I ran scrimmage and I fought to the damn finishĪnd I popped eyes open without eating me canned spinach “Real rock rap and not to Xerox weird notĮnough to make you fear a lot from here watch Tinkling piano keys set to a slow handclap create a low-key platform for Nina to tell the listener what he is and has been about as the public only just seem to be catching on after Tech’s twenty-odd years in the game. The first verse may be familiar to anybody that saw Tech’s appearance at this year’s BET cypher but it is far more suited to in-house producer Seven’s subtly brilliant beat. Kutt Calhoun and Jay Rock come through over the Dre-like production of “Kocky” before Tech N9ne himself slows the pace down for the first release from the LP, “Who Do I Catch”. As I listened to this album, I became more and more impressed with Kaliko, none more so than on “Unfair” where among the company of Tech and fellow Kansas City spitters Ces Cru, he delivers arguably the strongest verse on a lyrically airtight track. This also serves as the newcomer’s introduction to Krizz Kaliko himself and his presence is heavily felt on this album, either rapping or singing on most of the fifteen songs on display here. My team captain is you Nina I’m the first lieutenantĮnjoy your visit this is Strangeland that you invented” Waterfalls in Strangeland go up, filled with streams of Caribou Lou I wasn’t really in to rap or into rap cause I seen too many falls This is the temple of makin’ it look simple to ya’ll We past ya long ago, ya concentrate on rappin’ faster Them G-O-D’s and we can bless ya like we was a pastor We been seein’ lots of cats copyin’ ya not The big swingin’ cocks of rap, r&b and rock We done strugglin’ we forced our way in and forced to weigh in We just the lost boys like we sons of Donald Sutherland Shear stroke of genius since we appeared out the penis On this fear that is fearin’ us, spear chuckers that love to bust You can hear how we kill everyone, we’re helter skelter Krizz Kaliko: “Now here is a beautiful world for you to enter This leads straight into the title track where long-term affiliate Krizz Kaliko greets Tech and indeed the listener and welcomes them to Strangeland. “Stars” is a strong start to the album as Seven’s twinkling and atmospheric track provides the perfect backdrop for Tecca Nina’s stuttering, stop-start, rapid-fire delivery to describe his voyage to Strangeland. It is a concept album of sorts with Tech taking us on a journey through Strangeland and introducing us to his various labelmates along the way. It follows the format of its predecessors with Tech N9ne sharing microphone time with a host of guests and this time around it is his Strange Music family that step up. It’s also his second release of the year, following hot on the heels of “ All 6’s and 7’s“, and this is the fourth instalment of his ‘Collabos’ series. Despite a constantly crazy tour schedule which sees Mr Yates frequently cover the globe, “Welcome to Strangeland” is Tech’s FOURTEENTH studio album since 1999. Whether you are a fan of Aaron Yates aka Tech N9ne or not, there is no denying the man’s work ethic.