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KMBC Chronicle - Tech N9ne: The King, The Clown, and The G..

LARA: ON A DARK AND STORMY NIGHT, 4,000 FANS CROWD INTO THE POWER AND LIGHT DISTRICT WIT ONE THING ON THEIR MIND, MUSIC THEY’VE COME TO SEE THE MOST SUCCESSFUL INDEPENDENT RAP ARTIST IN THE WORLD, WHO JUS HAPPENS TO CALL KANSAS CITY HOME WE’VE ALL SEEN OR HEARD ABOUT TECH N9NE BUT FEW REALLY KNOW WHO HE IS. TONIGHT THE RAPPER OPENS UP HIS STUDIO, HIS HOME, AND HIS LIFE TO KMBC 9 "CHRONICLE." SHARING STORIES MANY DIEHARD FANS MAY NOT KNOW. SO LET’S START FROM THE VERY BEGINNIN >> THAT IS JUST WHAT WE USED TO DO. WE USED TO DRY OUR CLOTHES ON THE CLOTHESLIN >> ♪ I WAS BORN IN NOVEMBE EIGHTH DAY, 19 71ST. IN THE MORNING, A CHRISTIAN GIRL IN KANSAS CITY GAVE BIRTH, ♪ ♪ >> RODE MY BIG WHEEL DOWN HERE TO REDUCE TO HAVE A BIG WHEEL. LARA: KNOWN TO MANY AS THE K THE CLOWN, OR THE G, BUT HE WAS -- HE PREFERS THE NAME TECH N9NE. BUT HE WAS BORN AARON YATES. A KID RAISED IN ONE OF THE TOUGHEST NEIGHBORHOODS IN KANSAS CITY >> 904 MICHIGAN. THIS IS WHERE I LIVE I SLEPT SOMETIMES IN MY GRANDMOTHER’S ROOM RIGHT THERE. SLEPT SOMETIMES IN MY UNCLE’S ROOM RIGHT THERE. MY GRANDMOTHER HAD EIGHT GIR AND FOUR BOYS. MOST OF THEM LIVED IN HERE A MY MOM, MY MOM HAD A PLACE UP THE STREET. I USED TO WALK FROM HERE UP THERE AND STAY WITH MY MOM AS WELL. BUT I WAS LOVED COMING DOWN TO MY GRANDMOTHER’S HOUSE BECAUSE ALL OF MY COUSINS WOULD BE HERE. MY UNCLE USED TO BUY ME BOXING GLOVES AND HE WOULD HAVE ME BOX THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD OF CHILDREN LARA: FROM A YOUNG AGE, AARON WAS SURROUNDED BY CHAOS AND VIOLENCE. >> MY MOM HAD AN ABUSIVE BOYFRIEN WE RAN ALL OVER KANSAS CITY AWAY FROM HIM. I WAS LIKE A NOMAD. SHE HAD AN ABUSIVE BOYFRIEND THAT WAS IN LOVE WITH HER AND HE PUT HER IN THE HOSPITAL. WE WOULD MOVE OVER TO KCK FOR WHILE WITH MY AUNTIE BECAUSE IT WAS SO TURBULENT LAURA: WERE YOU SCARED? >> OF COURSE. TO HEAR THEM FIGHTING IN THE NEXT ROOM. CRAZ IT WAS CRAZY. LARA: THAT SHE WAS A SURVIVOR. YOU >> OH YES, SHE WAS PATCHY -- SHE FOUGHT FOR A LONG TIME. LARA: GANGS AND DRUGS EVENTUALLY TOOK OVER. >> WE HEARD PEOPLE GETTING SHOT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS GOT SHO SOME OF THEM KILLE YOU KNOW? BUT, THAT HAPPEN IN THE STREET. LARA: BUT MUSIC, MUSIC WAS ALWAYS THERE. AS A POSSIBLE WAY OUT. ♪ >> I WOULD BREAKDANCE RIGHT THERE. PUT M LINOLEUM RIGHT THERE. I HIT MY HEAD ON THE BOTTOM STEP BUT IT DID NOT BUST OR ANYTHING. IT HURT PRETTY BAD. >> WALTER JEFFERSON LIVED RIGHT HERE ON THIS CORNER ON MICHIGAN. IN THIS ROOM IS WHERE HE NAMED ME TECH N9NE FROM THE GUNS AND AMMO BOOK. >> THAT IS WHY I CREATED TECH N9NE, TO BE THE COMPLETE TECHNIQUE OF RHINE. I WANTED TECH N9NE TO BE THE ULTIMA RAPPER THAT COULD DO EVERYTHING THAT COULD DO ROCK, THAT COULD DO GOSPEL, THAT COULD DO GANGSTER, THAT COULD DO COUNTRY IF I HAD TO. R&B. