Tech N9ne’s success comes to fruition

By JONATHAN LANDRUM Jr.

Associated Press

ATLANTA

On a phone call from jail last year, Lil Wayne told a radio show about one of the first rappers he wanted to collaborate with once he got free.

It wasn’t a reigning chart-topper like Jay-Z or Kanye West. Instead, Lil Wayne blurted out the name Tech N9ne.

The Kansas City, Mo.-based rapper had steadily built a strong grass-roots fan base since releasing his first album in 1999. But Lil Wayne’s name drop breathed new life into his career.

“I had no idea that he knew of me,” recalled Tech N9ne, who eventually met Lil Wayne while the best-selling rapper was serving his eight-month sentence in New York. He said the pair held a conversation for almost three hours before the warden stopped them.

After Lil Wayne’s radio shout-out, Tech N9ne said he had an influx of artists and producers who reached out to work with him.

“It made everybody start to pay attention to me,” he said. “It made people see what I was doing. Wayne is one of the greatest rappers of our time, so he gave one hell of a boost.”

It showed in Tech N9ne’s numbers. His 12th album, “All 6’s And 7’s,” which was released in June, debuted at No. 4 on Billboard’s Top 200 and topped the rap charts — a major achievement for an independent artist. It features that collaboration with Lil Wayne, and he may appear on Wayne’s much anticipated “Tha Carter IV.”

Tech N9ne’s popularity grew in the underground music scene due to his rapid-fire style and lyrical rhyme patterns. He became known for his theatrical and extremely high-energy performances.

The 39-year-old Tech N9ne, who is also co-founder of his label Strange Music, carved a niche in the independent market with his heavy touring schedule, performing almost 200 times per year.