Gates Mixed Plate
By
Tech N9ne steps out of the darkness to party with
his friends on the latest album from the Tech N9ne
Collabos imprint, The Gates Mixed Plate. With an
emphasis on enjoying life, The Gates Mixed Plate
brings together a diverse set of notable features including
Jay Rock, Glasses Malone, Yukmouth, Devin
The Dude and Stevie Stone, as well as the familiar
Strange Music cohorts: Krizz Kaliko, Kutt Calhoun
and Big Scoob.
On The Gates Mixed Plate, Tech N9ne and company
focus on party-inducing anthems with songs like
O.G. – an ode to Kansas City and barbecue that
finds Tech N9ne waxing poetic about his hometown
and KC Tea a boisterous tribute to Tech s
newest beverage concoction.
As a follow up to his darkest album, K.O.D., Tech
N9ne makes sure to let everyone know he s stepped
out of the emotional shadows and is all about the
bright side of life on The Gates Mixed Plate. Go
ahead, step up to the counter and order The Gates
Mixed Plate guaranteed to leave your palette
satisfied, whatever your tastes may be.
No related posts.
The lighter side of Tech N9ne
This album is very good depending on who you are and the type of music you like. Most hardcode Tech N9ne fans will enjoy the album and the direction he took from KOD. It’s not as dark as KOD and it’s exactly what he wanted to do. If you heard “The Lost Scripts of KOD” you’d notice that he wanted to leave his “dark place” and have a better time and get out of his depression. This is exactly the album he was talking about.
The best songs on the album are “O.G”, “Gamer”, “Keep It One Hunit”, “Harvey Dent”, “Afterparty” “Paper” and “Need More Angels”. These are the songs I can listen to over and over. The rest of the album is also good, mostly party songs except for a few like Need More Angels. He’s still on top of his game even with the lighter direction he took. And, this is my personal favorite Tech N9ne Collabos album.
Gates Plate Not Great
I have been a follower of Tech N9ne since Anghellic and he has proved many times that he is the single most talented rap artist alive bar none. His lyrics, style, and delivery are truly unmatched. But The Gates Mixed Plate in no way shows his greatness.
The album is presented as an ode to the DJ’s around Kansas City, which fills up all the skits, and starts off with the Kansas City anthem “O.G” standing for Ollie Gates, a bbq restaurant around Kansas City. The song is meant to be a party track but the uninspired hook and the fact that no one outside of Kansas City will find it meaningful, the track fails. The next track “F U PAY ME” is just a filler song with a used up theme.
“GAMER” is the first glimmer of hope on the album, it is very unique and well put together. “JUMPING JAX” is perhaps the party highlight of the album with infecting music and memorable verses, with Stevie Stone stealing the show.
“KEEP IT ONE HUNIT”, “POW WOW”, and “HARVEY DENT” are all mediocre. The first being just boring to listen to. The second would have been a highlight of the album if they didn’t put the annoying voice effect all throughout the first verse, making it difficult to get through. And the last being another whiny song that is not very clever about who he is and why he’s not giving his fans what they want, that topic is played out Tech.
“WHAT’S NEXT’ and “AFTERPARTY” sound exactly the same, where neither fit the party theme of the album by being slow songs or being any good.
“TOO MANY GIRLS” and “PU WAH WAH” just should never be listened to by anyone. The first being so uninspired and pointless with possibly the worst feature of all time bringing up the rear of the song. And the second having the worst hook I have ever heard in a song. I know that its the 816 boys and its supposed to be funny…but it just isn’t.
“KC TEA” is a single and meant to be “the” party song on the album. The theme is the same as the song “CARIBOU LOU” off of Tech’s 2006 album Everready (The Religion). But to where “Caribou Lou” is the quarterback, “KC TEA” is the water boy in a wheelchair. My idea of a party song does not involve yelling out the word HENNESSEY 500 times. But the actual drink is very good.
“OH YOU DIDN’T KNOW” is not a bad song, but bragging about accomplishments and awards isn’t usually Tech’s style.
“FAR OUT”, “PAPER”, “LOUD”, and “NEED MORE ANGELS” are all awesome. The first being a fast rhythmic hard hitter thats perfect for the car. The second is all about money but its infecting and has a perfect contribution from the up and coming Jay Rock. The third is just classic Tech N9ne. And the last being a slow but deep song and also by far the best song on the album.
And finally…But I wish I didn’t have to talk about… “Doin’ IT”, the bonus song, which should have no business on any CD and destroys all the momentum that was picked up from the previous 4 tracks. It makes no sense for this song to be on the album, and it is by far the worst track ever recorded by Tech Nn9ne.
So out of 18 songs on the album 6 are worth listening to. I would usually say buy the album and support the artist, but for this I cannot give that recommendation. Although the lyrics and flow are there for all of the tracks on the album, the music and featured guests just make most of this album boring. iTunes “GAMER”, “JUMPING JAX”, “FAR OUT”, “PAPER”, “LOUD”, and “NEED MORE ANGELS” and be done with it.
