, nigga
Spot, translation cops watching me every day when I'm
Just holding down my block
Fuck a ?addha?
My brother, My fathers' in jail
So I'm bout to make a sell
Momma fell
What the hell
Gotta get that rel
Then I bail
I smell like sherman
You can tell
Up on this bitch, that bitch
The chemically it got me wanted to use my genitaly
The kind that don't want to bust a gang
ain't got no love, so I'ma Just hit it and hope she
don't give me what his name
Packs
Need one in case of emergencies
Urgencies
Bills I'm trying to hug
Still you trying to judge
Yelling out the federal prison
Boozy nigga you can cruise
Till you walk these shoes, I'm Living
[Chorus 4X]
In the ghetto, packs me metal
Pump this leado, take the neiro
(Tech N9ne)
Your on the outside looking in my friend
I mean my foe
Come close and I'll be forced to let you know(what)
I'm living the life of a hustla
'cause the schools done cut my visits down to zero just
for beating down a busta(its a musta)
Keep lookin at me like I'ma steal you wit an hour
And all you think I do is eat shit and shower
I'm a survivor
Present day McGyver
Two sider
You depriver
When you look at me you think I'm a conniver
Whasappening
Breakin you and your boy in a game of tennis
I'm a menace
You one of them people step into our sneakers a
minute(nigga)
You hopped out the boots
Yelling when you see its hard finding work
Being a class A felon
Drug selling
Scrapping niggas from every side
Fighting family drunk and high
ain't no punk in I
Domistic so I'm off to the penal again
So momma tell me how am I to reconcile again
Tell you walk these
Catch me in the smokers LeSabre
Running spock off on the block
Can't understand my behavior
I'm coocoo for cocoa
Selling but driven
So mother fucker you can cruise
Till you walk these shoes, I'm living
[Chorus 4X]
In the ghetto, packs me metal
Pump this leado, take the neiro
Till you walk these
Only speak about what you know
Till you walk these
Our record use these views to the floor
Till you walk these
Pick a punk to verbally abuse
If you walk these
You couldn't walk a block in my shoes
Till you walk these
don't preach to every nigga you choose
Till you walk these shoes
You couldn't understand my views
Wouldn't kiss me on your shoes if they were given
Motherfucker
You can cruise till you walk these shoes, I'm living
[Chorus 4X]
In the ghetto, packs me metal
Pump this leado, take the neiro
The song "Walk These Shoes" by Tech N9ne is an emotional description of life in the ghetto, highlighting the struggles and challenges that one has to go through to make ends meet. The opening lines of the song set the stage for what is to come, with Tech N9ne reminiscing about the young gang members on 56th and Highland. He then goes on to assert that the listener cannot possibly understand his views until they have walked in his shoes, and that he is paying his dues on the corner, trying to hit licks for slips. The lyrics are brutally honest and raw, describing the harsh realities of living in poverty and the lengths that one has to go to simply survive.
Tech N9ne then goes on to detail his experiences with drug use, violence, and crime. He explains that he does what he has to do to make money and that he cannot be analyzed by people with a college degree who have never experienced what he has. He talks about his familial background, with his brother and father in jail, and his mother struggling to make ends meet. Despite these setbacks, Tech N9ne remains determined to succeed and live his life on his own terms. He asserts that he is a survivor and a menace to society, and that he will not back down in the face of adversity.
In conclusion, "Walk These Shoes" is a poignant and powerful song that captures the essence of life in the ghetto. Through his lyrics, Tech N9ne paints a vivid picture of the struggles and hardships faced by those living in poverty, while also highlighting the resilience and determination that is needed to overcome these obstacles.
Line by Line Meaning
What!
Tech N9ne starts the song off energetically.
This is dedicated to the young gang niggas on 56th and Highland
Tech N9ne dedicates the song to the young gang members in his neighborhood.
Nigga
A common term Tech N9ne uses with his friends and associates.
Get yo money fool, yeah
Advice to the young gang members to make money and not let others tell them that they are inferior.
don't ever let them niggas tell you that they better than you man
Continued advice to not let others bring the young gang members down.
Its all delicious, like this
An exclamation that everything is going well.
Till you walk these shoes
Tech N9ne challenges others to understand his perspective and experiences.
You couldn't understand my views
Others cannot comprehend Tech N9ne's perspective unless they walk in his shoes.
While you on your Caribbean cruise
Comparison to others living luxurious lifestyles.