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN LARA: JIM MORRISON AND THE DOORS INSPIRED TECH AS A LITTLE BOY AND INTO ADULTHOOD >> ♪ STRANGE DAYS HAVE FOUND US ♪ ♪ >> THIS WOULD NOT BE A THING WITHOUT THE DOORS. >> ♪ STRANGE DAYS HAVE DRAGGED US DOWN ♪ ♪ >> STRANGE. PEOPLE ARE STRANGE. THE DOORS ARE HUGE INSPIRATION FOR ME. JIM MORRISON IN THE DOORS ARE A MASSIVE INSPIRATION. LARA: TRAVIS O’GUIN IS THE CO-FOUNDER OF STRANGE MUSI >> AND THAT IS WHEN HE TOLD ME ABOUT HOW HE HAD A PUBLISHING COMPANY AT THE TIME AND IT WAS CALLED EGN ART I’M LIKE, EXPLAIN THAT TO ME. AND HE GOES, THAT IS STRANGE BACKWARDS. AND GOES, THE REASON I DID NOT USE STRANGE IS BECAUSE IF I EVER GET TO DO MY OWN RECORD LABEL, I WANT TO CALL IT STRANGE MUSIC. >> FRED WREC ROBBIE KRIEGER RAY. DON DENSMORE. TECH N9NE. AND MR. JIM MORRISON. >> HE GOT TO DO THE REMAINING MEMBERS WITH JIM MORRIS AND ON THE CHORUS >> I WILL COME UP WITH A MELODY THAT IS WITHIN THE CHORDS YOU ARE DOING ALREADY. IT WILL MATCH. >> I GOT YOU. >> IT WILL MATCH. >> I WAS IN THE BOOTH DOING MY PART WHERE JIM WOULD USUALLY BE WITH ALL OF THEM OUT THERE LOOKING AT ME. I WAS SO NERVOUS. YOU CAN’T AMOUNT TO JI BUT I WAS DOING MY REP AND THEY ENJOYED IT. -- RAP AND THEY ENJOYED IT ♪ >> IT WAS BEAUTIFUL. BECAUSE IT IS NOT WRITTEN IN BLOOD THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THE PEOPLE THAT INSPIRED YOU AS A YOUNGSTER. AND I WAS ABLE TO DO THA MILESTONE. I BREAK DOWN BARRIERS BECAUSE CULTURE WILL SAY, YOU ARE BLACK, YOU LISTEN TO THIS, YOU ARE WHITE, YOU LISTEN TO THI LATINA YOU LISTEN TO THIS, BEAUTIFU MUSIC SHOULD BE BEAUTIFUL MUSIC. AND I WORK WITH PEOPLE THAT I DEEM TALENTED AND DO BEAUTIFUL MUSI >> ♪ RUDOLPH THE RED NOS REINDEER ♪ ♪ LARA: FAME AND SUCCESS DIDN’T COME EASY. TECH WAS SIGNED TO MULTIPLE RECORD DEALS. BUT MAJOR LABELS HAD NO IDEA WHAT TO DO WITH SOMEONE SO ECCLETIC >> NONE OF IT PANNED OUT. I WAS DIFFERENT. NOBODY KNOWS WHAT TO DO WITH DR. STRANGE. SO, WHEN I MET TRAVIS IN 1999, HE WAS A FAN OF DR. STRANGE. ♪ >> THE VERY FIRST SHOWS WE DID I SAID HEY, I HAVE AN ARTIST, WOULD ALWAYS A ARTIST, NOT A RAPPER. AND I WANTED TO SEE IF WE COULD BOOK YOUR VENUE AND DO A SHOW. WHO IS YOUR ARTIST? HIS NAME IS TECH N9NE. AND THEY ARE LIKE, GONE TECH N9NE? OH, HE’S A RAPPER? I’M LIKE, YEAH, HE’S A HIP-HOP ARTIST AND THEY ARE LIKE, WE DON’T DO THAT MUSIC HERE. I WOULD GET THERE HERE AND THEY WOULD COMMIE BACK, I GOT ONLINE, IS THIS THE REDHEADED SPIKE HAIRED GUY WITH FACE PAINT WEARING A PREACHER’S ROBE? I’M LIKE, YEAH, THAT’S HIM. YEP. WHAT DID YOU THINK? NOPE! LARA: THEY MADE IT INTO VENUES BY MAKING ONE PROMISE. >> IF ONE THING GOES WRONG DURING THE PERFORMANCE, YOU KEEP ALL OF THE MONEY WE WOULD GO, DO THE SHOW, AN EVERYTHING WOULD GO PERFECTLY. TECH AND I WOULD STAY BACK, SHAKE THE HANDS OF EVERY BARTENDER, EVERY SECURITY, THE JANITORS, HELP, CLEANUP. AND THEN THAT WOULD SPREAD AND THAT SAME CLUB OWNER WHO HUNG UP THE PHONE ON ME AT FIRST WOULD BE LIKE, WHEN ARE YOU GUYS COMING BACK THROUGH? ♪ >> THAT TURNED INTO BUILDING THE ABSOLUTE BEST REPUTATION A TOURING IN THE BUSINESS. PERIOD. NOT JUST INDEPENDENT MUSIC, BUT PERIOD. WE WERE HELD IN THE HIGHEST REGARD. LARA: