tech n9ne

Tech N9ne, meaning "Technique Number Nine", (born Aaron Dontez Yates on November 8, 1971 ^{citation needed]} in Kansas City, Missouri) is an American rapper.

Biography

Early life

Tech N9ne was raised in a strictly religious family, his stepfather being Muslim and parents being Christian for most of his life. As a result of this upbringing, Tech N9ne is often seen wearing a cross.

Although rap music was 'banned' from his house, his life changed dramatically when an Uncle (named "Ike" in songs) snuck him a record called Rapp Dirty by Blowfly. He began collecting a large rap collection including Afrika Bambaataa, N.W.A., Public Enemy, Boogie Down Productions, hiding the records at a neighbor's house for fear his stepfather would find out.

At age 17, he left home to live with his aunt. She was more liberal to rap giving him his first taste of musical freedom. During this time he practiced dancing and rhyming. His skill attracted Tonya Johnston, who invited him to join her at a rap convention in New Orleans. The relationship gave Tech N9ne his first big break.

Rap career

Tech came up as a popular rapper in Kansas City and to a somewhat lesser extent, the rest of the country. Constant touring in support of his album Absolute Power and opening for more popular acts like the Insane Clown Posse increased his reputation. He joined the West Coast group The Regime, headed by Yukmouth, which is currently working on Everready (The Religion), with production from Rick Rock and appearances by Brotha Lynch Hung, Fo-5th, and E-40. "Eveready (The Religion)" was released in November 2006 and is considered by many to be the album that could finally put Tech on a popular level nationwide.

Tech also appeared with, among others: Tupac Shakur, Eminem, Ceza, Insane Clown Posse, Twiztid, Twista, Yukmouth, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Esham, Project: Deadman, Spice1, D12, MC Ren, Brotha Lynch Hung, C-Bo, Kottonmouth Kings, Sole, Roger Troutman, Figgkidd, Killa c, Grave Plott, X Dash and the Danish rapper U$O.

He also appeared on a Wake Up Show (King Tech & Sway) song called "Anthem" with a slew of other rappers that included Xzibit, RZA, KRS-One, Chino XL, Pharoahe Monch, Kool G Rap, Eminem, and Jayo Felony.

Tech's only song with 2Pac, "Thugs Get Lonely Too" was to be featured on Shakur's album Loyal to the Game in 2004. Death Row Records contacted Tech and still wanted him to record his verse so they could put the song together. This song was leaked but was never officially released. The song ended up on Loyal To The Game and was edited by Eminem to remove Tech's verse and feature Nate Dogg instead of Tech N9ne.

Tech N9ne just filmed the music video for Bout Ta' Bubble, the lead single off Everready (The Religion), which will be distributed and promoted by Universal Records.

Technique

Tech N9ne is known to be a reasonably fast rapper, also known for his ability to speed-rap, a skill mostly dominant in the American Midwest. Due to his geographic location as well as his fast rapping, he shares many of the same fans as Twista and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. Tech however, is also known to compose a rather slower flow, with a yelling, almost chanting delivery. He has been both praised and stigmatized for his dark, almost psychotic and sometimes suicidal subject matter, which has kept Tech out of the mainstream rap scene.

Discography