Kansas City rap icon — and CoMo favorite — Tech N9ne finds his 'Bliss' on latest album

Perhaps the artist to define the Kansas City music scene the past 25 years, rap icon Tech N9ne is a Midwest original.

His faithful following — which includes the Columbia audiences who flock to frequent visits — responds to a deep, dark sound often tagged "horrorcore" or "hardcore rap" by those in the know. Never one to sacrifice a bit of his integrity, the rapper unites all sides of himself while delivering one of the most soulful, downright joyous records of his career with "Bliss," out last week.

Forever committed to a sprawling, complete vision of hip-hop, Tech N9ne offers up 25 tracks and more than 75 minutes of music here. Shot through with a handful of skits and short scenes, "Bliss" is rooted in an old-school aesthetic of presentation while the music ever pushes forward.

The first proper song, "Badge of Honor" weaves like a serpent around the beat, uniting reggae and hip-hop sonics. Tech N9ne dances through various chapters of his life, initiating the biographical style to follow throughout.

"KC Huh? KC What?" celebrates the rapper's hometown, expounding on its central, shaping influence. Tech N9ne dips his quill into a deep, cinematic well of gospel music on "Tell Everyone," choir vocals bearing witness to the artist's gifts and grounding them in something deeper and more timeless.

Also part of the album's rich middle, "What I Like" is an exercise in good taste and gratitude with Tech N9ne naming a few of his favorite things (from sex and snacks to clothing, colors and international locales) while "3D" offers a unique take on the underrated artist trope as he delivers the line "You one dimension / I'm three."

Segments of "Bliss" skew more intense, with "WHAT (We're Hungry and Thirsty)" leaning into the rapper's hardcore bonafides and, late on the tracklist, Tech N9ne challenging death on the march-like "Drill Sergeant."

But it all comes together, especially on the closing couplet of "2 Happy" and "Got What I Wanted." On the former, Tech N9ne surveys the whole of his life; finding himself standing on the rock of resilience, he celebrates survivors everywhere: "This is for everyone that doubted / We rejoicing 'cause we lived to tell about it / Happy we got this s--t re-routed / And now it's time to yell and scream about it."

The latter underlines the Missouri rapper's MO. Tech N9ne always gets what he wants. On "Bliss," he wants a deep, wide look at himself and his surroundings, an album marked by every emotion. And, once again, he makes his own way there.

Aarik Danielsen is the features and culture editor for the Tribune. Contact him at adanielsen@columbiatribune.com or by calling 573-815-1731. He's on Twitter @aarikdanielsen.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Kansas City rap icon — and local favorite — Tech N9ne finds 'Bliss' on latest