Image via Complex Original
Years ago, Tech N9ne promised that he would never go mainstream, the mainstream would go Tech N9ne. With his June 7 release, All 6’s and 7’s, you can consider that promise fulfilled. Despite being another indie release on his Strange Music imprint, All 6’s and 7’s boasts big name guest spots from B.o.B, Busta Rhymes, Yelawolf, Snoop Dogg, T-Pain, and Lil Wayne.
Enough guest spots, in fact, to finally garner some attention from everyday hip-hop fans who may have spent years puzzled by the Kansas City anomaly and his diehard fanbase (If you're not familar with him, get a background on Tech here). If this is his moment indeed, Tech isn't trying to squander it nor betray the fans who carried him here. That’s why Tech stopped by the Complex offices and played us All 6’s and 7’s to give us a taste of what he’s got in store. Click next to hear our thoughts...
Written by Insanul Ahmed (@Incilin)
“The Pledge (Intro)”
Produced by: Ben Cybulsky
Complex says: A quick 40 second intro starts the album up. There’s a countdown similar to a space shuttle launch, but the voice gets stuck on “seven, six” which repeats a dozen times followed by some chanting and a little speech that sounds kinda like a prayer.
"Technicians"
Produced by: Soleternity
Complex says: This is the perfect way to kick this album off. This song is a rally cry to longtime Tech N9ne fans (who dubbed themselves Technicians) as Tech blasts off with his trademark double-time flow and promises his fans that he’s not gonna sell out, he’s gonna keep doing Tech. The hook is amped up on some Mad Lion shit. But here’s the craziest part of all: It’s over a dubstep beat.
“Military (Skit)”
Produced by: Ben Cybulsky
Complex says: One of the six skits on here, this is just some military chanting and marching. Nothing special.
“Am I A Psycho?” f/ B.o.B & Hopsin
Produced by: B.o.B
Complex says: Although Tech has got bars for days on this (he wonders why he let a stripper burn him with a cigarette ten times in the same spot), an angst-ridden B.o.B handles the hook and spits a killer verse at the end. For those disappointed with the pop-driven sound of Bobby Ray’s debut, they’ll be happy to see him blackout and take endless subliminals at Odd Future. Just like “No Future,” he doesn’t mention them by name, but there’s no doubt in our minds he’s got Tyler, The Creator in his cross-hairs as he spits the same kinda flows Eminem used to ether Benzino (seriously). This is still Tech’s album but we can’t front—B.o.B. steals the show on this one.
“He's A Mental Giant”
Produced by: Michael "Seven" Summers
Complex says: There’s no denying the flow Tech spits on here (especially the first few bars of the the second verse) are bananas as he growls like a starving dog. But the best of it all is the closing line, “But the women that listen want to know if I’m talking about my damn dick.” LOL!
“Worldwide Choppers” f/ Ceza, JL B. Hood, Uso, Yelawolf, Twista, Busta Rhymes, D-Loc, & Twisted Insane
Produced by: Michael "Seven" Summers
Complex says: Forget a double-time flow, this is triple over-time flow. Our heads were spinning as some of the most technical rappers in the world (literally, there’s rhymes in Turkish on this) go in and one-up each other. We hear that a video is on the way, but don’t worry, there won’t be any subtitles—it’ll just be Tech, Busta, Yela, and Twista.
“We Miss You Man (Skit)”
Produced by: Ben Cybulsky
Complex says: Another skit as Tech talks about a friend he lost.
“I Love Music” f/ Kendrick Lamar & Oobergeek
Produced by: Mike "EM80" Dupree
Complex says: Without getting too sappy, Tech talks about his love for music and appreciates all the things it’s done for him. Oobergeek and newcomer Kendrick Lamar follow suit.
“Strangeland”
Produced by: J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League
Complex says: This song starts off with Tech having a conversation with an angel where he’s confused and wondering where he is. The angel explains that he’s in Strangeland, a place he built and now rules over. The airy, heavenly beat is topped off with an angelic hook as Tech explores just how far he’s come as a leader of his own movement. Midway through the song, there’s audio of Young Money’s Tyga talking about the song on Tha Carter 4 which features Tech and how crazy it is. Damn, we had no idea Tech was checking for Tyga like that.
“Call From Richie (Skit)”
Produced by: Ben Cybulsky
Complex says: Another skit, another phone call. Though it isn’t much (there’s a reference to an old HHDX interview), Tech told us that he included this because it added a few seconds and made All 6s and 7s 76 minutes long. #Synergy
“The Boogieman” f/ Stokley of Mint Condition & First Degree the D.E.
Produced by: J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League
Complex says: We’d hate to call it the devil voice (Tech’s been trying to shed the devil worshipper image for years now), but Tech uses whatever you want to call that morphed voice rappers often use when they want to argue with themselves on record (like Eminem does on this song). Tech alternates between the voice and his regular rap voice as he reminds everyone that even though most rap fans haven’t seen much of him, the Boogieman is still real.