IT’S PART OF WHAT’S MADE TECH N9NE THE MOST SUCCESSFUL INDEPENDENT RAPPER IN THE WORLD. >> THE ROAD IS WILD. IF YOU DO NOT KNOW HOW T CONTROL IT YOU MAY LOSE CONTROL OF THE WHEEL. LOSING CONTROL CAME QUICKL >> BOOM WE HIT, FLIP 5 TIMES ALL THE WINDOWS START BREAKING OUT IN THE VAN AND I’M LIKE OH GOD, OH GOD WHILE WE’RE FLIPPING, THEN FINALLY WE STOP. LARA: TECH N9NE’S ROAD HAS BROUGHT HIM FACE-TO-FACE WITH DEATH MORE THAN ONCE IN MORE THAN ONE WAY. >> EVERYBODY AROUND ME ALWAYS THINK THEY KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON INSIDE MY MIND. LARA: WHEN KMBC 9 CHRONICLE CONTINUES. ♪ >> I’M A CREATION OF SOMETHING NE WITH LOVE, POSITIVITY, AND HOPE FROM NOTHING, LET ME INVITE YO TO MY PLANET ♪ LARA: RAPPER TECH N9NE HAS COME A LONG WAY SINCE HIS DAYS AS A LITTLE BOY IN KANSAS CITY’S WAYNE MINER PROJECTS. BUT AS HIS STAR GREW IN THE MUSIC BUSINESS, THE THREAT OF DEATH WASN’T FAR BEHIND. LARA: AFTER MULTIPLE FAILED RECORD DEALS, TECH N9NE WAS FINALLY BRINGING HIS BRAND OF STRANGE MUSIC TO THE MASSE LARA: THE SPOTLIGHT BROUGHT SUCCESS AND OPENED UP A WORLD OF DARKNESS A WORLD THAT LED TECH TO DRUGS. >> BUT I JUST WANTED TO ESCAPE FROM MY REALITY. MY REALITY WAS I WAS TRYING BE A NEW ARTIST AND NOBODY GOT THE CRAZY STRANGE PERSON AND IT WAS, IT WAS DISCOURAGIN SO THAT PILL IN THAT PIECE O PAPER, ACID, AND SHROOMS, ALL THAT STUFF PUT ME IN AN ALTERED STATE. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? I DON’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT NOTHING. ♪ >> I SAW MYSELF DYING. SO I HAD TO QUIT ON MY OWN AND MY PARTNER, TRAVIS, HE GOT A WHIFF OF I LIKE DUDE, I’M NOT GOING TO BE INVOLVED WITH ANYONE WHO WIL KILL THEMSELVES WITH DRUGS. I’M LIKE, NEVER ME. NEVER ME HE WOULD SEE ME LIKE DUDE, I CAN’T DO THIS. IT’S BAD, TEC NOBODY WAS SUPPOSED TO SEE THAT OUTSIDE OF ME. >> COULDN’T WATCH SOMEBODY THAT I REALLY CARED FOR KILL THEMSELVES. IT ALLOWED HIM TO REALIZE THAT WE WERE ON OUR WAY TO SOMETHING REALLY SPECIAL. AND YOU ARE ABOUT TO COMPLETELY DERAIL AND DISREGARD IT. HE STOPPED AND HE STOPPED COLD TURKEY. AND NEVER LOOKED BACK. >> I HAVE BEEN CLEAN FOR DECADE DECADE AND SOME YEARS. ♪ LARA: OVERCOMING ADDICTION PUT TECH BACK ON THE ROAD TO SUCCESS. BUT THAT ROAD WOULD THREATEN HIS LIFE ONCE AGAIN. LARA: ON A SNOWY HIGHWAY IN MONTANA WHILE HEADING TO A SHOW. >> WE HIT A BIT OF ICE. >> WE WERE SLIDING FURTHER AND FURTHER TOWARD THE EMBANKMEN >> THE GUYS THAT HAD AN ACCIDENT, AND I’M LIKE, WHAT THE -- WHAT DO YOU MEA FLIPPED THE VAN FIVE TIMES I AM LIKE, WHO IS DEAD? >> FINALLY WE STOPPED. LARA: SEVERAL STRANGE MUSIC ARTISTS WERE IN THE VAN INCLUDING KRIZZ KALIKO. >> WE WENT OVER THE BRIDGE, SLID SIDEWAYS, THE TRAILER PULLED US OVER THE SIDE, WE FLIPPED OVER FIVE TIMES I WENT OUT OF THE WINDOW. IT EJECT ME OUT OF THE VAN. WEIRDLY ENOUGH, AND BACK INTO THE VAN. I WENT OUT, AND I REMEMBER TOUCHING THE GROUND, I TOUCHED THE GRASS. WHEN WE STOPPED, I HAD GRASS AND MUD IN MY TEETH. I REMEMBER THINKING, MY MOTHER IS GOING TO BE SO UPSET WHEN I -- WHEN SHE FINDS OUT I DIED TODA THAT IS ALWAYS -- ALL I WAS THINKING. >> THEN I FELT, BOOM >> I’M YELLING OUT, ARE YOU ALL RIGH >> TURNED AROUND, TECH WAS OUT LIKE THIS WITH BLOOD COMING OUT OF HIS MOUTH. I TOUCHED HIM AND SAID, TECH. I’M LIKE, HE’S DEAD GOT TO BE DEAD. NICK HAD TO RIP THE DOOR OPEN. NICK WAS A HUGE HUMAN BEING. 