Tech N9ne: All Killer, No Filler

After more than twenty years in the game, the Midwest Messiah has been a cornerstone in this driving force we call hip-hop for longer than I, personally, have been out of the womb, and it is amazing how he can still control the rap game with an iron fist. Tech N9ne is sure to let his funky flow loose on the nation in the Fire and Ice tour with Paul Wall this spring, so please don't miss the opportunity to see God live. Tech N9ne, that's it and that's all. Basically, like Jay said...

"Are you not entertained?"

MixtapeKings.com (MTK): So, first things first, we have got to talk about the new album? Killer has such a great buzz, I know your entire fan base can't wait for this album, what was your mindset when recording this album? How do you feel about Killer?

TN: Just straight, all Killer, no filler, you know? With this album, I just had to step it up, with the beats, with the lyrics, content, everything. I mean, Tech N9ne talks about anything and everything, like Jay said, "What more can I say?" [laughs] I mean I can say a whole hell of a lot, because I've done a whole hell of a lot of living, that's why I did this album. I mean, 32 songs, double time, double the amount of music. It's just fucking wonderful.

MTK: All right, after asking about the album, you know I'm going to ask you about the album cover. I see you coppin' the Thriller cover, with a nice variation. What's with the album cover?

TN: I mean, I've had this idea for a couple years. So, I've been planning on doing the Killer album for two years, I mean it's just crazy. I'm two years ahead of the game. When we started working on the album, we had no idea that it was the 25th Anniversary of Thriller and then when it came out, with all the hype, and like 'Oh, Kanye West is doing it?' All I could do was laugh. [laughs] I mean, two years ahead of the game? It's just wild.

MTK: I know your last album, Tech N9ne Collabos: Misery Loves Kompany, was, obviously, full of collaborations with other great artists, I mean Yukmouth, etc. What is in store for us with Killer in terms of guest appearances?

TN: This new album, you know, its just more me. I mean of course, I have collabos. I have a few people but even though it's a double album its just Tech N9ne. I mean I have so much to say. I got my favorites on here and we're still locking it down for the album, still getting a few major people down, but it is definitely mostly me. I mean, I've got, you know, Paul Wall, and there are about 6 more collabos out of 32 songs, so look out for sure.

MTK: After talking with a few legends in the game, such as yourself, I mean wow, you've been at it for over twenty years, but I seem to notice a trend of going away from the major labels. Was there any major factor in you leaving? Why did you start Strange Music?

TN: Well, I can't speak on the state of major labels today. I mean, I guess I was before this current trend; we started Strange Music in 1999 so it has been around a good while. I mean, I had my differences with the major label, I mean I didn't have any creative control. They just wanted me to do popcorn music and that's not me. They didn't respect my flow; you know they didn't understand someone rapping backwards. You know, I'm a street cat but I'm artistic as well. I'm weird, I'm left. I just couldn't do the whole major label thing anymore. What better person to do me than me? I mean Strange Music CEO Travis O'Guin, he's an "I Don't Give a Fuck" cat like me. I mean he doesn't give a damn he's just like let's go do it. That's one thing the major labels lack, I mean that was then, it's been awhile since I messed with them, I'm not hip with them anymore. I do me, I don't know what they're looking for. I just see a lot of things out there in the market, I see bad things and I see good things. I mean, I like some and I laugh at some. I know what its for, kids love music, and kids will always be the driving force behind rap music. What the kids what, you can't hate. You just have to try to stay relevant at the same time.

MTK: So, what's the deal with the new DVD? I mean The Psychumentary is a great concept, a day in the life of Tech N9ne, to see what makes Tech  N9ne tick, as an individual and as an emcee.

TN:I mean its just like a day in the life of Tech N9ne, everybody gets to see what's in my head. You get to see me wake up, go get new rims for my brand new 2008 Mercedes Benz. [laughs] The Kottonmouth Kings were in town that day so we did a surprise performance with them. I mean like I said its just a day in the life of Tech N9ne, The Psychumentary its got live footage which is just raw. The live footage is so hard-core, we sold out in Denver in front of 4,000 cats and the show is massive. The shit is so hard-core its definitely going to make my fans want to see a live DVD, for sure.

MTK: So, personally as a fan first, I'm excited that your going on a U.S. tour with Paul Wall and Ill Bill. What's the deal with the tour and how did you get up with Paul Wall?

TN: I met Paul a couple of years a go and we did a few shows in Oklahoma, and we called it Fire and Ice. We just hit it off, he's a real cool cat and we have been talking to him and his manager Gu for a minute. I mean, we just kept talking, and talking and eventually it turned into the Spring of 2008 Fire and Ice Tour. Like here we go again, just with Fire and Ice on a bigger scale. I mean real good people always link together, and he's good people and has good music, I've got good music. I think it's going to be a great tour.

