TECH N9NE and E-40

Making his second stop this year at The House of Blues Las Vegas, Tech N9ne thrilled his fans by returning just four months later. Tech N9ne even offered super-fans the chance to purchase VIP Packages that came with merch and allowed you to hang with The Strange Family for three hours before showtime. (Totally worth it, as I am told) As he continues celebrating a decade as an independent rapper, now on his Independent Grind Tour, Tech N9ne is joined by his usual crew (Krizz Kaliko, Kutt Calhoun, Big Scoob) and the o.g. E-40. Las Vegas returned our love by selling out the venue. As I was already expecting a high energy performance, after looking upon the sea of fans and our drinks in hand, I knew this was going to get wild.

E-40 opened to an already packed venue, wasting no time getting fans hands up in the air. After only one song, the audience was already shaking and grooving up and down. Completing nearly an hour performance, E-40 sampled from several other rappers and performed many club favorites: U And That, Too Short, Snap Your Fingers, White Gurl, Two Step, and Tell Me When To Go. E-40 didn’t let up for a minute, keeping the floor a non-stop party while he was on stage. He certainly lived up to his long time rep.
As soon as the lights dropped, Tech N9ne stepped out front and center under one spotlight and proved to anyone that didn’t know, how he got his name. Unaccompanied he spit one of the longest, hard, fast, and sharp rhymes I had ever heard, perhaps quicker than a TEC-9 gun, throwing the crowd into a roaring applause. Similar to his June performance, Tech was often joined by his rap family, passing the flow from one to another with seamless accuracy. The momentum didn’t stop for a second as The Strange Family blasted through another two hour performance. Tracks included: Let’s Get Fucked Up, Come Gangsta, Bout Ta’ Bubble, Einetien, Sorry n Shit, O.G., Industry is Punks, Leave me Alone, Casribou Lou, KC Tea, Salue, and I’m a Playa. Once again, Tech N9ne, E-40, and their crew did not disappoint. 2,000 fans got loose to their unique brand of hip-hop, grinding, bouncing, and cheering from wall to wall. Las Vegas clearly loves Tech N9ne and always comes out to show their support. For those of you that don’t know, you need to get out there and “drop down, cuz here comes Tecca Nina!”

Check out my review of his June 1, 2010 performance here.

Tech N9ne with the Strange Family

Tonight I was treated to another artist I had always wanted to see live, Tech N9ne! Part of the Strange Days Tour, celebrating a “Decade of Excellence,” Tech N9ne brought his Strange Family, featuring Brotha Lynch Hung, Krizz Kaliko, Kutt Calhoun, Big Scoob, Prozak and Cognito. With this lineup, the show was sure to please.
When we arrived, people were packed in wall to wall, hands in the air, bouncing up and down and the blast of heat and funk from all the bodies was overwhelming. The stage was setup with a large Strange Music record label logo hanging center, large standups for each rapper, from which they entered the stage. Tech N9ne and Brotha Lynch were on stage, spilling the rhymes and working the crowd. Made it just in time for Bout Ta' Bubble and Like I Died, loosened me up and got me dancing in a hurry. The beat came down, Brotha Lynch did D.O.A., then continued into Jay-Z’s Nigga What Nigga Who.
Rappers went on and off stage, rotated through each other’s songs, and all worked together like a well oiled machine. Tech N9ne and the Strange Family killed it, running through Colostomy Bag, I Plotted My Next Murder, Einstein, Sorry N Shit, Let's Get Fucked Up, Salue, and everyone's favorite drink Caribou Lou. Brotha Lynch stated the chorus to Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody, the whole audience sang along acappella, after which he delivered his long promised This Ring.
Tech N9ne thanked his long time supporters and fans over his 10 year career, making him the most successful independent rapper of all time, stating “This is a blessing.” Near the end of the show, at one point, I counted 9 different rappers on stage. They went out strong with Leave Me Alone, Demons, Freaky, some sick freestyle scratching from DJ Chill, and closed with I'm a Playa. Exhausted, Tech N9ne exclaimed that this was the longest show he had ever performed, just over 2 hours. The whole crowd was in a frenzy, hands in the air, cheering and screaming. Each rapper slowly exited and the fans cleared the room, breaking into an “oh areola” chant on their way out.
Tech N9ne and his Strange Family put on an excellent show. The energy was strong throughout, beats were mixed well, rhymes were ill, and the audience was bumping non-stop. It was a shame I didn’t make it to see Tech N9ne before his 10 year anniversary, but this show was definitely worth the wait!