June 27, 2025 (Los Angeles, CA) Today, Tech N9ne goes home…
The chart-topping multiplatinum hip-hop legend and the most successful independent rapper of all time proudly presents his most open-hearted and honest album to date, 5816 Forest, out now via Strange Music.
To celebrate its arrival, he just uncovered a wild music video for the new single “Yoda” [feat. Lil Wayne]. Watch HERE. It notably marks their fifth collaboration together, and it has all the makings of a classic. On the track, a gust of keys swirls into the haze of lightsaber waving, and Tech actually raps like Yoda! With enough bravado to fuel the Millenium Falcon, he spits, “Be the, be the best I will,” and Weezy gets into the spirit with quotable quips of his own a la, “I be green like Yoda.” The accompanying visual is just as crazy as the song’s bars. You have to see it to believe it!
Clocking in at 22 tracks, 5816 Forest sees Tech make a statement. He recounts the memories that molded Aaron Dontez Yates into Tech N9ne, bringing listeners into his childhood home, inviting them on his block, and guiding them through what life was like for him in 1988. Producer JPZ [E-40, YoungBoy NBA, Young Dolph, Yo Gotti] notably cooked up the production for this whole journey, riding shotgun with Tech through KC.
Check out the full track list below.
He teased the album with “This I Know” [feat. Kevin Church Johnson]. The latter has already amassed over 714K Spotify streams and 1.5 million YouTube views on the music video. Right out of the gate, VIBE plugged it, and UPROXX hailed it among “The Best New Hip-Hop This Week,” going on to profess, “The OG indie-rap pillar shares a soulful rumination on his comeup, reflecting on both mistakes and the lessons learned.” HotNewHipHop was blown away by the “raw emotion and detailed storytelling.”
Earlier this year, Tech sat down with Bunnie Xo for an episode of her Dumb Blonde Podcast and gave a fascinating interview to Bootleg Kev for his Bootleg Kev Podcast. TMZ spoke to him about the album and Esquire just looked back at how Dwayne Johnson also “‘put in the hours’ on a song with Tech N9ne.” The Kansas City Star reaffirmed, “Tech N9ne’s story is deeply woven into Kansas City’s vibrant music and community fabric.”
He previewed this era with “J6’s” last month. In its wake, HotNewHipHop declared, “Tech N9ne, one of the most slept on MCs in terms of pure technical ability, is going to be reminding everyone real soon of his storytelling skills.”
Prior, Kansas City’s The Pitch hailed another staple “RDV,” stating, “With that intro and stripped-down production, it’s as though Tech and his squad stepped back in time to the ’90s. The black-and-red soundstage aesthetic throws back, too, letting the lyrics do the heavy lifting while Tech and company flex onscreen.”
Thus far, songs from 5816 Forest have generated millions of streams. It has all the makings of a Tech N9ne classic.
Catch Tech live on stage this summer and fall on Summer Daze, July 18 in NV, he’ll also be joining the God Is A Weapon Tour alongside Falling in Reverse throughout August and on the Ruggish Mafia Tour 2025, running from August through October, bringing his explosive energy and signature rapid-fire delivery to cities across the country. In addition, he is set to appear at the Louder Than Life Festival this September, one of the most anticipated rock and hip-hop fusion events. For full tour dates and ticket information, visit Strange Music Inc. – Tours.
Stream “5816 Forest” Album Now
-
Donnie Call (Skit)
-
The Birth (Remix)
-
Fridee Da Sundee (Triality)
-
Yoda [feat. Lil Wayne]
-
Ball
-
Alyia Call (Skit)
-
RDV
-
Lola
-
Black Walt Street (The New Breed)
-
Excited
-
The Nice One
-
The Punishment (Lockdown) (Remix)
-
What I Do?
-
Reign Call (Skit)
-
No Rub
-
Fish Captain
-
Sacrifice [feat. Jehry Robinson]
-
Bella Call (Skit)
-
Livin In The Sky
-
Call With 2-Yr-Old Alina (Skit)
-
This I Know [feat. Kevin Church Johnson]
-
J6’s
Tech N9ne changed everything the world knew about hip-hop. He didn’t follow the rules. He didn’t need a major label. He didn’t wear the uniform. He didn’t even call one of the coasts home. Instead, he turned Kansas City, MO into ground zero for the evolution of the culture, sending aftershocks through not just music, but also sports, video games, television, film, and fashion. With billions of streams, dozens of RIAA gold and platinum plaques, and hundreds of sold out shows under his belt, he’s easily the hardest working artist and entrepreneur in the game. He has notched four Top 5 debuts on the Billboard 200 and clinched the record for “most Top 10 albums on the Billboard Rap Chart.” He has delivered hits in three decades—whether it be the platinum-certified “Caribou Lou” in the 00’s, the gold-certified “Fragile” [feat. Kendrick Lamar, ¡Mayday!, Kendall Morgan] in the 10’s, or his biggest smash yet in the 20’s with “Face Off” featuring Joey Cool, King Iso, and Dwayne Johnson. In 2024, he shook the Billboard Rock charts by linking up with Falling In Reverse and Alex Terrible of Slaughter To Prevail on “Ronald” and sold out a show with the Kansas City Orchestra. If you trace the origins of Kendrick, Jelly Roll, and more, you’ll find Tech as an early champion and collaborator on pivotal tracks. Beyond sold-out headline tours, he has performed on NPR’s Tiny Desk and ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel LIVE! Plus, he has graced the cover of XXL and caught the attention of Variety, People, TMZ, NY Post, Today, and Entertainment Weekly. He co-founded Strange Music as a home for his output. Now, the company’s Kansas City headquarters stretches across six buildings: Strange Music (label offices), Strangeland (recording studios, soundstage), Strange World (merchandise manufacturing plant), Strange Box (vehicles), Strange Carwash, and Strange Works (construction company). It’s no wonder the Forbes “Cash Kings” list boasts Tech’s inclusion year-after-year. Not to mention, he teamed up with KC’s own Boulevard Brewery for his craft beer Bou Lou. 35 years into an unprecedented journey, he’s picking up the pace in 2025 with more to come.
TECH N9NE WEB AND SOCIAL LINKS
