Surprisingly, for a guy who is 15 albums in, Tech N9NE hasn’t run out of ways to express his feelings in rhymes.
With his drama, face paint, machine gun flow and searing emotion, is like the the operatic star of hip-hop. His lyrics are vulnerable, the production heart-pounding and experience so authentic itap surreal. And thatap what makes Tech N9NE one of the most financially successful independent artists in the industry. “Special Effects” is Tech N9NE’s 15th studio album, making for an impressive run of bated breaths and multi-syllabic rhymes.
The first half of the project is melancholy, the rhymes dripping with grief over the loss of his mother. He talks about performing in Denver at Summer Jam after learning the news and how he left his heart on the stage. The track “Lacrimosa” (a Latin word that means “weeping”) paints the picture of stress Tech has been under in the past year as he worked through the grieving process.
Tech N9NE rules the underground, but this album is full of mainstream acts who get their chance to act like rap ghouls alongside Tech N9ne, the demon-slayer. You get the impression that 2 Chainz, TI, Lil Wayne and certainly Eminem have wanted to make music this explicit, because their features are almost comical. TI is likely not carrying a gun, Lil Wayne doesn’t do drugs anymore and Eminem reportedly no longer hates his mother. Their individual appearances on this project would have you think otherwise, and that Tech brought it out of them.
“Strange Effects” is a classic Tech N9NE fan’s album with every line and transition between verses feeling like a moment in live show. His punchlines are like pyrotechnics, the skits dark and disturbing with humor. Surprisingly, for a guy who is 15 albums in, Tech N9NE hasn’t run out of ways to express his feelings in rhymes. The undertone of angst in all of his music remains a motif and shows out in sophomoric ways on “Strange Effects.” The track “Psycho Bitch” leans on boring stereotypes about women and “Wither” is something out of Staind’s formula, word to 2001. If you like it, itap because you love Tech N9NE and if you don’t like it, consider yourself outnumbered.
