For decades, Tech N9ne has been a relentless force in Hip-Hop, carving out a unique legacy from the underground to the mainstream. His latest album, 5816 Forest, is his most personal yet. An origin story, the saga is told in chronological order, from age 12 to 17. This all happened while living at 5816 Forest Avenue in Kansas City, Missouri. Unlike many of his projects, this album is entirely Tech N9ne on the verses, with production handled by a single producer, JPZ.
In this revealing Q&A, Tech N9ne speaks with AllHipHop’s Chuck “Jigsaw” Creekmur about his breakdancing beginnings, the moment he became Tech N9ne, and escaping a strict home. He went on to to chase his dream and maximize his creative DNA. He also reveals how Lil Wayne ended up on the project as well as the hidden meaning behind his iconic hospital scrubs. 5816 Forest may be the most important album of his life.
AllHipHop: Let’s talk about 5816 Forest, your new album. That’s the address where it all began?
Tech N9ne: Yeah, man. 5816 Forest was my home from age 12 to 17, before I ran away to chase becoming Tech N9ne. This album is my origin story, just like in comic books. It’s all in chronological order. One producer, J.P. PZ. No guests on the verses—just me.
AllHipHop: Why’d you hesitate to do a solo-only project?
Tech N9ne: I’m big on collabs. I love different vibes and pushing boundaries. At first, I thought doing all the verses myself would be boring. But by the third song, I realized: nah, this is fire. With Tech N9ne, the flows, cadences, beats—everything evolves constantly.
AllHipHop: What flipped the switch for you? When did you know you were going to be Tech N9ne?
Tech N9ne: There’s a song called “Lola” that explains it. I was just beatboxing on the bus one day and Lola Morris told me, “Stop spitting on people. Write a rap.” I went home, wrote eight bars, came back—and people loved it. Later, my guy Black Walt—he gave me my name—heard my first full song and said, “You’re Tech Nine now.”
AllHipHop: That led to your first big break?
Tech N9ne: Yep. The song “J Sixes” tells that story. I won a rap contest and got to open for EPMD at Kemper Arena. The concert was the same day as my high school graduation. I chose the show. I had on my Jordan 6s, and that night sealed the deal—I was going to be Tech N9ne.
AllHipHop: That choice says a lot about your mindset.
Tech N9ne: I had already run away from home. My stepfather was strict—a Muslim married to my Christian mom. From 12 to 17, I felt like he was too hard on me. The song “Punishment” breaks all that down. I realized later he was protecting me from the streets, the Bloods, everything around us.
AllHipHop: Heavy. What did your stepfather think of the song?
Tech N9ne: My brother played it for him. He said, “Tell Donnie [my middle name] thank you.” That meant everything. I was nervous because I talk about when he hit me in the head with money for messing up in school. But that was real. It was my last straw before leaving.
AllHipHop: You also mention your mother a lot. What role did she play?
Tech N9ne: Everything. She was Christian, but let me be me. She took me to haunted houses, horror movies, all kinds of stuff. She bought me Dracula toys and told me, “They’re just plastic, like GI Joe.” She shaped my love for dark imagery, even though people tried to call me a devil worshipper. She passed in 2014 from lupus.
AllHipHop: That explains the face paint and scrubs?
Tech N9ne: Yeah. When my mom had seizures, my stepfather would put her in psychiatric wards. I’d visit her, and she’d be in hospital scrubs. That stuck with me. Now I wear them on stage in her honor. The killer clown thing? I was terrified of clowns, so I became one. It’s how I processed fear and flipped it into power.
AllHipHop: Powerful stuff. You’ve always mixed genres. Do you consider yourself Hip-Hop above all?
Tech N9ne: Absolutely. Everything I do is under the Hip-Hop umbrella. When I work with artists from metal, blues, or anything else, I bring Tech N9ne. I did a song with Gary Clark Jr., blues vibes, and another with Marsha Ambrosius. That’s why my next album is called Decorated, because I’m a decorated MC.
AllHipHop: Speaking of collabs…Lil Wayne’s on this album, even though it’s mostly solo. Why?
Tech N9ne: I was trying to do the hook for “Yoda” myself, but it felt off. I hit up Wayne and he killed it. Did variations without even being told. He’s a genius, man.
AllHipHop: It’s dope to hear this evolution, especially in today’s algorithm-driven music world.
Tech N9ne: That’s real. You either catch things by accident now, or you gotta really follow people. Social media doesn’t always help. Jim Jones? He told you he’s rigging the algorithm. I believe it. He had me dying laughing with Shannon Sharpe.
AllHipHop: He’s trolling, but it’s working. But for real, this 5816 Forest album…it feels like a full-circle moment.
Tech N9ne: It is. I almost died out there chasing this dream. Selling dope, running with Bloods, everything. I took a chance. And by the grace of God, I’m still here. This album is for that 12-year-old kid who became Tech N9ne.
More from Tech N9ne and AllHipHop…