Tech N9ne Breaks Down Bad Season Track by Track

Photo courtesy of Ari Michelson
“Bad Season Skit”
I remember somebody said, “You got anything talking about the Whoo Kid thing?” I’m like, “I got everything, man.” You know, I write my life, we document everything. If I’m doin’ interviews you gon’ have that.

[Audio://townsquare.media/site/812/files/2010/12/01-Bad-Season-Skit.mp3]

Photo courtesy of Ari Michelson

“Table and Chest Stress”
The reason why the first song was so important me is because I’ve always got my core in mind. If I’m doin’ something totally different, with the more East Coast style beats that my fans are not more used to me rapping over, I have to keep my core in mind and put that first one to say, “Boaw!” The number one will get the core and the other people because it’s gonna be something that’s different. I always do that. That’s my formula. All my albums, the first song is gonna be the one that makes you want to listen to the album, you know what I’m sizzlin’? That’s why “Table and Chest Stress” was perfect because my fans are used to me spilling what I’m going through.

[Audio://townsquare.media/site/812/files/2010/12/02-Table-And-Chest-Stress1.mp3]

Photo courtesy of Ari Michelson

“Sex to the Beat.”
When I heard that beat, it sounded like it kinda reminded me of a song that Ludacris had did with Nicki Minaj, [“My Chick Bad”]; It had the same kind of instrument. Then I started listening to the heavy bass, I’m like, Ohh, I’d fuck the shit out of a bitch to this. Have sex to the beat. “See me on stage, lyrically or sexually engage/that’s what I give ‘em, strokes full of energy/Beat it like my enemy.” It’s just what the beat made me want to do. It sounded like something I remember a long time ago I used to do it to “Welcome to the Terror Dome” by Public Enemy. A bitch’ll get the shit fucked out of her on that back in the day with me. So, “Sex to the Beat” just remind me of something I would play while I was having sex real loud in my house. ’Cause I’ve got a big system in my house, you can play it down stairs and hear it all the way upstairs.

[Audio://townsquare.media/site/812/files/2010/12/03-Sex-to-the-Beat1.mp3]

Photo courtesy of Ari Michelson

“No More Music By the Suckas.”
As you know, I’m a Public Enemy fan. So when I heard this beat it was so vintage. At the very end of the beat it’s some sample that goes, “Yeah, yeah, yeah…” and it cuts off. And I’m like, Hold on. No more music by the suckas, nigga! No more music by the suckas, yeah, yeah, yeah… That’s all we had. I’m like, Yeah nigga, that’s way vintage. This is one of them boastful songs. Like, y’all ain’t fuckin’ with us for real. I guarantee you, no more music by the suckas in this world, in this Strange Land I’ve created. Like Chuck D said, “I guarantee you no more music by the suckas.” And that’s what that beat, the beat talked to me. And it was vintage. And that’s why the hook sounds like that.
[Audio://townsquare.media/site/812/files/2010/12/04-No-More-Music-by-the-Suckas.mp3]

Photo courtesy of Ari Michelson

“Bad Season”
That was the first one we did. That was the first beat that I heard. I was like, “Oh I dig that.” And it actually spoke to me and gave me the title before Whoo Kid left the studio. When I first listened to the beat it said “Bad Season” to me. That’s why I had the idea when he came in. I said, “Listen man, this beat told me it’s called “Bad Season” because the whole thing was like “Table and Chest Stress,” how everybody’s hurting around me, it’s a bad season for everything. It’s a recession, all of it’s tied together. The reason is that the major corporations is firing muthafuckas and hiring young muthafuckas that don’t know what they doin’. And the older muthafuckas that raised me is hurting and shit. So, that’s where that all comes from. The whole thing is a bad season. Everything’s good around me, but it’s a lot of bad.
[Audio://townsquare.media/site/812/files/2010/12/05-Bad-Season.mp3]

“Something to See”
That jazzy track, man. It was perfect because we all different cats. So that’s why we put Irv Da Phenom on it, because people like, “Does he want to rap? Does he wanna sing? What’s he gonna do?” So he does both. He is different. That was perfect for all of us. All of us are a sight to see. He’s on stage with Krizz Kaliko, so you know that’s a killer combination.
[Audio://townsquare.media/site/812/files/2010/12/06-Somethin-to-See.mp3]

“Ego Trippin’”
Never would have chosen that beat, ’cause right now I’m on heavy bass. If it has no pulse, it has no life. I always been on that. So when I hear that beat, it remind me of the “Wake Up Show.” We used to rap on the “Wake Up Show,” so that’s my MC roots. So I’m like that’s a dope beat MC-wise. When Kaliko put that hook on it, it don’t sound like him, they think it’s a woman on there. It’s like my whole story. People think I’m a devil worshipper and shit like that. Nigga, if you think you fuckin’ with this, don’t let your ego trip. So that was perfect after he put the hook on it. I’m like, That is a hit! Don’t let nobody else on it. That’s why I did two verses. I left the third verse open because they said that Whoo Kid would possibly put other people on it so I was gonna leave the third verse open, but they liked it so much that they only kept it at my two verses.
[Audio://townsquare.media/site/812/files/2010/12/07-Ego-Trippin.mp3]