6’6", 500 POUNDS HE RIPS THE DOORS OPENED, TH IS WHEN I SAY, TECH IS BLEEDING. I’M LIKE, PLEASE GET UP. HE JUST GOES, IT IS GOOD TO BE IN GOD’S GRACE IS AND I’M LIKE, -- I CUSSED HIM OUT. DON’T PLAY LIKE THAT. HE WAS LIKE, I WAS OUT. I JUST HEARD YOU SCREAMING. WHAT IS KRIZZ CRYING ABOU I DROPPED TO THE GROUND AND STARTED THANKING GOD ON THE SNOW AND OUR VAN WAS COMING DOWN LIKE THIS. >> EVERYBODY SOMEHOW JUST HAD MINOR CUTS AND MINOR BRUISES. NOBODY BROKE A BONE. NOBODY HAD LIFE-THREATENING INJURIES. NO INTERNAL INJURIES AND I’M LIKE, WOW, SUPER LUCKY. >> THE AMBULANCE, THEY SAID WERE ALL BLESSED TO STILL BE ALIVE AFTER FLIPPING FIVE TIMES. >> TRAVIS COMES IN IS LIKE --YOU WANT STILL DO THE SHOW? I’M LIKE, NO. TECH IS LIKE, WE ARE NOT HURT, DRINK SOMEONE. >> I FOUND A CHARTER AND IT WAS A TURBOPROP. I HAD TO TELL KRIZZ THIS, HE’S FEARFUL OF FLYING. >> WE ARE ALREADY TRAUMATIZED AND WE GET IN THIS LITTLE PLANE WHERE WE HAD TO DUCK TO FL I WAS STARING AT TECH THE WHOLE TIME LIKE, AND HE JUST KEP POINTING LIKE, GOD DID NOT LET US LIVE TODAY TO KILL US THIS AFTERNOON. WE’RE COOL. >> WE STILL DID THE SHOW THAT SAME NIGHT. >> SHOWED UP TO SPOKANE AND PLAY THE SHOW. WE POPPED CHAMPAGNE TO CELEBRATE ON STAGE. >> WE HAVE NEVER MISSED A SHOW. NEVER. WE HAVE NEVER MISSED A SHOW. IN 1 YEARS, WE HAVE NEVER MISSED A SHOW. ♪ LARA: ONE OF THE BIGGEST INSPIRATIONS IN TECH’S MUSIC, HIS MOTHER. >> ♪ SHE CARRIED ME WHEN SHE WAS 15. HAD ME WHEN SHE WAS REMINISCING ON HOW WELL SHE DID THINGS GOT ONE POPPED ON 11/8/ SHE HAD THIS KING ♪ ♪ LARA: BUT LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE, THIS INSPIRATION WOULD BECOME AN INTERNAL STRUGGLE FOR TECH. THAT HE CARRIES TO THIS DAY. LARA: WELCOME BACK TO KMBC 9 "CHRONICLE" AND THE HOUSE THAT TECH N9NE BUILT. THEY ARE CELEBRATING 20 YEARS IN IN 2019. A MUSIC COMPANY BUILT BY TWO MEN TECH N9NE AND TRAVIS O’GUIN. BUT NOTHING WOULD BE POSSIBLE I WITHOUT THE HIGH CALIBER OF ARTISTS THAT HAVE SIGNED WITH THE LABEL. FAMI THEY BUILT A FAMILY AND FRIENDSHIPS THAT PROVE THEY CAN GET THROUGH ANYTHING. DECO WE HAVE STRANGE MUSIC. WE WILL BE RIGHT THERE IN IT. ALTHOUGH STREAMING SERVICES MAKE IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. WE WILL PREVAIL AND TAKE OVER ALL FACETS OF THE MUSIC INDUST LARA: TAKING OVER IS JUST WHAT STRANGE MUSIC IS DOING. LEADING THE CHARGE, KANSAS CITY RAPPER TECH N9NE AND THE M ALMOST ALWAYS BY HIS SID STRANGE MUSIC ARTIST KRIZZ KALIKO. ♪ >> PEOPLE THINK WE ARE A DUO BUT REALLY, PEOPLE THINK WE ARE TECH N9NE. THEY THINK THE TWO OF US ARE TECH N9NE BECAUSE YOU DON’T REALLY SEE -- IF YOU COME TO THE SHOW, YOU DON’T SEE HIM WITHOUT ME. THERE IS ALWAYS THIS COMPETITI THAT MAKES US STAY ON TOP OF OUR GAME YOU KNOW? AND IT HAS BEEN