Photos by Susan Pfannmuller/Special to The Star
Tech N9ne may have celebrated his 40th birthday on Nov. 8, but his lascivious performance Saturday at the Midland Theater revealed few indications of newfound maturity. Born Aaron Dontez Yates in Kansas City in 1971, Tech N9ne is just as depraved as ever. He waggled his tongue, extolled the virtues of intoxication, made lewd hand gestures and encouraged women to expose themselves.
Tech N9ne works at a furious pace. Not including mix tapes and EPs, he's issued five albums in the last three years. "All 6's and 7's," the first of two albums released in 2011, debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard Top 200 and topped the trade magazine's Rap Albums chart the week of its release. Tech N9ne's intense schedule indicates that he's racing against the clock. Jay-Z aside, very few rappers over the age of 40 are considered viable. His strong performance Saturday indicates that Tech N9ne may very well defy the odds.
Lacking live instrumentation, his appearances are not so much conventional concerts as bacchanalian dance parties in which the choreographed dancing on stage is mirrored by the audience's uninhibited celebration. Opening with "Strange Music Box" and closing with "Stamina," the still-stunning statement of purpose from 2001's "Anghellic" album, Tech N9ne and cohorts Kutt Calhoun and Krizz Kaliko performed over 30 songs in 100 minutes. Until momentum slowed when the final third of the concert devolved into self-indulgent locker room banter and tired hip-hop cliches, they moved from strength to strength.
The most triumphant moments came during the combination of longtime favorite "Midwest Choppers" and the new "Worldwide Choppers," songs designed to showcase Tech N9ne's stunning rapid-fire flow. A thunderous rendition of "Riotmaker," the proud "Welcome to the Midwest" and Kaliko's tormented "Anxiety" were the biggest audience pleasers. Fans also responded favorably to angst-filled songs of self-loathing and spiritual longing like "Paint a Dark Picture." Much like many heavy metal acts, Tech N9ne articulates the fears, aspirations and libidinous desires of fans who consider themselves societal outcasts.
Tech N9ne's relentless tour schedule serves as a launching pad for artists associated with Strange Music. The nearly four hours of continuous music Saturday began with a brief appearance by Southern hip hop veteran Young Bleed. An excellent set by local favorites Ces Cru attested to Tech N9ne's influence. The duo's machine gun-style delivery and clever wordplay is indebted to Tech N9ne's sound. A crowd-pleasing effort by Atlanta's Flawless was offset by a disappointingly dull effort by Los Angeles-based Jay Rock.
All four acts were careful to laud Tech N9ne. The "King of Kansas City" is a force to be reckoned with at home and abroad. His ongoing popularity means that prominent references to his hometown in material like the signature song "Einstein" are celebrated around the world. Not since the prime of William "Count" Basie has an internationally renowned musician been so closely associated with Kansas City. Over half a century ago, that meant joyously swinging jazz. In the first part of the new millennium, the sound most closely identified with Kansas City is Tech N9ne's combative hip-hop fury.
| Bill Brownlee/Special to The Star
where's the band?
oh, yeah....
Posted by: ssiknaf | November 20, 2011 at 10:21 AM
"rapper's genuine brilliance"
pleeeeeeeeeeeze,
those three words NEVER go together.
Posted by: gene | November 20, 2011 at 12:00 PM
The concert was off the chain. Mastered brliance at its finest. Tech9 is the best! I guess you have to be there to appreciate.
Posted by: jean | November 20, 2011 at 03:49 PM
The odd irony that the 2 other comments have made is downright hilarious. I can guarantee that their parents said that their choice of music wasn't music or something that should be considered music. I guess you do always turn into your parents. Because even though I enjoy this rappers music, I hate to consider the Justin biebers of the world music as "music". That being said, tech n9ne's work and use of word play, and exceptional use of pitch and brilliant lyrics outshines 99% of rock bands I like. To not consider his work as music is a slap in the face to people like me who listen to all types of music. By the way he also does rock music, so maybe that might make you think of him as an artist lol.
Posted by: lol | November 20, 2011 at 03:56 PM
yeah? well you deserve a slap to your face. rap crap sucks. period.
what technothing does is not music, it may be noise and sounds, but it is not music or musical. I guess good for him for scamming you morons out of you money, but that is about it.