“Cult Leader” f/ Liz Suwandi
Produced by: Michael "Seven" Summers
Complex says: At this point, it becomes pretty obvious that Tech cares a lot about his pubic perception and what the media says about him. Forget the fact that he already referenced a Tyga interview and a HHDX interview, this whole song deals with interviewers constantly asking him about if his die-hard fanbase makes him a cult leader—a title that obviously annoys him. Still, he ends things on a positive note declaring that anyone of any race or creed or background can join the Technicians and it’s all love.
“Call From KC Poet Camile (Skit)”
Produced by: Ben Cybulsky
Complex says: This song jump-starts the sexual section of the album as the next few songs deal with doing the nasty. The skit itself has a girl calling up Tech’s phone and leaving a message that’s a raunchy spoken word poem about... well, you know what.
“Fuck Food” f/ Lil Wayne, T-Pain, & Krizz Kaliko
Produced by: Michael "Seven" Summers
Complex says: So much for going mainstream. Tech gets two certified hitmakers on the same song and makes the dirtiest, most radio-unfriendly song imaginable. Wayne’s verse is the flipside of his verse on “Suck It or Not” because he raps about nothing, but eating pussy like it’s the last supper. Oh and get back to rap you T-Paining too much? Well, on here T-Pain does a standard T-Pain hook before doing his own version of the sped-up Tech N9ne flow.
“Overtime” f/ Stevie Stone
Produced by: Jayson "Koko" Bridges
Complex says: Another sex song. The beat on here is a bit softer, but the rhymes are still NSFW.
“Pornographic” f/ Snoop Dogg, E-40, & Krizz Kaliko
Produced by: Michael "Seven" Summers
Complex says: This is kinda like the West Coast version of the Wayne/T-Pain song. Snoop limps his way through his verse, but 40 Water rhymes about how a chick once “took the rubber off and ate my semen with a spoon.” YUCK!
“You Owe Like Pookie” f/ Jay Rock & Kutt Calhoun
Produced by: Michael "Seven" Summers
Complex says: Geez, rappers sure love them some New Jack City. This is some straight street shit as Strange Music’s newest member Jay Rock comes through sounding like he’s going to smack up a crackhead if he doesn’t get his fuckin’ money already. And although we’re not totally sure, it kinda sounds like they do a “like a chump (hey), like a chump (hey)” breakdown that may be an ode to Limp Bizkit’s “Nookie.”
“Delusional” f/ Nikkiya
Produced by: Will Power
Complex says: The rhymes on here would have probably worked on “Cult Leader” just as much as they do on here as Tech touches on some of the same topics. However, Tech is a little less optimistic here, “I hope I find what I’m looking for/Maybe I should drink a little more.”
“So Lonely” f/ Blind Fury & Mackenzie O'Guin
Produced by: Wyshmaster
Complex says: This song is reminiscent of Eminem’s “25 To Life” and that’s probably because (according to Tech) he was trying to get Eminem to be on it. There are some guitar riffs and Mackenzie O’Guin definitely gets his Liz Rodriguez on. Tech puts himself in a category by himself, but Blind Fury sums it up pretty nicely, “I got everything I wanted, but it all came with a price.”
“If I Could” f/ Stephen Carpenter & Chino Moreno (of Deftones)
Produced by: Michael "Seven" Summers
Complex says: As you might expect, this is the most rock oriented song on the album. It also marks another shift on the record as Tech puts the super technical rhymes on the shelf and starts dealing with more personal issues. This song plays like a phone call to his family while he’s on tour, telling them he’ll be home soon. Considering how much time he spends on the road, we’re guessing Tech speaks from experience.
“Angry Caller (Skit)”
Produced by: Ben Cybulsky
Complex says: Another voice message, another angry girl. Can’t front though, we did laugh when she said, “Fuck you and your fake ass fohawk!” LOL!
“Love Me Tomorrow” f/ Big Scoob
Produced by: Michael “Seven" Summers
Complex says: The perfect counter to “If I Could,” Tech first rhymes about groupies who get mad when he doesn’t call them back. But then things take a more serious turn as Tech addresses the criticism he’ll no doubt encounter for making songs with popular artists, “Said I’m a sellout because I did a song with Wayne/Bitch you need to work on your brain.”
“Mama Nem”
Produced by: David Sanders
Complex says: Basically this is Tech’s version of “Dear Mama” as he rhymes about how his mom raised him. Expect this to drop just in time for Mother’s Day.
“Promiseland” f/ Nikkiya
Produced by: Wyshmaster
Complex says: An uplifting song closes things out. “Promiseland” is the sequel to “Strangeland” as Tech’s dreams finally come true. There’s an zany alien sounding beat and a hook that sounds like an angry Rihanna, but it’s all Tech.
