REVIEW: Tech N9ne Collabos - "Strangeulation"

7.75/10

Coming off of the success of last year's critically-acclaimed "Something Else" LP, Tech N9ne releases the fifth entry in his Collabos series, "Strangeulation". While "Something Else" was an album filled with prominent guest features, Tech abstains from any outside collaborations this time around, making a bold statement by keeping it strictly Strange (aside from some guest vocalists) on "Strangeulation". The title itself refers to "the act of Strange Music artists collectively having the industry in a choke hold", and all of Strange's artists appear on the album at least once, while the production is entirely handled by Strange Music's in-house producer Seven.

The most compelling feature of this album is the much-anticipated Strange Music cyphers, something the fans have been requesting for years. Broken up into four parts spread across the album, the cyphers feature all of Strange's artists—minus Jay Rock, unfortunately—rapping over a new take on a beat Seven produced years ago, his first collaboration with Tech. Tech spits some humorous bars in response to fans' comparing him to dream collaborator Eminem, and then relates why he thinks a tour with Em might not be possible: "And when she compare me to Eminem I said "I'm different" / She said "How?", I said I'm black and I can say nigger bitch! / To him I may just be another bro with a flow / Will probably never tour cause it'll be thousands of Juggalos at a show / And I heard fatalities happen on each side so there's never no let it go".

Tech provides a proper introduction for newly signed Strange Music artist and underground Hip-Hop veteran MURS on "Hard (A Monster Made It)". The eerie organs heard during the intro and hook sound like they were borrowed from a Dracula movie. This is followed by the lead single, "Over It", in which Ryan Bradley belts out a rousing hook to complement Tech, in rare braggadocios form: "You got to know by now that I'm really unstoppable / Try now/ You'll be silly in a hospital / Lie down /Got the pilly in a lock & load / I'm takin' everything / Breakin' everything you'll spit / This ain't nothin' to me child's play /That's why I'm takin' over this bullshit". "Make Waves" is another Rock/Hip-Hop fused track that Tech can add to his rapidly expanding resume. Tyler Lyon, lead vocalist of metal band Evalyn Awake, sings the hook while Strange spitters Krizz Kaliko and Rittz provide some slick guest bars. Tech recently said in an interview that he wanted to take some of his artists out of their comfort zone on this album, and asking Rittz to jump on this track is a good example. Thankfully, Rittz performs very well, rapping with his usual rapid-fire flow but also harmonizing with the beat's guitars at the end of his verse.

Tech N9ne gets his thuggin' on in "Red Rags", a fitting title for this Blood gang anthem, which features all of Strange Music's Blood-affiliated artists: Big Scoob, Kutt Calhoun, and Jay Rock. The bouncy beat incorporates a vocal sample from his 2006 album "Everready: The Religion", and the bass is reminiscent to that of "Big Scoob", a track from his first Collabos album, "Misery Loves Kompany". One of the album's most personal tracks is the heartfelt "Fear", in which the daughter of Strange Music's CEO, Mackenize O'Guin provides chilling vocals on the hook. Tech raps about the pain of having to witness his mother's mental condition worsen to the point of her not being able to recognize him: "My heart it just fluttered when mama picked up she would utter / 'Who is this?' I said 'Donnie', but she thought I was another / Didn't even know me, and she's not an oldie / It's the lupus or epilepsy / Maybe the psychosis solely". He questions God's existence in his final verse: "Now my mom's worse and a lot ill / My fear is that this God I'm prayin' to for my mother is not real".

It wouldn't be a Tech N9ne album if there wasn't a track for the ladies. Stevie Stone and Rittz accompany Tech on "Na Na", a slow sexual track in which they show their appreciation for the females, marred by some corny lines ("My goodness, you're the reason for my woodness").  Tech describes his relapse into alcohol and drugs on "The Calling" (again featuring Tyler Lyon), a dismal track equipped with guitars and monk-like chanting: "And I'm back to the drinkin' / Soakin' wet every bottle's open / Can't believe it I'm occasionally smokin', again / With a deep and cloudy ocean, I'm in / Have a lot of trouble copin', my friend".

Tech N9ne is generally lyrically sharp throughout the majority of the album's seventeen tracks, however the abundant "shit" metaphors in "Stink" felt a bit... unnecessary, with awkward lines like: "But if I really gotta explain it, it ain't because I'm famous / The reason ya thinkin' that it's potpourri in the anus". Keep that in mind while considering the hook of "Hard" as well: "My shit is hard! Constipated / They wonder why it's so killa, cause a monster made it / My shit is hard! I'm the greatest / Look around, that's why everybody's congregated".

Another slight complaint is the lack of Jay Rock on the cypher and only one verse from Brotha Lynch Hung and Prozak. On any other album, On any other Tech N9ne album, the lack of Lynch and Zak verses wouldn't be so conspicuous, however, because"Strangeulation" features all other artists at least twice each, it's puzzling why those artists appear just once. Although, in an interview, Tech N9ne mentioned that he cut any verses he thought were not up to par, so perhaps that explains their lack of presence on this album. The album also felt like it was missing something else—Krizz Kaliko's wonderfully epic hooks. He only sung one hook on "Strangeulation" (as well as on "Something Else"), compared to the four to five hooks he used to sing per Tech N9ne album. ething Else"*), compared to the four to five hooks he used to sing per Tech N9ne album. The singers Tech chose to do the hooks on this album are certainly not bad, and the variety is welcome, however Krizz Kaliko's involvement has been an integral part of Tech N9ne's music (some people still think Tech N9ne is a band) since 2002.

Throughout the course of "Strangeulation", Tech N9ne maintains his "fuck the industry" attitude, with bold proclamations of Strange Music's dominance and celebrations of the label's independent spirit. "Strangeluation" should reassure longtime Strange fans that Tech is still loyal to his core listeners, hopefully eradicating the notion that he "sold out" after his collabs with Wiz Khalifa, B.o.B., and T-Pain last year. However, "Strangeulation" may also prove to be detrimental at this point in Tech's career. Tech's made it clear that he wants to continue his quest of global musical domination, and releasing a Collabos album with zero outside collaborators may halt the momentum "Something Else" sparked. On the other hand, let's hope that it helps the other artists on the roster rise in much-deserved popularity. Either way, Tech's core fan base will undoubtedly continue to support his movement and appreciate what he's accomplished thus far.