A Taste:

Slipknot, System of a Down, Gnarls Barkley

“I listen to myself more than I listen to anything else,” laughs Tech N9ne. As he should! Tech made arguably one of the best hip hop albums of 2008 with his epic two-disc Killer. It’s a psychotic and hilarious head-trip of a record that opens up Tech’s twisted soul for all to see. Once you pop in Killer, it’s hard to turn it off because Tech is real.

He explains, “Quincy Jones told me, ‘Rap what you know, and people will forever feel you.’ What do I know better than anything? Myself [Laughs]. Ever since then, I’ve been writing about my life. The story keeps getting better.”

The story will continue on the Kansas City rap maverick’s next full-length Sickology 101: The Study of Being Sick, due out this spring. For now, in between dropping verses, Tech gave us an exclusive look at his iTunes playlist. Some of it was extremely surprising too—just like Tech is.

Check out what Tech N9ne is spinning below, and don’t forget to look for Sickology 101 this spring. Tech will definitely be listening to it!

Tech N9ne’s Playlist:

1. Collie Buddz — Collie Buddz

“I cannot get off Collie Buddz! The whole album is good from beginning to end. He’s this guy from Bermuda, and he’s straight-up hardcore.”

2. Slipknot

“I’m always listening to anything from Slipknot. To me, their best album is Vol. 3: The Subliminal Verses. It’s a masterpiece. I’m still listening to All Hope Is Gone, but I’m not listening to it as much as I listen to Vol. 3. The first album [Slipknot] and the album with “People=Shit” [Iowa] are amazing. I’m getting more into All Hope Is Gone every day though.”

3. System of a Down

I always listen to anything from System of a Down: Mezmerize, Hypnotize and Steal This Album! Serj Tankian and I need to collaborate!

4. Gnarls Barkley

“I listen to Gnarls Barkley because I love Cee-Lo. Both albums are marvelous—St. Elsewhere and The Odd Couple. You can tell when people are in pain, and they share the same type of pain you do. I love people that aren’t afraid to express that. In today’s climate, everybody’s so tough. I’ve got songs on my album about wanting to cry just one good time. What rapper talks about wishing he could cry? I haven’t cried since I was 14. I need some tears so I can cleanse my soul. I know a lot of people that could relate to that. Cee-Lo will let you know what’s going on in his life. Eminem does it, and Kanye West does it too. Some of us are inside out. I’m inside out. I let people know through music.”

5. Jay-Z

6. 50 Cent

7. Eminem

8. E-40

9. Outkast

“I love music where people actually express themselves. I’m a fan of all kinds of music, and I love to dance. You come to my shows and you’ll see me pop, lock it and everything. I used to be a dancer [Laughs].”

10. Tech N9ne — Killer

—Rick Florino
02.12.09