Something is Seeping out of Tech N9ne

A tear of tar oozes from Tech N9ne's eye on the cover of his upcoming release, Seepage. While a tear tattoo on near the eye is often used as a way to remember the fallen, with Tech N9ne, it seems to be the result of a losing battle that's he's trying to forget. There are dark things inside that are pushing their way out...

Throughout his twenty five year career, Tech N9ne has made a career for himself weaving together a bizarre, yet intriguing tapestry of hip hop. Often his lyrics run through the darker veins, touching brutal revenge tales, conversations with the dead, and even all consuming depression. But, just when things seem to get too morbid, he'll throw in the curve ball concerning a new type of drink he's invented, why he's against Pilates (it reduces the gluteus maximus), or how his shiny ring got him "the top notch on the Ewok slot." All the while, thick, bass heavy beats supported by wacky and wackier sound effects carry his message while shaking walls and the dance floor.

Lately though, his tunes have been heavy enough to make Bauhaus sound like the 1910 Fruitgum company. 2009's King of Darkness, recorded while Tech N9ne's mother lay in critical condition, litigates against God, challenging His whims, demanding a role in the universe, and even questions the almighty's existence while directly addressing Him.

While The Gates Mixed Plate LP, an album dedicated to party rap, followed shortly after in an effort to lighten the mood, things quickly went dark again. While on tour in Paris, Tech N9ne received word that his mother was once again near death's door. Almost by divine intervention, Tech N9ne found five lost beats that were created during the K.O.D. sessions that had no lyrics. He laid down tracks rapidly as the venom flowed from his mouth, leaving lyrics that were intense even for the Tartarus that was K.O.D.

Although most emcees promote their new releases ad infinitum in order to gain as much exposure as possible, Tech N9ne was more concerned with saying what he had to say on Seepage than having people hear it. Shortly after announcing the EP, he issued the personal statement, "I would rather not talk about Seepage simply because I told fans on [my last ep] that those would be the last of K.O.D. I thought I could stay clear of K.O.D. but found out there's no way out totally. So until I can figure out how to balance this thing, I'd rather not speak on it due my lack of understanding."

If not verbally, then Tech N9ne seems to communicate this lack of understanding through his live shows. In 2010, many hip hop shows seem somewhat tame in comparison to the early eighties, with emcees letting the crowd do most of the work, simply playing music by other artists instead of performing, and letting guests do a large percentage of the work. But, Tech N9ne follows in the footsteps of greats like KRS-One, Public Enemy, Rakim, and EpMD by throwing on a berserk performance, switching from song to song to song without banter, mixing versions live on stage, and throwing an energetic physicality back into the art.

What with the emcee's furious live shows and dark natured tracks, It looks like whatever Tech N9ne's been trying to keep inside will get out, even if he doesn't want it to. When it does break free of its mortal shell, whatever it is, it'll give us insight directly into Tech N9ne's eccentric brain. Let's hope it breaks free on stage.

Catch Tech N9ne at the Catalyst Club on Oct. 7, 8pm. Seepage drops on October 25 on the "Strange Music" label.