“All Day All Night”
It was totally a hit. Krizz Kaliko came up with the chorus but he was like, What you want to be talking about? I was like, I want to talk about how I can’t go to the movies no more because people follow me in the movies and singin’ my songs behind me. That’s been goin’ on for years, but it’s getting worse to where they’re coming in from their movie and sitting five rows up and then they send a path down in the middle of the movie. It’s embarrassing like, “Wow, I can’t go to the movies no more.” Or I can’t go to the concession stand without takin’ a hundred pictures, meanwhile I’m tryna get to my movie on time. Or they follow me in the bathroom when I stop at a truck stop or something. They never know when they gonna see you again. And I ain’t got no problem with that because that’s what I asked for. Even though some times it’s nerve racking when you tryna get somewhere. I’m actually going through that to where I’ve gotta stay home now. Like when I got out to eat a restaurant with a young lady and the cooks come out and ask for pictures. I could go to a country bar way out in the sticks and I’m thinkin’ nobody know me, and soon as I walk in “Dun, da dun dun, Tech N9ne!” They playin’ it! I’m like, “Damn, how did you know?” I go to Wal-Mart and bitches is like, “Can I go home with you from Wal-Mart?” I’m like, “Baby, nah but take my number.” It’s crazy.
[Audio://townsquare.media/site/812/files/2010/12/08-All-Day-All-Night.mp3]

“Hard Liquor”
The hook was already on it when we got it. But I had no idea it was a Dr. Dre beat. I knew it sounded familiar; I’m like damn it’s the West Coast one. That was the first West Coast sounding one I had from Whoo Kid. I got it on the tour while I was on the E-40 tour. It turned into something huge a couple days ago because everybody knew it was a Dr. Dre beat that I guess Game was supposed to have a few years ago or something like that. And then Travis Barker’s the homie, he came through and played drums and guitar and just, Wow. The song spoke to me so I talked about how I ain’t really supposed to drink after they said my blood sugar was elevated. I ain’t supposed to drink a lot, like I was drinkin’ everyday. I’m talkin’ ‘bout on the tour, everywhere. When I eat dinner I’m usually drinkin’ sweet white wine— hella sugar. And when I drink, KCT, Hennessey spiked with lemon— hella sweet. So now I just drink on one day. So it’s like I’m tellin’ the truth about it. I tell everybody how I drink now. There’s only 12 bars so I had to sum it up real quick.
[Audio://townsquare.media/site/812/files/2010/12/09-Hard-Liquor.mp3]

“Livin’ Like I’m Dyin’”
Another one that sounded vintage. So I wanted Kaliko to sing something real soulful like Al Green was singing it. ’Cause usually how we come up with stuff, I was like, I wanna be like I’m living like I’m dying. We gon’ live today like dying tomorrow. That’s all I got to say to Kali and he’s like, “Living like I’m dying tomorrow, so I’m gonna do it like I’m dying today…” That’s like my whole persona. They gon’ blow this whole world up. I always quote Jim Morrison of The Doors, “I know one thing man, I’ma have my kicks before the whole shit house goes up in flames.” They gon’ blow this whole world up so I’m gonna party until then. It’s my whole persona. And Ces Cru and Kutt came on it. Ces Cru is a crew from here, Kansas City. This Italian guy and this Black guy, they just murderers. I’m trying to sign ‘em. That’s how dope they are. They’re dope live, they’re dope in the studio. And Kutt Calhoun, you know he’s an MC all day. So they spoke on it and it’s a beautiful thing.
[Audio://townsquare.media/site/812/files/2010/12/10-Livin-Like-Im-Dyin.mp3]

“Down for the Block”
Self-explanatory. When I heard the beat, it’s like I would have dreams. The dreams would tell me like, Get it from ‘Bout to Bubble.' After the eighth bar I say it, I’m like, Yeah we can sample that. So we had to go to the studio and have our engineer Ben pull up the session where we recorded “Bubble” back in 2006. And he took the acapella and got to that. He just chopped it up and screwed it. And that’s all the hook was. And naturally Jay Rock was in the room like, “I know you down for the block, nigga.” Everybody on that muthafucka is business. So we had to do it.
[Audio://townsquare.media/site/812/files/2010/12/11-Down-for-the-Block.mp3]