LIKE THAT SINCE THE BEGINING AND STILL TODAY, I’M LIKE, I HAVE TO ONE UP. LARA: TECH AND KRIZZ MET IN THE LATE 1990’ >> I WAS THINKING, I’M GOING TO PUT HIM ON THE SONG BECAUSE I PAID TECH TO BE ON THE SONG AND HE LIKED WHAT I DID. WE DID SONG AFTER SONG. HE INVITED ME TO DO A WHOLE ALBUM. AND THAT WAS -- I MET HIM IN 1999. WE STARTED TOURING THE VERY END OF 200 AND WE HAVE BEEN DOING IT EV SINCE. WE ARE LIKE 20 YEARS. LARA: THEIR BOND IS STRONG THAN FRIENDSHIP. THEY’RE FAMILY. BROTHERS. >> I CALL HIM MR. BIG BOI. HE IS A SMALLER GUY BUT HI VOICE IS HUGE. YOU THINK HE IS AN AGGRESSIV PERSON LISTENING TO HIM RAP. BUT HE IS ACTUALLY PRETTY SOFT SMOKE -- SOFT SPOKEN. VERY POLITE. MORE PASSIVE THAN AGGRESSIVE. AND I AM THE OPPOSIT I SEE WHAT I WANT AND I DON’T MIND SPEAKING UP. AND I DON’T MIND SPEAKING UP ON HIS BEHALF EITHER. IT HAS GOT ME INTO TROUBLE BACK IN THE DAY. >> I HAVE TO USE THE LITTLE BOYS ROOM. >> I GOT MY FIRST PLATINUM ONE RIGHT HERE. I’M GOING TO PUT THAT UP TOP. I JUST GOT THAT ONE SO I HID IT OVER THERE. LARA: HIS LIFE LOOKS DIFFERENT FROM WHEN HE WAS GROWING UP. A LITTLE BOY CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE OF VIOLENCE DRUGS AN CHAOS, TO LIVING IN LEAWOOD KANSAS, ONE OF THE MOST AFFLUENT CITIES IN THE COUNTRY. >> COMING FROM NOTHING, YOU GROW TO APPRECIATE LIFE AND LOVE AND THE PEOPLE THAT CARE. THAT IS HOW YOU FIND THEN. -- ZEN. BUT WHEN YOU FIND ZEN, YOU WANT TO GIVE IT TO EVERYONE ELS I WILL KEEP DOING MY JOB CREATE -- AND CREATE THAT LIGHT THAT I HAVE WITHIN ME. LARA: AND YOU CAN SEE IT IN YOUR EYES. >> YES. LARA: I ALWAYS LOOK FOR THAT. >> I DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU SE BUT EYES ARE THE WINDOW TO THE SOUL. I’M BRIGHT. LARA: AS FOR WHAT THE FUTURE MAY HOLD -- ♪ LARA: KANSAS CITY WILL BE AT THE CENTER OF IT ALL. AND FOR ALL THE TECHNICIANS OUT THERE, A SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM TECH N9N ESPECIALLY FOR YOU >> SATURDAY MORNING, I ATE GOT TO WORK. ." >> WE DON’T RUSH ANYTHIN -- >> >> WE DON’T RUSH ANYTHING. AND WE DON’T TAKE ANY SHORTCUTS AT ALL. LARA: THE STRANGE MUSIC EMPIRE SPRAWLS OUT ACROSS SEVERAL THOUSAND ACRES IN LEE’S SUMMIT. ♪ LARA: EVERY NOTE IS RECORDED IN THESE STUDIOS. ♪ LARA: EVERY T-SHIRT IS PRINTED HERE. EVERY SINGLE ONE >> ALL OF THE PRINTING IS DONE IN THIS BUILDING. A LONG TIME AGO WE START TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, HOW CAN WE CONTROL QUALITY BETTER AND HOW CAN WE GET ENOUGH VOLUME LARA: SO WHEN YOU BUY THAT CD OR T-SHIRT AT A STRANGE MUSIC CONCERT ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, KNOW IT WAS CREATED AND MADE READY TO SELL RIGHT HERE AT HOME. >> WE DO AS MUCH STUFF HERE LEE’S SUMMIT AS WE POSSIBLY CAN. AND WE ARE ALWAYS INVESTING NEW EQUIPMENT THAT WILL ALLOW US TO DO MORE WE ARE REALLY PARTICULAR. OVERLY PARTICULAR. WE WANT PEOPLE TO HAVE A GREAT EXPERIENCE SO THEY WILL COME BACK AND HAVE ANOTHER ONE. ♪ LARA: TECH N9NE HAS WRITTEN LOVE LETTER TO KANSAS CITY. >> MY INSPIRATION FOR MANY IDE LARA: THAT IS NEXT ONE KMBC 9 "CHRONICLE" CONTINUES. >> TOGETHER WE ARE A POWERFUL FORCE AS ONE MIND, BODY, AND SOU NO EVIL WILL ENTER BECAUSE OF THE BELIEFS WE HOLD. AND WITH THIS LOVE, WE WOR PAIN AND STRESS. TECHNICIAN I AM, WHOLEHEARTEDLY. LARA: AS TECH N9NE’S STAR ROSE, HIS FANS KNOWN AS TECHNICIANS HELPED FUEL HIS SUCCESS. LARA: IN 2018, TECH N9NE BROKE THE RECORD FOR HAVING THE MOST TOP TEN RAP ALBUMS BY ANY ARTIST ON THE BILLBOARD CHARTS. AND TECHNICIANS WEREN’T THE ONLY ONES TAKING NOTICE. LARA: MAINSTREAM ARTISTS NOW WANTED TO COLLABORATE AND BRIN TECH’S BRAND OF STRANGE MUSIC TO PEOPLE WHO HAD NEVER HEARD ANYTHING LIKE IT BEFOR >> JONATHAN DAVIS OF COR COREY TAYLOR OF SLIPKNOT. IT GOES ON FOREVER. >> TECH HAD FINALLY TRIUMPHED OVER THOSE DEALS AND L.A.. STRANGE MUSIC MADE HIM A STAR AND SOON HOLLYWOOD CAME CALLING ONCE AGAIN. LARA: TECH MADE HIS MOVIE DEBUT IN THE 2016 HORROR MUSICAL "ALLELUIA THE DEVIL’S CARNIVAL." LARA: BUT EVEN WITH WORLDWIDE FAME, TECH N9NE AND STRANGE MUSIC ARE STILL ALL ABOUT KANSAS CITY. LARA: THE CITY HAS SHAPED TECH N9NE INTO WHO HE IS TODAY. >> THIS IS WHERE I AM MO COMFORTABLE, KANSAS CITY. WHEN I AM GONE FOR A LONG TIME ON TOUR OR WHATEVER, WHEN I GET BACK, IT FEELS SO GOOD TO SEE THE SKYLINE COMING FR THE AIRPORT, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? HOME, FIRST THING YOU THIN GO, CHICKEN, G I HAVE TO GET EVERYTHING I CAN GET WHEN I’M OUT OF HERE. LARA: AND IN A LOT OF WAYS TECH HAS ALSO SHAPED KANSAS CITY. >> I WRITE MY LIFE. LIFE INSPIRES ME TO WRITE MY STORIES. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? I THINK THAT’S WHY WE ARE STI RELEVANT HERE, BECAUSE I’M GOING TO KEEP WRITING MY LIFE. MY LIFE IS NOT GOING TO STOP ANYTIME SOON BRING PEOPLE TOGETHE IF WE CAN DO IT IN MY SHOW IN THE VENUE, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO DO IT IN LIFE COME OUT HERE, OUTSIDE THE VENUE. BECAUSE MUSIC BRINGS US ALL TOGETHER EVERYBODY IS LAUGHING, THERE IS NO COLOR BOUNDARIES, THERE IS NO NOTHIN >> WE LOVE IT. WE CARRY KANSAS CITY ON OUR BACKS AROUND THE WORLD. WHEN WE GET TO DUBLIN NEXT TUESDAY, THAT IS HOW WE TEST THE WATERS FROM BACKSTAGE. WE ARE LIKE, DUBLI KC. WE ARE READY TO ROCK WE GOT IT, WE ARE READY TO ROCK. LARA: ARTISTS SIGNED TO THE STRANGE MUSIC LABEL ALL HAVE ONE THING IN COMMON. RAW TALENT AND A RARE DEPTH OF CHARACTER. ♪ LARA: UBI IS PART OF THE STANGE DUO CES CRU. AND IS WORKING ON HIS FIRST SOLO ALBUM. >> THAT IS NICE, MAN. THAT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS MIXED, JOSH. >> IT IS. >> I LOVE STORY TELLING MUSIC. I LOVE MUSIC WITH SUBSTANCE THAT WILL CHANGE THE WAY YOU THINK OR MAKE YOU THINK. THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS I LIKE TECH SO MUCH IS BECAUSE THE CONNECTIVITY AND THE FEELING IN HIS MUSIC IS POWERFUL. >> WE SET THE STANDARD FOR THE EXECS. NOW THEY MAKE ANY OTHER ARTIST THAT COMES ALONG LIVE UP TO THAT SAME STANDARD. OTHERWISE YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GET HERE. LARA: SOMETIMES ALREADY PART OF THE FAMILY. LARA: 19-YEAR-OLD MACKENZIE NICOLE IS THE FIRST