Posted by: gene | November 20, 2011 at 05:48 PM
Gene - Good job completely ignoring the most important aspects of my post. No one has scammed me out of money, but obviously God has scammed you out of a few to many brain cells. Let people listen to what they want to listen to. I bet most of what you listen to is viewed as complete and utter nonsense our just "noise" to many also. You sound bitter. quit trying to force your opinions on other people. You sound like a bitter old angry guy. Go listen to what you call music and I'll listen to what I call music. Tech n9ne does sing and uses actual instruments in his music. He is an artist, and a much better and more hard working artist than any country music and/or rock bands. now go be bitter and complain some more about how rap is crap, because it is sad.
Posted by: lol | November 20, 2011 at 06:35 PM
Everybody needs to get off gene's lawn NOW!
Posted by: BigSteve | November 20, 2011 at 07:36 PM
Those darn kids and their music, gonna be the death of us all, now turn it DOWN!!!
Posted by: Green | November 20, 2011 at 08:21 PM
If it was music it would be one thing,
but this crap is not music.
Many studies have shown that rap is actually a replacement for your parents treating you like the little pussies you have grown up to be. You grew up in a pussy breeding society where everyone gets an award, everyone is a winner and most parents were told to speak softly and gently to their kids, not to spank them.
Now, later in life, because you missed out on being PROPERLY YELLED AT BY A GOOD PARENT, you listen to this crap rapper YELL AT YOU, and it makes you feel better. It makes up for all the yelling you missed out on as a child.
Numerous studies have shown that normal people, who were raised properly, got their fill of being screamed at when they were young, and do not like, or feel the need to be screamed at by a drunken, drug addicted, womanizer, like technothing.
Hopefully you rap lovers will get your fill of being SCREAMED AT, and you will be able move on to more mature things.
Good luck to you kiddies
Posted by: gene | November 20, 2011 at 09:42 PM
Just to clarify, I dont intend to insult. I understand no one wants to be a pussy.
It will all be OK, sooner of later. Of course no one wants to be a pussy, and once you work through all of your problems, you will soon develop a back bone and slowly you will realize people yelling at you is not cool.
Posted by: gene | November 20, 2011 at 09:49 PM
"Numerous studies"? Yeah, that's always an argument winner.
Posted by: Vandelay | November 20, 2011 at 10:17 PM
i don't particularly like rap music, but as i've posted before, to each their own. you can argue whether or not it's "music" or "musical" and that misses the overriding point that it IS entertainment to many, obviously a lot of people enjoy it and Techn9ne is making a bunch of money from it.
now brownlee's reference to his being as closely associated with Kansas City as Count Basie and jazz is a reach. 50 years from now, Techn9ne will still just be known as a rapper from Kansas City while Basie will still have defined an era of Kansas City jazz. bill, you're obviously waaay too much of a fanboy.
Posted by: fiddler | November 21, 2011 at 06:21 AM
Man, I would never want to halfway agree with Gene, AKA 'Dump Troll,' but when any teenager on a city bus can do the same thing Tech N9ne does equally as well (and equally as annoying for that matter), I don't see how anyone can describe his act as "brilliance," when Tech N9ne shows no actual musical skill. Also, from an adult perspective, I find it funny, as well as sad, when anyone over 30 still goes by a Rap name. As for Tech N9ne being a "drunken, drug addicted, womanizer," that doesn't bother me, as most of my favorite musicians fall into that category. But when he's called "The King Of Kansas City?" That's simply a load of crap. No accounting for taste these days, I suppose.
Posted by: Keef | November 21, 2011 at 07:42 AM
Gene and Keef, back your words up please, Gene can we see the numerous studies that you mentioned. Keef can you point out a teenager on a bus that is capable of rapper as well as Tech N9ne? If rap is so talentless and so simple that even a teenager on a bus can do it then why don't you guys put something together. The gauntlet has been thrown, let's see what you can do, if it's that easy than surely you can blow these hacks out of the water with your own words.
