Tech N9ne w/ Brotha Lynch Hung, Ces Cru, Stevie Stone
Showbox SoDo, Seattle, WA
04.01.17

There’s no other way to say it: Aaron Yates, aka Tech N9ne, is an astonishing figure. If you’ve ever been to one of his live shows, you’re likely familiar with the rapid-fire lyrical trajectory his namesake suggests. Look behind the haunting masks he’s known for, which he dons several of during every show, and find a complex genius whose nominal affiliation with the semi-automatic weapon extends beyond his wordplay into his work ethic. Having only slowed down his touring to create new work—18 albums as many years—and build an impressive arsenal of artists for his Strange Music label, Tech’s latest “Strictly Strange Tour 2017” brought him to Seattle’s Showbox SoDo.

Seattle local Knothead—a regular Seattle opener for the visiting Midwest label—kicked off the night in expected fashion to anxious early-bird attendees while the rest of the two-block-long line trickled through the metal detectors. This friend of Strange Music Was followed shortly by Swisher Sweep, who did a short, ten-minute set before handing the mic over to the official Strictly Strange Tour talent. Sweep was performing a sort of “tryout” for Strange, having recently collaborated on Seattle’s Cavigold Records compilation which Tech donated a track to.

First up off the lineup was Ces Cru, hailing from Strange Music’s own Kansas City. Rowdy, raucous and definitely fitting in with the SM gang, the vibrant duo elated the crowd with sharp deliveries and pungent hooks. Their engagement with the crowd was especially notable, as too often hip-hop MCs rely solely on their vocal performances— a dangerous play to a millennial crowd with fleeting attention spans. It seemed that wouldn’t be an issue for the rest of the evening as the Cru passed the baton.

Aiding to keep the younger energy fueled, St. Louis’s Stevie Stone took over after a short stage-dress turnaround, accompanied by label-mate Frizz. Starting the set with an impressive back and forth, the crowd was hyped until, surprisingly, Stone pulled out a folding chair and sat down to deliver an a cappella bit. Near poetry, it was a strong but genuine opposite to the normal façade of speedy delivery generally connected to Midwest rap.

Refreshingly, it worked. The lull didn’t last long as both the lyricists and the crowd were immediately back on their feet. They pounded the stage and hopped all over the venue floor. There was even a surprise visit from ex-Sonics player, Shawn Kemp.

Next up was much-anticipated performer, Brotha Lynch Hung, who has been in the spotlight and hot seat for over two decades for his persona and alter-ego. The shock rapper and Sacramento poster boy for now defunct Black Market Records made a name for himself delivering extremely dark and abrasive words to the notorious Gangsta Rap genre’s momentum.

Lynch has been known to cancel tour dates or only perform minimal songs at his own headlining appearances. Perhaps in poor taste, the crowd was given the news that he wouldn’t be able to make it due to personal complications, only to have their expected profanities muffled as “Apriiil Foooooooooool’s” hummed through the sub-woofers. The joke transcended the crowd’s boos to whoops.

Lynch, not showing any signs of waning at 48, relied on his anthemic tracks—in lieu of the high energy omitted by his colleagues—and hype-man Dalima, to carry out his set. He cordially invited the crowd to chorus what they knew. Everyone was happy as a 4-minute digital countdown cast on the gigantic flat-screen at the back of the stage prepped the fans for the launch of Tech.

Draped in a black cloak and wearing his signature black mask, smoke billowed behind the fast-rap-god as he slowly made his way on stage like a phantom shadow. The mystery was soon abolished as he disrobed after his first track. He quickly dove into a performance of the crowd-pleaser “Einstein,” signaling to the growing audial submitters it was officially on.

The rest of the performance escalated with an undefinable mixture of rap, funk, soul, jazz, and rock and roll, largely due to the ridiculously impressive synchronicity between Tech and his lead comrade, Krizz Kaliko, who joined him on stage around 5 songs in and partied for the rest of the night.

If you’ve never been to a Tech N9ne show or are completely unaware of who Aaron Yates is, there is little point in trying to explain. If the recognition of Forbes isn’t enough to convince you he’s probably one of the top performers you’ve never heard seen, I don’t know what to tell you. If you’re a fan of rap first, and funk, soul, jazz, and rock and roll balled up into the best show $25 can bring you—especially when Brotha Lynch actually shows up—and you aren’t considering seeing Strange’s next outing, well, you’re 2018’s April Fool.

Review and photos by Aaron Anderson

Tech N9ne w/ Brotha Lynch Hung, Ces Cru, Stevie Stone