So now this one - because I used to be a dancer back in the day, pop-lockin’, breakdancing, MC Hammer-dancing, whatever it was I did it. I was mad at a journalist that said something sideways about me that was not true - LA Weekly or whatever - and the next thing you know, it’s on the radio. That was surprising to me because I did not write that for the radio.

The first little whiff of it was last year with “Fragile” with me and Kendrick Lamar and ¡Mayday! and Kendall Morgan. You’re finally having a radio hit… 15 albums deep? We caught up with the mogul to find out about life on the other side of fame. His 15th album, Special Effects, just entered the Billboard 200 at Number Four, marking his highest debut and highest sales week to date. Forbes consistently names him one of rap’s “Cash Kings” - on this year’s list, they suspect he brought in more money than Rick Ross and J. Since starting his Strange Music label in 1999, his independent hustle has been almost invisible from mainstream view, but it’s proven more lucrative than many traditional paths. His song “Hood Go Crazy” is cracking mainstream outlets like MTV, hip-hop radio and festivals like Los Angeles’ Powerhouse - though he’d probably do just fine without them. At 43 years old, Kansas City rapper Tech N9ne could be crowned the world’s oldest XXL Freshman.

Best old school tech n9ne songs