Posted by: Green | November 21, 2011 at 09:20 AM
Look, rap/hip hop has never been my thing although I dig alot of the old acts like Public Enemy, Beastie Boys, Run DMC, KRS-One and some others. Having said that, don't understand the "it's not music" or "it takes no talent" mantra from all the haters. Music, whether thru conventional instruments or electronic devices, is nothing more than combining sounds into a coherent whole that comes out as a song. How is a rapper/hip hop artist that uses his voice as an instrument any less of a "musician" than somebody like Sinatra who basically did the same? How are their words and their ability to turn a phrase any less lyrical than those performed by a singer/songwriter strumming a guitar? Is a human beatbox like Biz Markie any less of a musician than a jazz stalwart like Bobby McFerrin?
Bottomline, it's all music and if it sounds good to me, I'll listen to it and accept it as such even if it's a guy that can tunefully break wind.
Posted by: pellboy | November 21, 2011 at 12:09 PM
so pellboy you think farting is music too? uhm? well, if you really think that, then I am at a loss for words, no more needs to be said here, you confirmed my point.
Posted by: gene | November 21, 2011 at 01:14 PM
I was obviously being facetious, but hey, if he the dude could mix in some well-timed ass slaps, it might work.
Posted by: pellboy | November 21, 2011 at 01:34 PM
Maybe the word you were looking to use was fecesous, which is also a good word to descibe rap aka feces.
If I had 3 wishes, I would use one of them to banish all country(and western) and all rap from ever existing.
btw-
Peeking in on the AMAs last night, it is so sad, the current state of AM is best descibed as a debacle. It is embarassing.
Posted by: Bob | November 21, 2011 at 02:35 PM
Remember when painters blew off photography and said it had no merit in the world of art and that photographers had no talent, well I dont because I wasn't born yet but painters back in the day said that. So Gene and Keef, where are you gonna rap, maybe riot room or record bar will let you showcase your skills. Come on, get on stage, it's talentless remember, anyone can do it!
Posted by: Green | November 21, 2011 at 02:41 PM
I can back up gene regarding the numerous empirical studies which have been done regarding rap as a sociological response to bad parenting in 1990-2010.
Had parents properly raised their children and yelled at them when appropriate, then these kiddies would not feel the need to be berated and screamed at by rappers.
There is hope though, with the latest financial down turn, parents are no longer treating their kids like pussies, they are now raising their children to have back bones and be able to deal with the coming bad times.
This should spell the end of rap crap.
Posted by: Dr Rockenstien | November 21, 2011 at 02:51 PM
I'm sure there were similar studies decreeing Elvis, Jerry Lee, Chuck and Little Richard in the early days of rock & roll, not to mention The Beatles almost cult-like hold on the nation's youth and grunge rock's influence of flannel shirts and dirty, unkept hair. Alice Cooper, Marilyn Manson, the Sex Pistols and punk, Pink Floyd and the 60s-70s rock drug culture...apparently, bad parenting has been around for awhile.
Posted by: pellboy | November 21, 2011 at 03:00 PM
rap does not have a cult-like hold on all the nations youth, it only attracts some sorry souls. And rap has been going for a while now, it is not new anymore, it has been replacing proper parenting (both in the ghetto and in the spoiled white suburbs)(anywhere there is a lack of proper parenting)for awhile, but thankfully it is only endemic to the part of society where the parents treat their kids like little pussies, or dont parent at all.
Being yelled at is a human need and if/when kids dont get it young, they resort to listening to rap to fill the need. It is very sad. I actually feel sorry for these poor kids forced to resort to rap as therapy.
btw- I believe it is a mortal sin to compare talented artists like the AC band and The Beatles to these talentless (except for the talent of seperating people from their money aka con artists) no back band, rappers.
Posted by: Dr Rockenstien | November 21, 2011 at 03:13 PM
*In best old man voice* Back in my day we listened to rock and roll & went to big bloated arena shows.
Its almost cliche for someone to bag on hip hop & say "its not music/rap is crap". How out of touch can 1 be? I'm a metal guy and I still see merit in it. I dare someone to try to write what rappers write. I'm not even a fan of Tech N9ne, I have no bias. I find country music reprehensible but I'm not playing cranky guy telling people how I view country. I'll never go to a country show, I don't read the reviews. Easy fix. Now if you excuse me I'm off to solve the debt crisis next.
Posted by: 300%_Density | November 21, 2011 at 03:16 PM
"Being yelled at is a human need and if/when kids dont get it young, they resort to listening to rap to fill the need. It is very sad. I actually feel sorry for these poor kids forced to resort to rap as therapy"
Generalize much? What the hell does this even mean? I'm not sure I've ever heard anything so full of shit as this statement.