ARTIST ON THE NEW ARM OF STRANGE MUSIC. STRANGE MAINE. ♪ LARA: SHE IS ALSO THE DAUGHTER OF TRAVI >> THE WHOLE TRUTH OF WHAT I’M TRYING TO DO IS I’M AN OPE SINGER TRYING TO DO A RAP BAND. LARA: MACKENZIE HAS KNOWN TECH N9NE HER ENTIRE LIFE HER DAD DIDN’T WANT HER JOINING THE FAMILY BUSINESS. >> I DID NOT WANT HER GETTING INTO THIS. I DIDN’T WANT HER IN THIS BUSINESS. BUT THERE IS NO STOPPING HER. I COULD SAY, I’M OUT. AND THERE IS NO NEPOTISM. I MADE IT REALLY HARD FOR HER EVERY STEP OF THE WAY IN HOPES SHE WOULD GO AHEAD -- YOU HA TO GET ACCEPTED IN IVY LEAGUE SCHOOLS, DO THAT. WE WENT TO PRINCETON THREE TIMES. I HAVE TO CHASE HER AROUND THE WORLD RIGHT NO THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE HAPPENING. SHE IS REALLY GROUNDED. SHE JUST TURNED 19. BUT SHE IS ABSOLUTELY AWESOME. LARA: AS MACKENZIE’S STAR RISES, HER DAD AND TECH ARE IN HER CORNER. >> WHEN I’M ON STAGE, I REMEMBER MY DAD AND TECH OR LIKE HEY, DURING THE PAUSE WHEN YOU PERFORM DARK SIDE, THROW SOME CDS. UNLIKE, THROW THEM CDS? WHAT IF THEY DON’T LIKE ME? WHAT IF EVERYONE IS LIKE, -- I GO OVER AND PICK THEM UP AND HOLD ONE UP, AND PROBABLY 50 PEOPLE ARE LIKE, YEA AND I’M LIKE, YOU LIKE ME, YOU DON’T HATE M ? ME BEING AROUND TECH ALL THESE YEARS MADE ME KNOW HOW TO BE A CELEBRITY. ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS OF TECH THAT I LEARNED WAS TO BE YOURSELF. >> YOU WANT TO TAKE A PICTURE? >> IF YOU ARE YOURSELF YOU DON’T HAVE TO TURN IT ON HE IS LIKE, YOU ARE GOOD ENOUGH AND I PICKED YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE A STAR. YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE ON HERE ACTING EXTRA WHAT PEOPLE THINK RAPPERS AR YOU DON’T HAVE TO TALK WITH A BUNCH OF SLIDE. YOU ARE AN INTELLIGENT DUDE, TALK LIKE THAT. ANYONE WHO WANTS A PICTURE, AUTOGRAPH, I ALWAYS STOP. IN RESTAURANTS, I HAVE BEEN IN CHURCH AND PEOPLE ARE LIKE, CAN I TAKE A PICTURE? I’M LIKE, REAL QUICK EVERYBODY IS PRAYING. REAL QUICK. >> THIS IS OUR HOME. KANSAS CITY IS ONE OF THOSE TOWNS, WHEN I TALKED TO OTHE PEOPLE, YOU GUYS HAVE A LOT OF HOMETOWN PRIDE. UNLIKE YEAH -- I AM LIKE YEAH, OUR TEAM IS DOING BETTER. IT STACKS THAT UP. WHEN THE ROYALS WIN THE WORLD SERIES, THAT WAS LIKE, CRIME STOPPED IN KANSAS CITY. HOW DOES THAT -- I HAVE NEVE HEARD OF THAT. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF A CITY THAT THEIR BASEBALL TEAM IS GOING TO THE WORLD SERIES SO CRIME STOP THERE IS A LOT OF LOVE EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A LOT OF STUFF THAT GOES ON. CRIME AND HARD TIMES AND STUFF. I THINK THERE IS HOMETOWN PRIDE IN KANSAS CITY. WE FEEL IT AND TAKE IT EVERYWHERE WITH US. ♪ LARA: THE PROOF IS 4,000 PEOPLE ON THIS DARK AND STORMY NIGHT READY TO ROCK OUT WITH TECH N9NE IN THE POWER AND LIGHT DISTRIC >> THANK YOU, KANSAS CITY, FOR GIVING ME SO MUCH OPPORTUNITY SINCE MY FIRST JOB AT THE AGE OF 14 TO THE OWNERSHIP OF MY BUSINESS, STRANGE MUSIC. AND I LOVE THIS PLACE. YOU HAVE EMBRACED ME EVER SINCE I FIRST STEPPED ON STAGE AND -- IN FOURTH GRADE ALL THE W TO 70,000 ATTENDANCE