Tech N9ne

Tech N9ne changed everything the world knew about hip-hop. He didn’t follow the rules. He didn’t need a major label. He didn’t even call one of the coasts home. Instead, he turned Kansas City, MO into ground zero for the evolution of the culture, sending aftershocks through not just music, but also sports, video games, television, film, and fashion. With billions of streams, dozens of RIAA gold and platinum plaques, and hundreds of sold out shows under his belt, he’s easily the hardest working artist and entrepreneur in the game. He has notched four Top 5 debuts on the Billboard 200 and clinched the record for “most Top 10 albums on the Billboard Rap Chart.” He has delivered hits in three decades—whether it be the platinum-certified “Caribou Lou” in the 00’s, the gold-certified “Fragile” [feat. Kendrick Lamar, ¡Mayday!, Kendall Morgan] in the 10’s, or his biggest smash yet in the 20’s with “Face Off” featuring Joey Cool, King Iso, and Dwayne Johnson. If you trace the origins of Kendrick, Jelly Roll, and more, you’ll find Tech as an early champion and collaborator on pivotal tracks. Beyond sold-out headline tours, he has performed on NPR’s Tiny Desk and ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel LIVE! He co-founded Strange Music as a home for his output. Now, the company’s Kansas City headquarters stretches across six buildings. 2025 has seen the release of his most personal album yet: 5816 Forest, the stories that made him into the artist we know today as Tech N9ne.