I'm payin my dues
Tech N9ne is working hard and sacrificing to overcome his struggles.
On the corner tryin to hit licks for slips
Tech N9ne is trying to make money by engaging in illegal activities like stealing.
Trouble making them flips
Tech N9ne is having trouble making a profit from the illegal activities he is involved in.
So I'm bout to smoke a dipped
Tech N9ne is turning to drugs to cope with his struggles.
Now I'm ripped
Tech N9ne is now under the influence of drugs.
How could you make a hypothesis on me and my partnas
Tech N9ne questions others who try to guess or judge him and his friends.
With you college degree trying to psycho-analyze me
Tech N9ne challenges those who have higher education to not judge others based on their lack of formal education and different lifestyles.
You can't see what I see
Others cannot fully understand Tech N9ne's perspective or experiences.
You can't be what I be
Others cannot live the life that Tech N9ne has lived.
When I'm deep in this pit of violence
Tech N9ne is constantly surrounded by violence and danger.
Without parental guidance, nigga
Tech N9ne did not have a strong parental figure to guide him and keep him out of trouble as a youth.
Spot, translation cops watching me every day when I'm
Tech N9ne is constantly under surveillance from law enforcement.
Just holding down my block
Tech N9ne is keeping control of his neighborhood or keeping watch on his territory.
Fuck a ?addha?
A derogatory comment directed towards someone who is not important or relevant.
My brother, My fathers' in jail
Tech N9ne's family has a history of going to jail.
So I'm bout to make a sell
Tech N9ne is going to sell drugs to make money for himself and his family.
Momma fell
Tech N9ne's mother is struggling or failing.
What the hell
Tech N9ne is frustrated or annoyed with his situation.
Gotta get that rel
Tech N9ne needs to make money by selling drugs to support his mother and himself.
Then I bail
Tech N9ne leaves the area quickly after making a drug deal to avoid getting caught by law enforcement.
I smell like sherman
Tech N9ne smells like PCP or angel dust, a powerful and dangerous drug he may use or sell.
You can tell
Others can tell that Tech N9ne is involved in drug use or drug sales by how he smells.
Up on this bitch, that bitch
Tech N9ne is involved with multiple women at the same time.
The chemically it got me wanted to use my genitaly
Tech N9ne is under the influence of drugs and feels compelled to engage in sexual activity.
The kind that don't want to bust a gang
Tech N9ne is engaging in sex without using protection or being cautious about his partners' sexual history.
ain't got no love, so I'ma Just hit it and hope she don't give me what his name
Tech N9ne does not have any emotional connection with his sexual partners and is not concerned about contracting a sexually transmitted disease.
Packs
Tech N9ne has drugs on him that he carries at all times.
Need one in case of emergencies
He carries drugs with him in case of emergencies or to use or sell to others.
Urgencies
Tech N9ne may need drugs to alleviate stress or anxiety.
Bills I'm trying to hug
Tech N9ne needs money to pay his bills and expenses.
Still you trying to judge
Others still judge Tech N9ne despite not understanding his full story or perspective.
Yelling out the federal prison
Tech N9ne is saying he could be arrested and sent to federal prison for the crimes he has committed.
Boozy nigga you can cruise
Tech N9ne is telling a hypocritical person to leave him alone and live his life how he wants.
Only speak about what you know
Tech N9ne advises others to only talk about what they have personally experienced and not judge others without understanding their perspective or struggles.
Our record use these views to the floor
Tech N9ne uses his experiences and struggles as inspiration for his music and and encourages listeners to relate to his perspective.
Pick a punk to verbally abuse
Tech N9ne challenges others to pick someone their own size to mess with and not to bully or verbally abuse others.
If you walk these
Only if others have truly experienced the struggles that Tech N9ne has, can they judge or understand him.
You couldn't walk a block in my shoes
It is impossible for others to fully understand what it is like to live Tech N9ne's life.
Wouldn't kiss me on your shoes if they were given
A sarcastic comment about how people who judge him would never want to be in his shoes.
Motherfucker
An exclamation often used to express frustration or anger.
You can cruise till you walk these shoes, I'm living
Tech N9ne is telling others to leave him alone and let him live his life how he wants since they cannot understand him.
In the ghetto, packs me metal
Tech N9ne is living a dangerous life in the ghetto, often having to carry weapons for protection.
Pump this leado, take the neiro
A reference to using a gun to shoot someone or defend oneself in the ghetto.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind