Reviews
Review: King of Darkness
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Tech N9ne’s latest offering K.O.D. (King of Darkness) may have been more appropriately titled Return to Darkness. The Kansas City, MO native goes back to his origins as an artist who first shocks you with his demeanor and subject matter but follows it up with astounding skill.It’s not that he hasn’t been making good albums the last few years; in fact many would argue that Tech’s been making some of the best music of his career. But he’s been noticeably moving in a more commercially friendly direction. Tech’s sinister side has always been present, but he’s made room for more party music and tales of seducing women. This trend is reversed on K.O.D., however, for reasons that become apparent on the very first song “Show me a God”.
The song is so important that it precedes even the album intro, detailing the biggest reason for Tech’s darker mood as of late–his mother’s deteriorating health. He also uses the theme of the song to touch upon soldiers in wars and the Katrina victims who also implore a higher power for protection but grow increasingly skeptical and frustrated as they continue to suffer.
Tech N9ne rarely departs from the dark tone he establishes throughout the album and, like the Pharcyde, takes listeners on a bizarre ride where he kidnaps women who diss his music and throws them in his trunk for days, sees dark shadows following him as he drives down dark roads, and introduces us to a character who eats the women he goes out with, and not in the good way.
In that song, titled Pinocchio, and also in Killing You, he covers a now familiar subject (his female conquests) where through his vivid storytelling Tech actually manages to create a sense of empathy in the listener for the stories’ villains. Pinocchio kills and consumes innocent women for no other reason than a twisted fetish and Tech himself uses and then disposes of women who are then so traumatized that they tearfully call him a devil. Pinocchio acknowledges his sickness, wanting to change, yet does not have the willpower to resist his bestial urges. Tech, however feels he is being blamed for something the woman willingly participated in. Tech N9ne tells the stories so vividly that the listener has no choice but to place themselves in the role of protagonist and is led to empathize with these obviously flawed characters.
That has always been Tech N9ne’s saving grace however. His longevity and album sales can not be attributed to simply his persona and his topic selection. To be sure, the imagery and initial shock value sells, but it’s his undeniable talent at rapping skillfully, switching up his flow, delivery and creating well written personal music which makes listeners care. They, in some small way, feel they know or can relate to the lyrics that has endeared him to his fan base.
His talent is on full display on K.O.D. He truly makes an album that Tech N9ne fans have come to expect, and will definitely appeal to those who feel he has gone astray from this darkness and and personal touch. It’s by no means a perfect album, suffering mainly when Tech wanders from the album concept. He is truly in his comfort zone, however, and holds things down with very few guest appearances, which is also a departure from his recent work. He’s never needed the guests however as he proves here with one the best albums of his career.
