Tech N9ne has been releasing quality music for over 20 years at a prolific level. His record label, Strange Music, is one of the most successful independent labels in the world, putting him on Forbes’s list of highest earners in hip hop. Tech N9ne is known for his signature rapid chopper flow and the syllable-heavy complexity of his rhyming. The music is often very abrasive, incorporating elements of rock into the “horrorcore” that he is known for. Though his sound is intense and cutting-edge, he also made his fair share of club-friendly hits. Tech N9ne tours extensively and has released 23 studio albums, often consisting of lengthy, daunting tracklists. Because he has amassed such a high volume of music throughout his career, narrowing down the best Tech N9ne songs is not an easy task.
This is a list of the best Tech N9ne songs in chronological order. The list takes the rapping, songwriting, and production into account. Any song from his sizable discography, including studio albums, EPs, mixtapes, and his “Collabos” album series, is eligible. Take a look at the list below.
7. “Am I a Psycho?” (2011)
Many of the best Tech N9ne songs come from his eleventh studio album, 2011’s All 6’s and 7’s. “Am I A Psycho?” is horrorcore at its finest as Tech N9ne raps about disturbing scenarios of insanity alongside B.o.B and Hopsin. Both guests stick with the same Halloween-friendly themes and contribute some of their greatest verses. Tech N9ne amazes with various cadences, while Hopsin’s double-time rhyme schemes and use of melody steal the show. B.o.B’s verse is more aggressive than the pop-heavy rapping he was known for at the time. He approaches the song much differently than Tech N9ne and Hopsin, but his verse is just as effective.
6. “I Love Music” (2011)
On this 2011 track, Tech N9ne teams up with Kendrick Lamar for the first time, as well as Oobergeek. The trio expresses their love and gratitude for music and where it has gotten them in life. The beat is a straightforward loop that allows all three rappers to attack the song with their unique rhyming styles. Songs with simple topics like loving music can often be corny, but “I Love Music” is the opposite as all three rappers push each other to spit their best rhymes. The hook is also quite catchy.
5. “Worldwide Choppers” (2011)
“Worldwide Choppers” is a masterclass in rapping fast. Inspired by the “Midwest Choppers” series, this 2011 track sees Tech N9ne teaming up with a range of American rappers and artists from Turkey and Denmark. It is the ultimate posse cut of rappers specializing in the chopper flow, including Twista, Busta Rhymes, and Yelawolf.
Tech N9ne sets the bar very high with his rapid-fire flows. Twista exceeds expectations with his head-spinning tongue-twisting rhymes, while Busta Rhymes comes through with his animated double-time flow. One of the most impressive verses comes from Twisted Insane, who comes in at the last 17 seconds, spitting 20 syllables a second. Tech N9ne did make a sequel to “Worldwide Choppers,” 2015’s “Speedom,” featuring Eminem. The original ranks high amongst Tech’s best songs because it features artists from multiple countries on such a monumental posse cut.
4. “B.I.T.C.H.” (2013)
Tech N9ne’s image and content were so unorthodox and separate from the norms of hip hop when he started his career. He wore face paint and had clown-like red hair, which can be off-putting to mainstream audiences. His song “B.I.T.C.H.,” for “Breaking Into Colored Houses,” is about not being accepted in the hip hop community and breaking through to a Black audience. He enlists T-Pain for a menacing yet catchy chorus, warning that he’s “gonna be the first rapper to cross over to Black folk.”
3. “He’s A Mental Giant” (2011)
“He’s A Mental Giant” is one of Tech N9ne’s best songs because he showcases his lyrical ability while also making a catchy track. The chorus is very relaxed and simple over the bombastic beat. Tech N9ne flexes his flow and rhyming ability with rapid flows, showing that he is a lyrical giant that stands tall above the competition. It is one of the best examples of his lyrical skills.
2. “Klusterfuk” (2012)
The title track to Tech N9ne’s 2012 EP, “Klusterfuk” starts with a meditative moment of reflection on his upbringing. He sings about the confusing dynamics between his parents and stepfather, which caused further internal conflicts with religions. Tech raps about how his upbringing skewed his thinking and personality, shaping the person he is today. The song progresses into a bouncy guitar-driven song, where Tech N9ne weaves between complex rhyme schemes and flows.
1. “Fragile” (2013)
“Fragile” stands out as one of the best Tech N9ne songs. It is a somber break from horrorcore, discussing the difficulty of dealing with harsh critics as a musician. The song starts with gentle guitar licks as iMAYDAY! and Kendall Morgan provides a heartfelt verse and hook. Tech N9ne spits a rapid verse with some of his most vulnerable lyrics, expressing anger toward critics even over a stripped-back beat. In the second verse, Kendrick Lamar matches Tech’s flow and aggression for a show-stealing verse. “Fragile” is one of Tech N9ne’s biggest hits and his best collaborations.
[Via]