Tech N9ne
Aaron Dontez Yates was born on the 8th of November 1971 in Kansas City, Missouri. He began rapping at a very early age to spell out his own name letter by letter. His father Carlton Cook left the family while his mother battled epilepsy and lupus during his childhood years. These struggles pushed him toward spiritual searching and exploring abandoned buildings with a best friend who hoped to film ghosts. The stage name Tech N9ne originated from the TEC-9 semi-automatic handgun. Rapper Black Walt gave him this moniker because of his fast-rhyming chopper style. Yates later added deeper meaning to the phrase. He stated that tech means technique and nine represents completion.
In 1999, Aaron Yates partnered with Travis O'Guin to establish Strange Music as an independent record label. This move followed brief stints with Perspective Records, Qwest Records, and JCOR Records. Early group efforts included Black Mafia formed in 1991 and Nnutthowze which disbanded shortly after release. The album Anghellic arrived in 2001 under JCOR before disputes led to a separation allowing them to keep rights. Absolute Power debuted at number 79 on the Billboard 200 through a joint venture with M.S.C. Music & Entertainment. A campaign called F.T.I. encouraged legal free downloads via the artist's website. This strategy countered anti-downloading efforts by the Recording Industry Association of America. By September 2008, Yates had exceeded one million total album sales across his entire catalog.
The first Tech N9ne Collabos album Misery Loves Kompany appeared in 2007 featuring wide guest appearances. Subsequent entries included Sickology 101 released in April 2009 and The Gates Mixed Plate that same year. All 6's and 7's dropped on the 7th of June 2011 with rock artists like Deftones alongside hip-hop stars such as Lil Wayne and B.o.B. Welcome to Strangeland followed as the fourth entry while Strangeulation became the fifth album in 2014. Strangeulation Vol. II arrived the 20th of November 2015 including the full roster of Strange Music members. Dominion launched the 7th of April 2017 and Strange Reign came out October 13 of the same year. COSM marked the eighth collaboration project released the 12th of July 2024. Each album featured diverse guests ranging from Eminem to Corey Taylor of Slipknot.
Yates developed a dynamic rhyme scheme known as chopper style characterized by rapid delivery patterns. Soren Baker of VH1 described his techniques as mind-blowing flows showcasing wide-ranging abilities. He intentionally created flow patterns to sound like percussion instruments while rapping. After hearing an instrumental track he would develop different rhythmic patterns before filling them with lyrics. His influences spanned old school hip hop groups like N.W.A and Public Enemy plus rock bands including Led Zeppelin and Metallica. Allmusic reviewer Jason Birchmeier labeled his approach bizarre hardcore rap. Yates cited specific artists such as Eric B. & Rakim and Schoolly D alongside musicians like Jim Morrison and Elton John. He stated that he loved beautiful music regardless of genre type.
Tech N9ne's songs appeared in films Born 2 Race and Gang Related along with video games Madden NFL 2006 and The Crew. He starred in the musical Alleluia: The Devil's Carnival which received limited theater release in July 2015. His track Earthquake played during an episode of MTV's America's Best Dance Crew in 2008. In May 2018, he partnered with Boulevard Brewing Company to create Bou Lou beer released June 18 in Kansas City markets. This wheat beer featured pineapple and coconut flavors referencing his song Caribou Lou. He performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in June 2014 playing Fragile and Stamina. His music also appeared in MMA events where fighter Gilbert Melendez entered the arena to The Beast in 2009. On the 23rd of October 2024, he married longtime girlfriend Kristen after finalizing a divorce from his first wife in November 2017.
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Common questions
When and where was Aaron Dontez Yates born?
Aaron Dontez Yates was born on the 8th of November 1971 in Kansas City, Missouri.
How did Tech N9ne get his stage name from Black Walt?
Rapper Black Walt gave him this moniker because of his fast-rhyming chopper style. The name originated from the TEC-9 semi-automatic handgun before Yates added deeper meaning to the phrase.
Who founded Strange Music with Aaron Yates in 1999?
Aaron Yates partnered with Travis O'Guin to establish Strange Music as an independent record label in 1999. This move followed brief stints with Perspective Records, Qwest Records, and JCOR Records.
What is the release date for the COSM collaboration album by Tech N9ne?
COSM marked the eighth collaboration project released the 12th of July 2024. Each album featured diverse guests ranging from Eminem to Corey Taylor of Slipknot.
Which beer brand did Tech N9ne partner with in May 2018?
In May 2018, he partnered with Boulevard Brewing Company to create Bou Lou beer released June 18 in Kansas City markets. This wheat beer featured pineapple and coconut flavors referencing his song Caribou Lou.