I don't get the yelling/non yelling/rap correlation, but over the course of time one fact never changes, when it comes to kids at a certain point in their lives, they just want to listen to something that their parents don't, whether that's Linkin Park, some Emo bullshit or Jay Z. My son listens to rap and is a straight A, honor roll student that has even been...gasp... yelled at on occasion. Despite my efforts to to expose him to all types of great music (I hope he's getting some of it thru osmosis), he likes to listen on his own terms and has thankfully discovered the likes of Bobby "Blue" Bland and King Crimson thru recent Jay Z and Kanye West song samples, just as I discovered original blues artists thru Clapton, Beck and the Stones. Yeah, what a truly sad case he is.
Posted by: pellboy | November 21, 2011 at 03:41 PM
I have never read such pompous, "I am so cool, I love rap" replies in my entire life.
You are "insert some herp derp insult here" and you are such "insert another lameism here".
Posted by: herp derp | November 21, 2011 at 04:59 PM
I have seen Slayer, Cannibal Corpse, Nile, & tons of extreme bands. I have seen Clapton twice, Skynyrd, Nugent, Kiss, and ZZ Top as much as older people who saw them when they came out in the 70s (7x), Eagles etc. If someone is smart enough to stay away from 98.9 and other nauseating radio stations in the area they will find the music.
Posted by: 300%_Density | November 21, 2011 at 05:11 PM
Ooooooh, GREEN has thrown out a gauntlet! I'm shaking in my Doc Martins! Stands to reason that he misses the point. Which is, again, anyone who can rhyme two words together can do what Tech N9ne does. Does Tech N9ne do it better than most others? Could be, but that's like saying that he walks better than most others or performs any other function that 99% of the population can easily perform, because ANYONE can do what he is doing on stage. Anyone. I have WAY more respect for any actual musician that can write and perform actual music and simply refuse to acknowledge the "brilliance" of 99% of Hip-Hop 'artists,' or worse, the "genius" of any practitioner from the fraudulent and superficial world of DJ culture. Sure, a lot of young people lap this empty entertainment up, but due to their lack of musical history, they just don't know any better. It just seems that the world has gone mad when it can't at least acknowledge the awkward sadness of a 40 year-old rapping. But that's just my opinion. If you don't agree, I'm cool with that. But when your "King Of Kansas City" releases, or "drops" his next album, and he's rapping about his ailing prostate and the arthritis that has set in his wrist from all of the "lewd hand gestures," don't say you weren't warned. There, rant over. Peace out, MC Green!
Posted by: Keef | November 22, 2011 at 08:09 AM
If you could do it, you would do it. But you can't.
Posted by: gsp | November 22, 2011 at 08:31 AM
How do you define a musician, google the word and you get the following, a person who makes music a profession, especially as a performer of music. Tech N9ne does write and perform music. I get it, you don't like it thus its not music but it's a pretty weak arguement. You did say anyone who can rhyme two words together can do what Tech N9ne does so the challenge still stands. Come on, all you have to do is rhyme two words together, haha, don't worry about crafting an entire song, finding and making some beats to back your words and then producing the entire song, haha, I love it, all you have to do is rhyme two words though, that's it.
Posted by: Green | November 22, 2011 at 09:08 AM
hope y'all realize you have been totally played by the dump troll?
Posted by: stroking chin thoughtfully | November 22, 2011 at 12:04 PM
True, but sometimes making your point is fun, hey it's cheaper than a movie, and there's free coffee!
Posted by: Green | November 22, 2011 at 12:14 PM
ummmmmmmmm free coffee.
ps
I agree with Keef, and chuckled several times reading his post.
Posted by: gene | November 22, 2011 at 01:04 PM
Yea abouut the coffee, it's a line from a movie and shame on you to agree with keef, truth is, he loves eminem, pretty sure I saw him at the show this past summer.
Posted by: Green | November 22, 2011 at 01:25 PM
I saw the band 'Hillbilly Casino' at Knuckleheads a couple of years ago. Outdoor show. Lead singer Nic Roulette was a wild man that night! Anyway, during one stretch he rapped the verses to a Johnny Cash song, done in rockabilly style. And you know what? It was pretty cool!
