Rap artist Tech N9ne calls his fans Technicians, and he doesn’t want to disappoint them.
No matter where they are.
“We’re coming because I have fans in Chilliwack. I don’t care how small Chilliwack is. We have Technicians there.
“It means somebody called and we’re going to go.”
With that in mind, he’s coming back to Chilliwack, with diesel tour buses rolling into town for another all-ages gig at Evergreen Hall on Aug. 31.
On stage he’ll be offering a refresher course in his rapping acrobatics and rhymes put together with rhythmic delight.
Imagine four auctioneers doing their thing over the beat.
The Progress caught up with Tech for a phone interview while he was on the road driving to Chicago Comic Con to sign some special posters at the comic book convention. He’d just performed at the Gathering of Juggalos, where fans from across the globe make it to the venue in the wilds of Illinois.
Tech is an independent and self-made artist who tours relentlessly. He calls himself a “clusterf*** of wildness.” Born Aaron Yates, and from Kansas City, he’s built an empire through hard slogging, with lots of merch and marketing. He’s said he always knew he would be successful.
Tech N9ne likes to produce a CD every year. Sometimes he suffers anxiety on stage about the prospect of remembering about a gazillion lyrics.
Right now he’s touring his latest album ‘Something Else’ which dropped in July, with tracks like “Dwamn”, “Fortune Force Field” and “So Dope.”
“It’s music coming from every direction,” he says.
There are elements of blues, straight up rock and hip hop and more.
“It’s sexual; it’s happy; it’s black; it’s white. That’s how I do music.”
The founder of Strange Music has assembled an eclectic mix of collaborators for the album, from Kendrick Lamar to CeeLo, Wiz Khalifa, front man Serj Tankian from System of a Down and even the Doors.
Sometimes he wears a painted face for hardcore effect on stage, and his hair is on fire on the album cover art of his latest recording.
When he travelled to Paris the first time, he made a visit to Jim Morrison’s gravesite shrine.
This is what he told The Progress in a previous interview about it: “I went to Paris for the first time. Someone called me to do a show. What happened is I got to drink Jack with Jim. I put a recording of it on my CD of me whispering to Jim at his gravesite.”
He’s always been a huge fan of the Doors.
“I just love Jim Morrison. He did whatever he wanted and wrote from his heart.”
He named his label Strange Music after the Doors’ song People are Strange, so the chance for some studio recording time together was a treat.
“I’ve always been fond of their music. It was a milestone to work with people who inspire me like that. It was a dream come true.”
The 15-date Canadian tour features Tech N9ne’s Strange Music labelmate Krizz Kaliko and it ends up in Chilliwack.
Tech N9ne toured with Jay-Z as part of the Sprite Liquid Mix Tour and last year completed the record-breaking “Hostile Takeover 2012 Tour,” which was the longest continuous tour in rap history, according to the press release, clocking in at 90 shows in 99 days.
Listen to Tech N9ne’s “See Me” feat. B.o.B. and Wiz Khaifa http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjDAaeTUJqI
Check out “So Dope” feat. Wrekonize, Twisted Insane and Snow Tha Product http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7e4du_UyLc
Go to www.TheRealTechN9ne.com or for VIP details, it’s www.StrangeVip.com
Techn9ne, August 28, at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver, and August 31 at Evergreen Hall in Chilliwack. Doors open 6 p.m.