HERE AT ROCKFEST. MY BIGGEST CROWD TO DATE. A LOT OF LOVE. YOU ARE MY COMFORT ZONE, MY INSPIRATION FOR MANY MAJOR IDEAS, AND THE PLACE WHERE I CAN FIND THE LOVE FOR MY MANY WONDERFUL RELATIVES. THANK YOU FOR TAKING CARE OF ME AND KEEPING ME SAFE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR [APPLAUS >> THAT IS A BLESSING I WILL NEVER FORGET ALL OF THIS LOVE YOU HAVE SHOWN ME OVER ALL OF THESE YEARS. KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI. >> I LOVE YOU KANSAS CITY. LOVE AARON D YATES, AKA TECH N9NE. ♪ SECOND -- >> TECH N9NE IS T WORLD’S MOST SUCCESSFUL INDEPENDENT RAPPER. AN ACHIEVEMENT THAT DIDN’T COME EASILY. WE WANT TO THANK TECH N9NE F OPENING UP AND TELLING HIS STORY TO KMBC "CHRONICLE." AND SPECIAL THANKS TO EVERYONE AT STRANGE MUSIC FOR THEIR HEL WITH THIS PROJEC CHRONICLE IS A SERIES OF SPECIAL IN-DEPTH REPORTS THAT WE WILL BRING YOU THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. UP NEXT, KMBC 9’S MATT FLENER HAS A STORY ABOUT THE SECRETS AND TRUTHS THAT ARE HIDING IN OUR DNA. MATT? MATT: 23 PAIRS OF CHROMOSOMES MAKE UP OUR DNA. THE PERSON WE ARE. BUT WHAT IF SOME OF THOSE CHROMOSOMES WERE QUESTION MARKS? THAT’S THE CASE FOR ONE LOCAL WOMAN WHO TOOK A SIMPLE TEST TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HER FAMILY’S HISTORY. AS THOSE QUESTIONS ARE ANSWERED, IT OPENED A WORLD SHE NEVER EXPECTED >> THIS YEAR ON CHRONICLE, A MAKEUP ARTIST GRANTS KMBC 9 NEWS ACCESS TO HER DNA PROFILE. IT IS AMAZING AND TROUBLING WHAT SHE UNCOVERS ABOUT HER FAMILY THROUGH A SIMPLE DNA TEST. >> IT IS THE MOST ACHY -- ICKY FEELIN BECAUSE THAT PERSON IS A PART OF WHAT CREATED YOU. THIS STORY FOLLOWS MELISSA AS SHE DISCOVERS HER ADOPTION STORY. >> ALL MY GOSH. -- OH MY GOSH. >> ALL THE WAY TO AN AIRPORT MEETING WITH A SISTER SHE HAS NEVER MET. >> SO MUCH IS HAPPENING IN A SHORT TIME SINCE I HAVE TAKEN THAT TEST. I AM SCARED ABOUT WHAT WE COULD UNCOVER BECAUSE I DO NOT THINK SHE AND I ARE THE ONLY ONES OUT THERE. >> KMBC "CHRONICLE: DNA DISCOVERIES" AIRS THURSDAY, APRIL 18 AT HERE ON KMBC 9. >> SOME OF THEM ARE MISSING. CASEY, BABY. >> FOR AN EVEN DEEPER LOOK AT TECH N9NE, WE HAVE SEVERAL DIGITAL EXTRAS FROM "THE KING, THE CLOWN, AND THE G" ON KMBC.COM. >> I DO NOT REGRET BUILDING THIS. >> YOU’LL FIND EXTENDED INTERVIEWS, AN EXCLUSIVE TOUR OF TECH’S HOME, AND A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF ALL THE MUSIC FR TONIGHT’S EPISODE ALL AT KMBC.COM ♪ KC HOM . As found on Youtube Read the full article

☺ Happy 🎂 Birthday 2018 🎤🎹🎧🎸🎷🎺🎻🎬🎥📹📡📺📻💿📀💻📱✈🚍🎉🎊🎈@therealtechn9ne #TechN9ne #AaronDontezYates #AaronYates #DontezYates http://leonsearch.com #strangemusicinc #StrangeMusic @catalystclub @hanes #Hanes @nike #Nike @sharpie #KCMO #KCMOAnthem #TechNine #Tech9 #TheCatalyst #Catalyst #CatalystClub #SantaCruz #831 http://gooyabing.com Thanks @makeagif shout out to: @therealmackenzienicole😘 📷: @strangemusicinc (at The Catalyst Club) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bp5ce_WHz6T/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1c66r5im6lr3v