The Kansas City King Returns to The Venue

Less than a year and half since his last stop in Fargo, Kansas City-based rapper Tech N9ne will be returning to The Venue on May 20th. On his nearly sold out, 50+ city Fire & Ice Tour, he will be promoting his upcoming 32 track double-CD, “Killer,” out July 1st featuring Ice Cube, Scarface, and Paul Wall.

Tech will also be promoting his new DVD, “The Psychumentary”, an inside look on a day in the life of Tech N9ne, released April 8. Performing for an hour and twenty minutes, Tech N9ne will cover songs off every one of his albums from “Angelic” through “Killer.”

In support of the tour are Paul Wall and Ill Bill. Paul Wall’s most recent release, “Get Money - Stay True,” came out last year, and Ill Bill’s new CD/DVD, “The Hour of Reprisal,” is coming out June 17. With cover art done by longtime Slayer cover artist Larry Carroll, “The Hour of Reprisal” also features appearances by Everlast, B-Real, Necro, Max Cavelera of Sepultura/Soulfly and Howard Jones of Killswitch Engage.

Performing alongside Tech N9ne is his right-hand man, Krizz Kaliko. Also on Strange Music, Krizz is promoting his debut solo CD, “Vitiligo.” I spoke to Tech N9ne and Krizz recently to see what the dynamic duo has been up to since their last visit.

HPR: What happened to your trademark red hair?

Tech: When you don’t know how to take care of bleached hair and it gets brittle it will slowly fall out. When it started looking stupid I cut it all off. Now it’s coming all back and I’ll never dye it again. When you bleach it, you’re killing your hair.

HPR: Will you bring the spikes back?

Tech: Spikes can come back but it will be interesting to see because I have hair on the sides now. I’ll probably have like a porcupine.

HPR: In your song, “Bout Ta Bubble” you say, “Paul Wall said he’d do me up a red grill.” Now that he’s on tour with you, will you be rockin’ a red grill on stage?

Tech: Paul Wall just got the mould for my grill. I’m gonna have it before this tour is over, but I won’t be having it on stage because I spit and tally Too hard to be spittin’ out my red grill I’m gonna spend top money for.

HPR: Talk about your new double disc that’s coming out July 1st.

Tech: You might remember a high selling album called, “Thriller.” Mine is, “Killer.” When you see Michael Jackson on the front having a white suit, I’m having a white straight-jacket cuz I’m about the sickness, psycho shit. I wanted to take that and say this is gonna be my highest selling album like “Thriller” was the highest selling album. The rest of the world cares about his personal life. I care about how he did music. I’m still in cahoots with Quincy Jones, who did that music with him. He signed me in ‘97.

HPR: How did you start your label, Strange Music?

Tech: Ba dum bum people are strange when you are strangers, when you’re strange things could come out in the rain, bump. I’m a big Jim Morrison fan. I named my publishing company, EGN Arts Music. Stands for, Entertainment Group Nine. Backwards it says, ‘’Strange.’

HPR: What’s planned for the future?

Tech: A live DVD being taped as we speak.

Krizz: We’re going to do a rock album. Me and Tech are assembling the band right now. In the rock world we’re going to be known as “Kabosh.”

HPR: Krizz, your new disc, “Vitiligo,” came out May 6. What’s the title mean?

Krizz: Vitiligo is the skin pigment disorder I have white patches of skin.

HPR: You appear on a lot of Tech N9ne tracks, he’s on your album also. What separates your music from his?

Krizz: Tech is naturally the key artist in Strange Music, but we developed a sound here. It’s been in good display on his album but mine, it’ll be in the full range of what I do. My music is more melodic because I’m a singer too. I didn’t go for a lot of big guest appearances because I want people to concentrate on me. I’m not better than everybody but nobody’s better than us. I feel like I can hold it down on the album myself. I admire people that take chances in music and create their own lane. That’s what my album does.

If You Go

WHAT: Tech N9ne w/Paul Wall
WHEN: Tuesday May 20, 7pm
WHERE: The Venue @ The Hub
HOW MUCH: $25
WHO: All ages
INFO: (701) 232-6767