Parlé: Sometimes when you look at the demographics of the crowds who attend your shows, do you wish that more black people were up on it.
Tech N9ne: Yea. I have an album dedicated to it, M.L.K. Misery loves Kompany. I got a song on there called “Message to the Black Man” and it’s me asking “why I don’t see y’all at my shows?” All these white folks are at my shows and they are getting this beautiful music and y’all are missing it. Of course I want my people there, my music is supposed to be for everybody. I love the people who do show love, they take care of my kids… having a following is a beautiful thing. But I want everybody to be there, If you ask Busta Rhymes who who gives the best live shows, he’s going to say his camp and Tech N9ne. I think I have a lot to offer with my music, a lot people can relate to. I wan’t everybody to be on it.
Parlé: With all your albums you had that thematic dichotomy of angel and demon, but with the last album K.O.D. it seemed that spiritual battle was more intense and more personal. Was there something that happened recently that brought this out in your art?
Tech N9ne: My mom being sick… she’s doing real good now, but I almost lost her. The first song “Show Me a God” was me asking God to show my a spirit, ghost or something, to know that he was listening to my prayers for her. I was 99% sure but I wanted to be 100% sure. I know Darwin and atheists believe everything is evolution, and it makes sense. When I look at the Sun and the Moon, and babies being born, it also makes me believe that there has to be a god. But I had to make sure he was hearing my prayers for my mom who was suffering. That is why the album was so dark, that’s why you see songs like “Leave Me Alone” and “Low” and “Demons” with three-6-mafia. It was me dealing with my demons and the spiritual battle I go through.
Parlé: Was making the album therapeutic? Did you get a answer to your spiritual questions?
Tech N9ne: I got a close enough answer, my mom came out of the hospital like it never happened, now I’m trying to move on.
Parlé: Some of your songs have been very misogynistic, like “The Sexorcist”, “Psycho Bitch” and “Killing You”. One of the most misogynistic Mcs of all time, Snoop Dogg, toned it down in recent years and released more romantic songs like “Beautiful” or “Special”. Do you think we will ever get more romantic songs like that from Tech N9ne?
Tech N9ne: I’m imperfect, I’m girl crazy, sometimes I can sound one-sided or contradict myself. My music will show you that. I think with women I ain’t going to get no better no time soon, but I don’t want to be older and by myself. Maybe I ‘ll just be one of those old guys with six chicks staying with me like polygamy. Who knows? Maybe later I’ll be singing “you’re my favorite girl” but right now its more like “you’re my favorite women”.
Parlé: What are some of the projects you label Strange Music has going on this year?
Tech N9ne: We just signed Brotha Lynch Hung out of Sacramento. His album Dinner and a Movie will be out March 23rd. His album is sick, he’s a true lyricist. Some people stay away from his stuff because the content, he talks about eating people. But I’m telling you, he’s really talking about eating Mcs, it’s a concept album, very creative. Kutt Calhoun is finishing up his album, it’s called Raw & Uncut. Krizz Kaliko is assembling beats for his album, and I’m assembling beats for my next collabo record.
Parlé: For the people who are not up on Krizz Kaliko and are familiar with him only for his guest spots on your albums, what are they missing out on? What can they get from Krizz Kaliko that they aren’t already getting from you?
Tech N9ne: He’s more accessible to a mainstream audience in that he’s talented enough to do R & B and he can rap his ass off. He will take chances, I can see him doing music with Gnarls Barkely. He could do something with Al Green, he’s that talented. He takes risks. I take risks too but I’m a B-Boy, all day everyday, pop-locking, rapping and all that. But he can go in there and really sing. You can find that on his album and not necessarily on mine.
Parlé: Any more projects?
Tech N9ne: We also have the K.O.D. DVD that should be out later this year and we’re working on a rock album that we’ve been trying to do for years. The band is called K.A.B.A.S.H. Killing America’s Beliefs on Society’s Hoods. We’re going to go hard with raw ghetto rock.
Parlé: Is there any advice you have for young Mcs and young Hip-Hop entrepreneurs trying to carve a place for themselves in this game?
Tech N9ne: Keep on keeping on even when it seems like things are going south. If you know that it’s not just a hobby and you feel it in your bones, keep pushing. Even if it’s your momma or your girl telling you you need to get a real job, stick to it like I did. Even if you working at that job, If you feel you have something the people need to be hearing, invest in it after work. If you believe in it you shall achieve in it, look at me.
images by Christian Ortiz
Also Check Out:
Dey Know…Introducing the Real Shawty Lo
Exclusive Interview with DJ Kay Slay
Live From The Kitchen with The King of Memphis, Yo Gotti
The Complete two-part R. Kelly Interview as he discusses the state of R & B, his new album and his thoughts on love and relationships
Ryan Leslie is making a name for himself in R & B, check out his full interview