Culture
Tech N9ne on ‘5816 Forest,’ revisiting his past, and finding strength in vulnerability
By: Bradley Cunningham
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LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (WOUB) – Tech N9ne, born Aaron Dontez Yates, is a rapper, songwriter, and entrepreneur known for his rapid-fire “chopper” style. Over a decades-long career, he has grown into one of independent music’s most successful artists, co-founding Strange Music and earning mainstream recognition through platinum singles, high-profile collaborations, and relentless touring.
On September 21 Tech N9ne delivered a high-energy set at Louder Than Life that showed why he commands respect across genres. Afterward, WOUB’s Bradley Cunningham sat down with him to discuss his new album, 5816 Forest, as well as where he finds inspiration, and why he’s always commanded respect in multiple genres.
Below is their conversation, edited for length and clarity.
Bradley Cunningham: 5816 Forest is a personal record —an origin story. What was the most vivid memory you had to relive while writing it?
Tech N9ne: On The Punishment, I was talking about my stepfather — the reason I ran away from home. At 17, I left because I thought he was being mean to me. My mom married him when I was 12, and that album tells the stories from age 12 to 17, when I ran away on a quest to become Tech N9ne. But as I was writing that song, I realized I’ve found solace with my stepfather over the years. He wasn’t being mean — I was just a spoiled only child before my mom had more kids with him. He was trying to make me a stronger man and to build me into an entrepreneur. And that’s exactly what I became.
How did it feel to be so vulnerable? That’s heavy.
Tech N9ne: It is heavy. I’ve always been vulnerable in my music, but this album carried a lot more information. Every album I let people in. But this time, it really hit me that vulnerability is my superpower. I see that being an open book is what makes me who I am.
One thing I’ve always loved about your music is your ability to blend genres. But even with that, you’ve maintained such a strong visual and sonic identity. Why do you think that is?
Tech N9ne: The DNA came from my family being eclectic music listeners. I caught on early to gospel music in my house, because when I was a kid, nothing else could be played there. But my Uncle Ike would bring in rock ‘n’ roll records — Elton John, The Doors. That balance shaped me.
I love The Doors.
Tech N9ne: Yeah, me too. That’s why I named what I do “Strange Music.” That DNA has been in my music from the beginning.
On Angelic, you hear it in my song Tormented. That’s rock mixed with hip-hop. A lot of people don’t know Tormented was taken from an old hip-hop track by Joeski Love called She’s My Girl.
So when people hear me blending with Corey Taylor from Slipknot, Serj Tankian from System of a Down on Straight Out the Gate, Jonathan Davis from Korn on Starting to Turn, or Ronnie Radke from Falling in Reverse — it all makes sense. And the crazy thing is, all of them have told me they’ve been listening to Tech N9ne since the early ’90s.
You’ve got a lot of respect within the rock and metal community. What draws you into that community yourself?
Tech N9ne: Like I said, my fans have heard the DNA of rock in my songs from the beginning, and it’s never sounded forced. One thing I know about metalheads and hip-hop heads is they’ll tell you straight up if something sounds forced. “Nah, that don’t work. That’s whack.” From my first meshing with rock, it’s always sounded natural — and that’s what people respond to. Once you share your art with people, they’ll tell you if it’s bunk or beautiful.
Do you approach your flow differently when working on rock and metal collaborations? I’ll speak specifically on the song Ronald with Falling in Reverse.
Tech N9ne: Not really, no. I tried to — yeah — but Ronnie stopped me. My first four bars, he told me, “Cut that out and just go.” So I went back in the studio, did exactly that.
It was crazy when I first saw the video for Ronald, because when that video was released it didn’t even say it was featuring anybody.
Tech N9ne: Yeah, Ronnie wanted that on purpose — to surprise everybody. He already knew he wanted me to bring the Tech N9ne energy. Originally, I was singing, but Ronnie was like, “I think it’s too much singing since I come in singing right after you. Can you change it?”
At first I was like, “I’m Tech N9ne, nobody tells me what to do.” I didn’t say that to him, though. I took what he said, went back, changed it — and it turned into what you hear now. He said, “Come in shredding,” and I did. That’s the version we perform all over the world.
Do you draw inspiration from any non-musical art forms?
Tech N9ne: I draw inspiration from everything. When I’m writing, I need to be in an open space. Sometimes I’ll even have the TV on. In my notebook, I keep this little card with A through Z written down. Just looking at a single letter can spark a word. My wife always asks, “How can you sit there watching TV?” And I tell her, “I’m gathering information.” I have to talk to people all over the world, so I need things in common with them.
For example, on the song Am I Psycho? I say, “You’re crazy,” and the whole crowd yells back, “I like you, but you’re crazy.” That came straight from Will Ferrell’s movie Old School. The line goes: “You got a dart in your neck, man… you’re crazy. I love you, but you’re crazy.” I took that, flipped it into rhyme.
Bonus question: if your music was an animal, what would it be and why?
Tech N9ne: It would be a snake and a bat. The snake represents medicine — like the rod of Asclepius you see in hospitals, the symbol of healing. And the bat is a nocturnal mammal. So together, we are the medicine that navigates through the darkness. Music saved my life.