Hip Hop is a young man’s game and the odds of aging gracefully in the genre are Kevin Durant thin. But the genre’s equivalent to Vince Carter is Kansas City rap ‘gawd’ Tech N9ne – the most successful independent rapper of all-time and in the wake Planet, his 20th (!!!!) full-length album, he remains skilled, gainfully employed and relevant as ever.
See: Exhibit A, B and C: “Habanero” with Mackenzie Nicole, “No Reason (The Mosh Pit Song)” with Machine Gun Kelly and Y2 and “Red Byers (Say Som’n Do Som’n)” with Big Scoob and Krizz Kaliko. His rhymes rage with a lyrical edge so sharp, it dismembers. The effortless lyricism and hyperkinetic flows over moody, dark and apocalyptic soundscapes is impressive and speaking of “No Reason,” MGK deserves an honorable mention for his semi-automatic contribution.
However, Red Byers is where N9ne’s weapon gleams the most. He shifts between tough talk and social commentary, but turns aspirational in the final verse: “Anybody fakin’, we say hold up, we got our street and city sewed up/That’s from all the fightin’ and bumpin’, we found the light in the sunken/Hole, down is plight and dysfunction, plowed us right into something…”
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Another highlight is the eerie “Comfortable;” a darkly beautiful number where our protagonist checks off his likes and dislikes because – at this stage of the game – he can name names and tell you what he won’t do. And when Tech isn’t channeling disdain toward rivals, the powers that be or unprepared journalists, he touches on his unique odyssey. And in the case of “Tappin In,” he displays regret over a dalliance with a best friend’s lady.
Longtime producer Michael “Seven” Summers supplies the bulk of Planet’s production. The Kansas City studio wiz has been on a bit of a roll lately, given his work on Murs’s new album. While Summers blesses N9ne with tracks that evoke a range of moods, producer Mr. Porter deserves mention for supplying acid with the scalding track “Fresh Out!”
While it’s been constantly said, “old dogs and new tricks” aren’t best friends, Tech still hasn’t found a suitable album runtime. It’s a robust offering to be sure, and a few tracks — “My Fault,” while not an abomination, isn’t especially noteworthy; same for “Won’t Go Quietly,” which is an earnest call for equality but comes off as contrived – could have been left off.
Fans that worried about Tech N9ne falling off should heed Aaron Rodgers’ advice: “R-E-L-A-X.” Tech N9ne makes a triumphant return with an album that, while remaining “on brand” as left field, is as accessible and relevant as ever. This old head ain’t going nowhere.
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Don’t nobody want none.
Typical Tech N9ne… unlistenable trash
This album is nowhere near All 6’s & 7’s or KOD
This is the soundtrack to life in any white trash mobile home park
I don’t follow Tech like I used to (last album I listened to front to back was “Something Else”), but why the hate in the comments lol
I don’t think it’s hate, I just think people are tired of the bad albums. He was decent at one point his albums were pretty good, I have bought a couple of them, and then all of sudden 1 bad album turn into about 6 straight bad albums. I think people even the ones that love him are like it’s time to stop making albums, I had always thought he should have pushed Ritz more as the Front man of strange and he could have fell back. I know it’s his label but I think even his die hard fans are like he doesn’t have anything left and just keeps pushing albums to make money because of a loyal fan base, one that’s getting frustrated with him.
This is hella tight. His best album in a while… lotta strong songs on here.
How could someone that has a fierce flow and good lyrics be so bad at making albums??
Love this album. Honestly his best work
Tech can rhyme his ass off, he’s one of the best lyricists in the game………..but man he really makes lame albums…
This album is dope! it is at 6s and 7s level or even something else but its still good! All the people hating are people who are just mad that he has changed and that the Tech of old has grown up!
I bought the album off of the strength of the single don’t nobody want none. Hes super tight. I wish he would rap over old school beats more often. Hip hop production today sucks dick. Great rappers out there with terrible beats.
Dope!
Average
This album was a letdown, but the handful of tracks that are good, are very good. Giving this a 2 is a little bit generous.
This album is dope AF! I listen to it every day. Tech still has yet to let me down.
i’m actually really enjoying this album…the album cover is kinda silly though
Earth is Flat
Not really a good album, but does have its highlights too. One of them is that it has a few good songs and the main thing; it eventually ends.
This album crosses through all platforms and puts Techs stamp of dominance on Hip hop. 5 out of 5 is the only logical way to go on this one. TECH N9NE!
TECH reaches everyone from his central fan base to the neigh sayers of his career on this one. It’s time the whole world realize the TECH EFFECT as he continues to run the industry.
how many albums this dude gonna come out with? not complaining tho.
GOOD SHIT,
TECH MADE INDEPENDANT MAINSTREAM DWAAM
Rated X
Good, but not Tech at his best. It’s not at K.O.D./6s and 7s/Something Else level.
one of my top 10 albums this year