Tech N9ne has long had the reputation of one of the most technically accomplished rappers on the scene. In a new interview, he discusses his ideas for new collaborations with Eminem and explains how missing out on J.I.D.’s “Animals” made him rethink his health and lifestyle.
In 1999, Eminem and Tech N9ne both appeared on Sway’s posse cut “The Anthem”, but Tech had to wait until 2015 for his own collab with Marshall. His track with Eminem and Krizz Kaliko, “Speedom (Worldwide Choppers 2)”, remains a gold standard of fast-paced chopping that hits a listener like a freight train. Since then, Tech has come up with more ideas for working with Eminem, often looking back to older music for inspiration, just as Em’s producers did for his biggest latest hit from The Death of Slim Shady.
In a recent interview with Acton Entertainment, Tech shared a couple:
I found the beat recently because he did “Abracadabra”. Right after that, I had an idea in that realm. You know what I’m saying? It was in that realm and it was a Billy Joel song called “Pressure”. I wanted to do that song with Eminem to say how much pressure it is to still remain at the top of hip hop and no one can take it from you. And I felt like I could rap with him on that level. Our producer at that time, Seven, lost his mom and just went silent and disappeared. So, it never came to fruition. But I found the beat lately.
I have another idea, an even better idea for an Eminem song. It samples a vintage Portishead song, and it sounds like Eminem did the beat already. Dope! I told people that if we do a song now, it has to be about something. It doesn’t have to go super political, but it has to be about something, not just rippity rap hippity hop. We could do that very well, but now it has to be some depth to it.
But Tech N9ne’s plans for future collaborations are not the only thing that came out of the interview. After a series of illnesses kept him out of commission for months and prevented him from working with J.I.D., Tech re-evaluated his lifestyle and approach to eating. Being replaced on a song does not feel good. Being replaced on a song does not feel good. However, Tech seemed especially upset by what he heard from J.I.D., who said in an interview that the finished song did not live up to his expectations:
I missed the J song, and then he put Eminem on it, and it was called “Animals”. You know what I’m saying? And when he did the interview, I saw he said, “Man, the song didn’t turn out how I wanted to. That’s why I just put it out like I did”. And I’m like, damn!
So, if Eminem decides to link up with Tech N9ne on a song again, there will be no sick days and no interruptions. He’s ready to work.