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/
Why You Ain
Tech N9ne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
[Chorus]
Why you ain't call me?
You know I'm the hardest, you know that my art is applauded
Why you ain't call me?
I'm not broken-hearted, but I could've been old when I started
Why you ain't call me?
Why you ain't call me?
You sleep on my music and that's a damn shame 'cause I slam my bang
[Verse 1]
I've been inside every hip-hop circle you could imagine
Gangster or Pop, even backpackers know that I'm real good at rappin'
I was strugglin' back in the day when my hood was lackin'
Yo so I'm 'bout to talk about what shoulda, would'a and could'a happened
If music was about inovatin' and penetratin' generations by generatin' musical intergration
It wouldn't be about limitation and demonstration
Imitation within a blatant looks just disentigratin'
It ain't about the music, it's just about the fame
If you ain't popular homie, then you just out the game
If video and radio don't frequently announce your name
They don't know your music even though you blow most out the frame
But a closed mouth don't get fed when it stays shut
Lay cuts with Tecca Nina 'cause he can straight bust
Say what? You ain't heard of me gettin' paid bucks?
Torrent y'all see me rippin' the stage up
[Chorus]
[Verse 2]
I've been on tour with Hov, 'bout 27 shows
Why he ain't have me on a record only heaven knows
Maybe he missed us, missin' the big picture
That this is a fixture, aw yeah, he got Twista!
Well Twista's my homie and we both from the Midwest
And I guess Hov ain't lookin' for another speedy rapper kid yet
Me collaboratin' with them was all in me dreams
Matter fact the only one of 'em called me was Beens
He told me he played you The Industry Is Punks
And you loved it so you know Tech is what the industry would want
I started down at the bottom, got with TOG and then it payed
But I wouldv'e loved to been on the third verse of Renegade
They must think I'm a stick of dynamite with no stem
That's probably why I got D12 but no Em!
But I burst flame and I bet that y'all know my first name
'Cause I'm the hardest this side of Earth mane
[Chorus]
[Verse 3]
This ain't no hate-mail, this a love letter
I love you niggas' music and I hope is does better
I just wish you woulda hit a brother that love cheddar
But I'm ballin' now and I'm better than I was EVER
Space age flows like Jesse and Primrose
Tin-fold, I used to open-up, now I end shows
Grim road, when you one of the best with slim dough
And you ain't got Dre, Storch, Pharrell and no Timbo
I've met almost half of the DTP
But the couple times I spoke to Luda, don't think he see me
Had never met I-20 but he spoke at BET
Shawnna love me, Field Mob and Chingy decently speak me
So I'ma re-inaurate the game, it's all fame
And you don't get no play if you an emcee with a small name
If I wanna get on TV I guess I gotta call Pain
And Nelly, my great-grandmother's name is Maud Haynes
Maybe I'm trippin', full of delusion
Maybe it come from all the drugs I was usin'
Maybe I am the best thing that you ever saw
Maybe I'm wrong and you don't know me at all
I guess I'm blinded, I got reminded
That none of you just will ever know who the N9ne is
And you never heard of the homie from the Show-me
Punk that! I know you niggas know me
[Chorus: x2]
In Tech N9ne's song "Why You Ain't," the artist is expressing his frustration with the rap industry and why he hasn't received more recognition and success despite his talent and hard work. He questions why he hasn't been called upon for collaborations or given more opportunities, despite his diverse ability to rap in various styles and his success in touring. The song touches upon the theme of being overlooked and undervalued in an industry that often places more importance on fame than artistry.
The chorus repeats the question "Why you ain't call me?" which acts as a rhetorical device to emphasize Tech N9ne's feeling of being left out of the mainstream conversation. He believes his music deserves to be appreciated and celebrated, instead of being disregarded due to not being popular enough. He acknowledges that he is not broken-hearted but is frustrated by the lack of recognition he has received despite his skills in multiple genres of hip-hop.
The song concludes with Tech N9ne's admission that maybe he is "full of delusion" and that all his frustrations may be a result of his past drug use clouding his judgment. He sways between believing he is the best and questioning if people know him at all, highlighting the struggles of an artist fighting for recognition and success in a competitive industry that values mainstream success over artistry.
Line by Line Meaning
To whom it may concern
Addressing anyone who is listening
Why you ain't call me?
Asking why the industry hasn't given him more opportunities
You know I'm the hardest, you know that my art is applauded
Confident in his skills and the praise he has received
I'm not broken-hearted, but I could've been old when I started
Not upset, but acknowledges that he may have missed out on opportunities earlier in his career
You sleep on my music and that's a damn shame 'cause I slam my bang
Feeling ignored despite his talent and skill
I've been inside every hip-hop circle you could imagine
Experienced in various hip-hop communities
Gangster or Pop, even backpackers know that I'm real good at rappin'
Acknowledges his versatility and skill in different sub-genres of hip-hop
It wouldn't be about limitation and demonstration
Believes music should be about creativity and expression, not just copying what's popular
Imitation within a blatant looks just disentigratin'
Copying others without adding something unique is destroying creativity
It ain't about the music, it's just about the fame
Feels like the industry is only interested in making money and getting famous, not about the music itself
If you ain't popular homie, then you just out the game
Believes that if you aren't well-known or popular, you won't succeed in the industry
But a closed mouth don't get fed when it stays shut
If you don't speak up, you won't get noticed or opportunities
I've been on tour with Hov, 'bout 27 shows
Has toured with Jay-Z
Why he ain't have me on a record only heaven knows
Doesn't understand why he hasn't been featured on a Jay-Z album
Well Twista's my homie and we both from the Midwest
Close with fellow Midwest rapper Twista
Me collaboratin' with them was all in me dreams
Has always wanted to collaborate with certain artists
They must think I'm a stick of dynamite with no stem
Feels like he's not seen as a complete or valuable artist
That's probably why I got D12 but no Em!
Has worked with D12 but not Eminem
Maybe I am the best thing that you ever saw
Confident in his abilities
Maybe I'm wrong and you don't know me at all
Acknowledges that others may have a different opinion
That none of you just will ever know who the N9ne is
Feels like he's been overlooked and misunderstood
And you never heard of the homie from the Show-me
Referring to himself, since he's from Missouri (the Show-Me State)
Punk that! I know you niggas know me
Asserts that people should know who he is and acknowledge him
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind