To meet Wikipedia's quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. Please discuss this issue on the talk page, or replace this tag with a more specific message. Editing help is available. This article has been tagged since June 2006. Tech N9ne Tech N9ne, known for his hardcore approach towards rhyming, is also known for his unique hairstyle. Origin Kansas City, Missouri Years active 1988- present Genres Underground hip-hop, Alternative hip-hop Labels Strange Music Website(s) TheRealTechN9ne.com Tech N9ne (born Aaron Dontez Yates on November 8, 1971 in Kansas City, Missouri) is an underground rapper. He has been a fan favorite among people in Kansas City strictly through word of mouth instead of commercial airplay. Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Early life 1.2 Rap career 2 Technique 3 Discography 4 Notable Songs 5 External links Biography Early life He was raised in a strictly religious family, his stepfather being Muslim and parents being Christian for most of his life. As a result of this upbringing, Tech is often seen wearing a cross. Although rap music was 'banned' from his house, his life changed dramatically however, when an Uncle (real name unknown, "Ike" in some songs) sneaked him a record called Rap Dirty by Blowfly. He began amassing a veritable rap arsenal -- Such as Afrika Bambaataa, N.W.A., Public Enemy, Boogie Down Productions -- hiding the records at a neighbor's (Name unknown) house for fear his rap-hostile stepfather would find out. In 1984, the crack trade infected the streets of his hometown, as the L.A. gang Bloods moved into his neighborhood and the 57th Street Rogue Dog Villains were born. While his friends were getting caught up in the gangster life, Tech was perfecting his rhyme skills, gaining a reputation as a rapper and also, a dancer. At age 17, he left home to move into his Aunt's (Name unknown) home. She was more liberal to rap and such, so he got his first taste of real freedom. During this time, he never stopped dancing and rhyming. His skills attracted Tonya Johnston, who invited him to join her at a rap convention in New Orleans. Through Tanya, also known as rapper Sole, he got his first big break to fame. Rap career Tech came up as a popular rapper in Kansas City and, to a somewhat lesser extent, the rest of the country. Constant touring in support of his album Absolute Power and opening for more popular acts like the Insane Clown Posse increased his reputation... He joined the West Coast group The Regime, headed by Yukmouth, which is currently working on Everready: The Religion, with production from Jellyroll and appearances by Brotha Lynch Hung, E-40, and his Regime group-mates. Tech also appeared with, among others: Tupac Shakur, Eminem, Insane Clown Posse, Twista, E-40, Yukmouth, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Esham, Spice1, D12, MC Ren, Brotha Lynch Hung, C-Bo, Twiztid, Kottonmouth Kings, Sole, Roger Troutman and X Dash. He also appeared on a Wake Up Show (King Tech & Sway) song called "Anthem" with a slew of other rappers that included Xzibit, RZA, KRS-One, ChinoXL, Eminem, and Jayo Felony. Tech's only song with 2Pac, "Thugs Get Lonely Too" was to be featured on Shakur's album Loyal to the Game in 2004. Death Row Records contacted Tech and still wanted him to record his verse so they could put the song together. This song was leaked but was never put out nationally. The song would then end up on Loyal To The Game and was edited by Eminem to remove Tech's verse and feature Nate Dogg instead of Tech N9ne. Technique Tech N9ne is known to be a reasonably fast rapper, also known for his ability to speed-rap, a skill mostly dominant in the American Midwest, and due to his geographic location as well as his fast rapping shares many of the same fans as Twista and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. Tech, however, is also known to compose a rather slower flow, with a yelling, almost chanting delivery; He has been both praised and stigmatized for his dark, almost psychotic and sometimes suicidal subject matter. Discography Isms: The Missing Scriptures (2007) Everready: The Religion (2006) Vintage Tech (2005) Anghellic: Reparation (2003) Absolute Power (2002) Celcius (2002) Anghellic (2001) The Worst: 2K Edition (2000) The Worst (1999) The Calm Before the Storm (1999) Notable Songs "Einstein (Tech N9ne)" from Anghellic "It's Alive" from Anghellic "Imma Tell" from Absolute Power "Here Comes Tecca Nina" from Absolute Power "Imma Playa" from Absolute Power "Trauma" from The Worst "The Beast" from Everready: The Religion, featured in Madden NFL 06 "Jelly Sickle" featuring E-40, from Everready: The Religion, released on his website. "Beef" from Beef Original Soundtrack. External links TheRealTechN9Ne.com, his homesite. Lyricsdir.com, with Tech n9ne's lyrics. Profile of Tech n9ne in person. Search Term: "Tech_N9ne" Categories: Cleanup from June 2006 | 1971 births | Living people | American rappers | People from Kansas City