MTK: So, I have to ask. Tech N9ne give me your feelings on the state of hip-hop.

TN: There are a lot of emcees out there that don't like the state of hip-hop because they don't understand why emcees like Souljah Boy are winning. People like that are winning because music is for the young. But, there is enough money out there for all of this, I mean if there wasn't you wouldn't see the Immortal Techniques, the Kanye Wests, or the Eminems, all very successful lyrical cats. If there wasn't any money they wouldn't be touring. It's usually the ones that don't have it anymore that are making all the noise. I mean Del is still doing his thing, and that's wonderful. There is definitely enough money in this game to go around, but people are going to get upset, but they just have to know what it's for. I mean that's dance music, and as an emcee I don't hate. I have my fan base, and my fan base is different than that fan base. I mean how can you hate? He's Grammy nominated, but its all popular music. I know when I'm in the club and that song comes on and I'm with a girl and I'm trying to get in that ass, and she wants to dance. If Souljah Boy is going to help me get in that ass, I'm all for it. I say it in my song "Cry Baby". You just have to keep yourself relevant, I mean real lyricists say that there better. You have just got to keep yourself relevant instead of bitching to your homies. I mean I think Souljah Boy's "Yahh" shit is funny as hell. I see why the young people want to listen to it. I just have to do my thing to stay afloat, I mean my shit is working, they play my songs in certain areas and at certain times. I mean I'll have 23,000 people in Salt Lake City and people like Souljah boy will have to open for me. They see me perform and they're like "Ohhh!" I get money on tour, I get money in record sales, I get money from merchandise so it ain't nothing.

But to me, I love the state of hip-hop because whenever you got young brothers and sisters, whether they're white, black, Latino, native, whatever what have you, when you have young children coming up out of poverty doing something positive like making music and thus making money. That's a wonderful thing. Then they can take care of their children, and their children's children if they have a few hits. So, all I see is cats from the bottom, from the ghetto, like Eminem living in a trailer park, that ain't no lie. That's a beautiful story. 50 Cent, that's a wonderful story. Its young music, it's a positive thing, like Lil Mama having hits with Chris Brown, that's wonderful. They get money. Lil Wayne and Baby doing their thug thizzle they get out of the hood and there kids are as spoiled just like mine. I mean as an emcee I bust, I BUST, I put all of my heart in my music, but I understand. Remember, I do me, I don't worry about anyone else, I mean everyone that's at the top, watch out, here I come.

MTK: I know Twista was supposed to be on "Welcome to the Midwest" on the album Everready. What happened with that? Are we going to ever hear that verse?

TN: I don't think anyone will hear that old verse, but they will hear me and Twista together on June 3rd. My label mate Prozak has an album coming out and he's got us together on a song called "Why." It's wonderful, its dark and creepy and we're bussin' on it. People will try to compare us, but that's ok. I mean we do ours a different way. I mean we both have Midwest flow all day and all night. He sent me the mp3 for "Welcome to the Midwest" and he was definitely supposed to be on there, but we never got the ProTools file in time. I mean, out of respect for Twista I would never leak it, because the financial transaction hasn't happened. I mean the only way that that's going to leak is if someone breaks into Strange Music and steals everything. I mean, if people want to hear it they will hear us on Prozak's album.

MTK: I know you're big time at Strange Music, but how are your label mates? I know Tech N9ne wouldn't surround himself without anything but top-notch emcees so any releases from anyone else besides Tech N9ne in 2008 from the Strange Music imprint?

TN: I mean this is a huge year for Strange Music. Seven artists are dropping, including myself. We have Krizz Kaliko dropping an album, it's a wonderful album, it comes out May 6th, if I'm not mistaken. Then we have Grave Plott's album, you know Killa C and Liquid Assassin, they're album is wonderful. Then we have, you know, the East Coast's Ill Bill from La Coka Nostra coming out. I mean, I'm so glad that he chose us because its going to be a wonderful year. I mean after I drop on July 1st its going to be Kutt Calhoun and then Skatterman and Snug Brim. We got a lot popping, with The Psychumentary on top of that. I mean we're doing it. This is Strange Music's year.

MTK: Tech N9ne, it was great talking to you, you're a real enlightened cat. Any last words?

TN: I just want to tell everybody to celebrate life, I mean we're getting ready for the South By Southwest event and that's crazy. You all tell the people that you love that you love them and that you care for them, because you never know when the people that run the country are going to blow this shit up man, so just celebrate life.