“Lick Your Teeth”
I sent it to Snoop. First I gave it to E-40, he said he had to have it ’cause that’s Scorpio shit. Scorpios gon’ be some freaky muthafuckas. I’m November 8th and I’ve licked several teeth in my past. Like pretty teeth like, Wow, I adore you. Can I lick your teeth please? That’s how girl crazy I am. “Before I kiss you, can I please lick your teeth?” Just imagine what else I wanna lick if I wanna lick her teeth? Not her ass or no shit like that, I’m just talking about something else. But that beat, it had to be something sexual. That had to be sexual, that has to be candlelight or the fireplace and you’re like, "Hey, you’re beautiful, I’m trying to have my hair stuck up in your cuticles/from cunnilingus, I’ll bring it if you think I’m suitable." So it’s real vulgar but that’s what the beat required. I gave it to E-40, but you know we always have timeframes, we gotta do stuff. I called him right before my deadline and I said, “I gotta have it.” And it was too late. So I sent it to Snoop. Snoop said he’ll do it, but he still ain’t sent it back [laughs]. So we gon’ have a version with Snoop on it sooner than later.
[Audio://townsquare.media/site/812/files/2010/12/12-Lick-Your-Teeth.mp3]

“Losin’ My Mind”
It just sounded like some MC shit. I originally wrote that hook for Brother Lynch Hung, it reminded me of something he would sing for me. But me and him just now started talking again because we kinda got into it. And nobody knows that. You’re the first to know that. I been hiding it from people ’cause I am the exec at Strange so I gotta be bigger when bullshit happens. But we ain’t been speakin’ at all. I just now started textin’ him again because I’m bigger than that. He’s too talented for me to be holding something against his ass. ’Cause everybody know he’s fuckin’ crazy for real. And if you don’t know, he’s a true psycho, it’s not an act. And sometimes that shit can get nerve racking. So it got super nerve racking, that’s all I’ma say. And we had words in a meeting so we haven’t spoke for real. So we just now started speaking. So I wrote that hook… that’s Brother Lynch Hung voice to me. The first thing I said to him after all this time, “You’re way too talented, you’re in your own league, man.” So that was when it kind of mended it. I’m tryna get him to even surpass me. Nigga, I ain’t trippin’ on nothin’. I ain’t trippin’ on who’s doper. I know the fans gon’ do that. I’m tryin’ get that nigga bigger than me if possible. Same thing with Kaliko, same thing with all these niggas. I’m the exec, muthafucka! I just happen to be a rapping nigga, too. I gotta be the bigger man, you know what I’m sizzlin’? So all that shit that happened is bullshit. We too dope to be separate.
[Audio://townsquare.media/site/812/files/2010/12/13-Losin-My-Mind.mp3]

“People Speak Skit,” "This Ring," "The Rain" & "Come Gangsta"
It’s me with a chip on my shoulder. Like how can all these people be wrong? It ties the whole thing together because the whole point of doing this CD is to get other people on it. So I’m talkin’ to other people. How can other people be wrong? I know all y’all think I’m a devil worshipper and all that, but XXL got something on this. They’re not gonna fuck with me if they think I’m bogus. Whoo Kid ain’t gon’ fuck with me if he think I’m tryna raise Satan from the ground or whatever. Hell nah. This is the people’s speak. That’s why I won the MTV Woody Award, because the people spoke. It’s all about the people. And I’m tryna let them know that the people are gonna eventually speak altogether and next thing you know I’m gonna be winning a fuckin’ Grammy or something and y’all gon’ be like, 'Damn, how the fuck that happen?' It’s all about that. …And that’s why we put “This Ring” on there, because that’s what started the Tech N9ne movement. It was the shit that spread when we put it out on Angelic in 2000. And that’s why I put it on the mixtape. ’Cause this is for people who haven’t heard what I do. So they’ll get a glimpse of how it started and what it turned in to. Going from Angelic to Eveready to my song called “The Rain” speaking about being on tour away from my children. So then they’ll get sentimental on ’em and let them know I’m on grown man shit, too. And then Vanessa’s favorite, “Come Gangsta.” “Come Gangsta” is totally everything that Tech N9ne does in one song; It’s melodic, it’s wordplay, it’s everything that I do in one. We just brought it all together and put it together for the people that never heard of me. And hopefully they’ll get that feeling when they listen to “This Ring” and “The Rain” and “Come Gangsta,” like, Damn, he’s multitalented. And everybody’ll get it. And that’s the whole purpose of Bad Season. —Vanessa Satten

[Audio://townsquare.media/site/812/files/2010/12/14-The-People-Speak-Skit.mp3]

[Audio://townsquare.media/site/812/files/2010/12/15-This-Ring.mp3]

[Audio://townsquare.media/site/812/files/2010/12/17-The-Rain.mp3]

[Audio://townsquare.media/site/812/files/2010/12/18-Come-Gangsta.mp3]

Download the entire mixtape here, for free.