Tech N9ne - "Something Else" & Canada 2014 Strangulation Tour

While I have been aware of this album and artist's existence for some time now it was only recently that I listened beyond the singles and found and overall impressive rap album.  Tech N9ne (aka Aaron Dontez Yates) is not new to the game.  Being involved in music since 1991, he has been very consistent in his work and promotion of his label Strange Music (in partnership with Travis O'Guin).  Over the years he has been able to obtain new artists and expand his label's catalog with artists like Krizz Kaliko, Big Scoob, ¡Mayday!, and many more.  His ongoing popularity has also given him the opportunity to collaborate with some music industry shakers such as Serj Tankian from System of a Down (see below):



As you can probably see from the videos, the name "Tech N9ne" was given to him early in his career for his fast rhymes and quick delivery which eventually translated into something with a little deeper of meaning (citing tech as in technique).  Now going to back to what I mentioned earlier, Tech N9ne has been creating music since the early 90's and has put out fourteen albums (independently mind you) and already has a fifteenth in the works for January, 2015.  His thirteenth release titled "Something Else" happened to be the album that struck a familiar chord.  I think the initial buzz stemmed from Serj Tankian's collaboration, as well as "B.I.T.C.H." featuring T-Pain.  I felt he did a great roster of big names as well as upcoming artists.  Hell, he even did a collaboration with The Doors on the track "Strange 2013".



"Something Else" was released on July 30th, 2013 via Strange Music Records.  The album landed on the Billboard 200 and also sold more than 50,000+ copies in it's first week on shelves.  Not bad for an independent artist and being his 13th release.  The album has many producers such as Travis O'Guin (exec.), Ben Cybulsky, Drumma Boy, Fredwreck, Jon Pakfar, ¡Mayday!, Scoop DeVille, Shane Eli, Seven, Young Fyre, Daniel "Keys" Perez, and Ralfy "FAFA" Valencia.

1. News With Mark Alford 1 (skit)

Fire

2. Straight Out The Gate (featuring Serj Tankian, Krizz Kaliko)
3. B.I.T.C.H. (featuring T-Pain)
4. With The BS (featuring Red Café, Trae Tha Truth & Big Scoob)
5. Love 2 Dislike Me (featuring Tyler Lyon of Evalyn Awake & Liz Suwandi)
6. Fortune Force Field
7. I’m Not A Saint
8. Fragile (featuring Kendrick Lamar, ¡Mayday!, & Kendall Morgan)
9. Priorities (featuring The Game & Angel Davanport)
10. News With Mark Alford 2 (skit)

Water

11. Dwamn
12. So Dope (They Wanna) (featuring Wrekonize, Snow Tha Product & Twisted Insane)
13. See Me (featuring Wiz Khalifa & B.o.B)

Earth

15. My Haiku-Burn the World (featuring Krizz Kaliko)
16. That’s My Kid (featuring Cee Lo Green, Big K.R.I.T., Kutt Calhoun)
17. Meant to Happen (featuring Scoop Deville)
18. News With Mark Alford 3 (skit)
19. Believe
20. R.I.P. Ray (skit)
21. Strange 2013 (featuring The Doors)
22. SMB
23. Colorado (featuring B.o.B, Krizz Kaliko, Rittz, ¡Mayday!, Stevie Stone, Ces Cru)
24. Drowning (featuring Liz Suwandi)
25. Thizzles (featuring Danny Brown)


(Deluxe edition cover)

Now here are some tracks that made it a little more amusing for moi (and for the listener too I'm sure).  Tech N9ne has a history of oddball collaborations.  And by oddball, I simply mean something different from the norm.  One of the tracks on the album titled "Love 2 Dislike Me" has featured vocalist Tyler Lyon and his group Evalyn Awake.  The fact that this Kansas City based artist was featured on Tech's track only furthers the notion her like to promote local music, considering Tech N9ne is also based out of KC.  Even though I didn't find much sensation with the backing band, it was still a lyric focused track with plenty of room for some chugs and screams.  That and the fact Lyon (+ Suwandi) offer some great harmonies.



"The beats sound nothing like anything you’ve ever heard me on. The features that I’m going for are something you would never imagine. All I can say about it now is that it’s a very human album. What I mean by that is that it’s contradictory. On one song I say, ‘The saint is ours’, like we’re in the saint’s corner and then I have another song called ‘I’m Not A Saint’. It’s so beautiful because the King, the Clown, and the G are still present on this album. There’s no apologies in what I’m saying. I don’t mind that it contradicts itself because that’s what people do. The album is everywhere. It feels like it’s Hell, Purgatory and Heaven all over again. I’m telling stories that I’ve never told – that I was afraid to tell on some songs. It’s super personal and I’ve got a big chip on my shoulder again. It’s always been there, but it’s getting bigger having to prove to fans and critics that we ain’t goin’ nowhere." -Tech N9ne

So as I mentioned in the title of this article, Tech N9ne will be bringing his show on the road to the Great White North.  While he is not a stranger to our venues and cities, his popularity is growing and his tours are starting to become more and more popular.  So I think it is in your best interest to grab a ticket while you can.  I think the promo videos below do enough to give you some excitement to his show.



The Canadian Strangulation Tour will be featuring labelmate Krizz Kaliko, BC-based Animal Nation and fellow BC artist Immaculate.

09/10 Chilliwack, BC - Tzeachten Hall
09/11 Vancouver, BC - Commodore Ballroom
09/12 Victoria, BC - Sugar Nightclub
09/14 Kelowna, BC- Sapphire Nite Club
09/15 Vernon, BC - Monashee's Bar & Grill
09/16 Calgary, AB - Marquee Beer Market & Stage
09/17 Red Deer, AB - Memorial Centre Auditorium
09/18 Edmonton, AB - Union Hall Event Centre
09/19 Saskatoon, SK - The Odeon Events Centre
09/19 Winnipeg, MB - Whiskey Dix
09/21 Thunder Bay, ON - Crocks
09/24 London, ON - London Music Hall
09/25 Montreal, QC - Le Petit Olympia
09/26 Toronto, ON - Rockpile West
09/27 Toronto, ON - Rockpile East
09/28 Halifax, NS - Cunard Centre Halifax
09/29 Moncton, NB - The Old Cosmo Complex
09/30 St. John's, NL - Allure on George
10/01 St. John's, NL - Allure on George



Tickets for the Canadian tour seem to be sitting around the $45 mark.  Considering the three opening acts plus a live band for Tech, that's a pretty good offer.  If you are still on the edge about whether to spend the extra money and pick up a VIP ticket (sitting at $175), you get quite the amount of swag and hang out time with Tech himself.  Check out what it offers:

"The Limited Edition VIP Package will include:

Tech N9ne's Strangeulation Canadian Tour 2014 T-Shirt (XL Only)
Strange Music DVD Video Collection 5
Strange Music DVD Video Collection 6
Strange Music Bottle Coozie
Strange Music Magnetic Bottle Opener
Strange Music Travel Tumbler
Strange Music Watch
Strange Music License Plate Frame
Strange Music Duffle Bag
Strange Music Car Flag
Strange Music Coaster Set
Strange Music Silicone Bracelets
Strange Music Light Switch Cover
Strange Music Pendant
Strange Music Car Magnet
Strange Music Decal Set

As a free bonus, in addition to the above merchandise items, VIP Package purchasers will be invited to attend the show of their choice and to enjoy a 1 hour Meet And Greet with the touring artists on that show date. VIP purchasers names will be added to the Strange Music VIP Guest List on the show date of their choice." -Strange Music

Hope to see you all at the Toronto date!