But with that being said, I am not really a fan of rap. Mostly due to the lyrics. Then again, I am in my 50's, white, middle class. Hardly the target demographic...
Posted by: onthemark | November 22, 2011 at 02:06 PM
"I am not really a fan of rap. Mostly due to the lyrics. Then again, I am in my 50's, white, middle class. Hardly the target demographic..."
And clearly you've been on the receiving end of some serious yelling.
Posted by: pellboy | November 22, 2011 at 02:41 PM
Good one PB!
Posted by: onthemark | November 22, 2011 at 02:51 PM
gsp: "If you could do it, you would do it. But you can't."
How about, "wouldn't want to?"
Posted by: How juvenile | November 22, 2011 at 04:13 PM
"all you have to do is rhyme two words though, that's it."
YES, Green. Finally....NOW you have it!
Keef OUT!
Posted by: Keef | November 22, 2011 at 04:18 PM
Simple, common known facts
rap is sounds/yelling/noise, it is not music. enimiim sucks. rap sucks. country music sucks. tech-nothing sucks, they all suck.
flip side facts?
Bach rules, Mozart rules, The Rolling Stones and me; we both are awesome.... facts be known, we are the coolest ever.
Posted by: gene | November 22, 2011 at 04:26 PM
We all like Dub-Step though, right?
Posted by: Green | November 22, 2011 at 04:47 PM
no, that went out with the ecstacy raves.
Posted by: no | November 22, 2011 at 05:34 PM
"His ongoing popularity means that prominent references to his hometown in material like the signature song "Einstein" are celebrated around the world."
Yeah, that's just great, Bill. For those unfamiliar with the track, give it a listen or watch a video on YouTube and count how many times the dreaded N-word comes up. Yep, that is how KC Music should be celebrated around the world. Good grief! Also:
"In the first part of the new millennium, the sound most closely identified with Kansas City is Tech N9ne's combative hip-hop fury."
Now THAT is truly a shame, although it isn't true at all. Hell, if it IS true, than our town has hit a new low that even the Chiefs can't duplicate. It would seem that now would be the time for Bill to find a new vocation. Seriously........
Posted by: Brilliance? | November 23, 2011 at 10:29 AM
Bigger? Jigger? hey man GO FIGGER!!!
Heza smoke a cigger, but he dont wanna be a zigger, or a zagger, come on all ya'll, letz all get drunk so weza can stagger,
my ole mmma a big nagger,
but I got a 40 in the bagger, comeon lets get dunk on this good ole lager...
oh yeah heza rapper, but all hiz werdz sound ike they comez from da crapper...
simple
Posted by: KC delight | November 23, 2011 at 11:34 AM
The ignorance posted on this thread is absolutely astounding. Aaron Yates is one of the most lyrically prominent voices to ever step up to a mic. Strange Music is a self-made empire built soley on talent and determination. What are a few haters to a man that has sold more albums independently than any other artist in the world without a major-label? Talentless? HA!!!!!! Listen to Krizz Kaliko that dude can sing his ass off and him and Tech are influenced by so many different styles/genres to blend their sound which is simply put "GENIUS" I think I speak for all the technicians when I say, Strangeland has finally landed, join us or shut your closed minded cocksucker.
Posted by: Sic Technician | December 01, 2011 at 05:12 AM
Strangeland sucks donkey balls.
There is no singing going on, it is screaming, tlaking garbage.
We aint joining you losers. Who you calling out fool? Go fk yourself ST, you big mouth delusional shiztick.
Posted by: George | December 01, 2011 at 06:17 AM
Sic Technician: "Aaron Yates is one of the most lyrically prominent voices to ever step up to a mic.
.....EVER?? Really, dude? Best EVER?? Well, let me give you a simple of this lyrical prominence from ANY Tech N9ne song:
"Blah, blah, F***, blah, N***er, N***er, N***er, blah, blah , MotherF*****, blah, N***er, N***er, etc. etc."
Again, seek out that "brilliant" Einstein song and tell me how using the N-word and about 50 expletives makes one "lyrically prominent." For YOU and your friends uneducated and immature mindset, this guy is probably a genius. But for some of us, he's just an talentless lowlife that should find better ways to express himself. But really, dude....EVER??
Posted by: Sic, indeed | December 01, 2011 at 07:52 AM