To really understand Tech N9ne as an artist buy the albums “K.O.D”, “Everready (The Religion)”, “KILLER”, “ABSOLUTE POWER”, and “ANGHELLIC”
TECH N9NE
THE GATES MIXED PLATE DELIVERIES. JUST TO NAME A FEW TRACK IS SOME BANGERS: JUMPING JAX FEAT. STEVIE STONE, KRIZZ KALIKO, AND BISHOP YOUNG DON, O.G., FU PAY ME FEAT. MAKZILLA AND KRIZZ KALIKO, GAMER FEAT. KUTT CALHOUN, KEEP IT ONE HUNIT FEAT. BIG SCOOB, AND GLASSES MALON, POW POW FEAT, TAY DIGGS RIVV LOC, KUTT CALHOUN, AND MON.E.G., TOO MANY GIRLS FEAT. KRIZZ KALIKO, AND SUNDAE, KC TEA, PU WAH WAH FEAT. 816 BOYZ, AND MY PERSONAL FAVORITE NEED MORE ANGELS FEAT. IVE DA PHENOM (PRAYER BY BROTHER K.T.). THIS A MUST GET CD.
The Only Rap Ablum to Buy This Summer!!!
Tech N9ne delivers yet again. This album, compared to Tech’s other two “Collabo” albums, is the cream of the crop. I’ve been listening to Tech since Absolute Power, and my absolute favorite day to head off to the CD store is any day that a new album is released from Strange Music! This album got leaked almost a month ago online, I’ve been listening to it every day since then and still went and bought a copy on the release date.
Track-by-Track
1. Ms. Walker/Brooklyn Martino (n/a) – This is an intro, not as good as some of his others in the past, for example, the main intro to Killer was amazing.
2. O.G. (5/5) – This is the perfect lead-off song to this album. The beat is awesome, the hook is awesome, and his lyrics, as usual are simply amazing. If you’ve never heard a Tech N9ne song before, check this one out, you won’t be disappointed.
3. F U Pay Me (4.5/5) – This song is great, the concept is fun and innovative. Instead where most rappers are spitting about how much money the have/make, Tech, Krizz, and Makzilla are rapping about the money they deserve based on quality. Krizz offers a great hook on top of his already great verse. The only reason this track is not a 5/5 is that Makzilla (as stated in the song) sounds like he’s rapping over the phone…
4. Gamer (5/5) – This is another song that grabs your attention due to its innovation. This is a catchy concept, weaving a rapper’s nightlife shenanigans into the concept of a video game. Any song with Tech and Kutt rapping and Krizz Kaliko delivering a solid hook is definitely a 5/5.
5. Jumpin’ Jax (4.5/5) – Another solid song, great lyrics and great guest appearances. My only dislike about this song is the hook gets annoying after a few listens.
6. Keep it One Hunit (4.5/5) – This track is an absolute banger, once again delivering with awesome lyrics and beat. But yet again, the hook gets a little old after a few listens. The best part about this song is two verses by Tech!! If the album stopped here, we would have one amazing EP.
7. Pow Pow (3/5) – This is one of very few tracks on this album that are kind of disappointing. I liked it at first because the beat is tight and the hook is very catchy, however, we only get 8 bars from Tech, and I was excited when they introduce Kutt Calhoun in the second verse, however his entire verse it digital garbage. This is all followed by mediocre verses from artists I’ve never heard of…
8. Harvey Dent (4/5) – This is one of the three solo joints from Tech on the entire album. This is a great song about fans wanting old Tech N9ne, but Tech wanting to do new and inventive things with his music. I’m glad he doesn’t listen to those fans or else tracks 3 and 4 probably wouldn’t exist. If you compare this to “Blown Away” off of Sickology 101 or “Girl Crazy” from Misery Loves Company as a solo Tech song in the middle of the album, then you might be let down a bit because this song does not hold a candle to either of those…
9. Tony G (n/a) – Just an interlude, nothing exciting.
10. What’s Next (4/5) – This plus the next two songs take the tempo of the album down a few notches. This is a great spot on the the album for a song like this after those first 8 tracks. Definitely something to chill to. Craig Smith delivers a great verse and once again proves himself as a amazing guest star on any Strange Music track.
11. After Party (5/5) – Another down-tempo track, but this once is accompanied by an entertaining hook, and three amazing verses. If you’ve never heard a track by Devin the Dude, you’ll definitely want to check him out after this one. Tech and Kutt spit their normal off the wall lyrics forcing you to listen to the song many times over to pick up every single syllable of word-play.
12. Too Many Girls (3.5/5) – This is a perfect example of how a track with a great first verse by Krizz, a great hook, and a great second verse by Tech, can all come crashing down due to a horrible guest appearance for verse number three. After the second verse, skip to the next track..
13. Pu Wah Wah (4.5/5) – If you didn’t catch it on Sickology 101, this song will seem very misleading. On Sickology 101, Tech, Krizz, Kutt, and Makzilla (a.k.a. the 816 Boyz) did a “joke” song at the end of the album. This is a great follow up song to that reminding fans that these guys know how to have fun in the studio.
14. Sean Tyler (n/a) – Another interlude, nothing to say here.
15. KC Tea (5/5) – This is the third solo joint on the album by Tech and along with O.G. is an amazing stand-out track on the album. Similar to “Caribou Lou” from Everready: The Religion, except the track is way more up-beat. You’ll be listening to this one over and over… trust me.
16. JT Quick (n/a) – Another interlude, nothing to say here either.
17. Oh You Didn’t Know (3.5/5) – This track was kind of annoying at first, and reminded me of something Master P tried to do awhile back with having female choruses on all of his tracks. The only exception being that this song grew on me after a few listens. And you can’t deny Irv Da Phenom’s rapping ability.
18. Far Out (4.5/5) – This is my favorite part of the album. Where Sickology was wrapping up with a few tracks toward the end that were mostly skip-able until you got to “Red Nose”, these next three tracks pick up where the first eight tracks left off. “Far Out” is a track to turn up as loud as your stereo will handle and when it’s finished, play it again.
19. Paper (4/5) – Not as good as “Far Out”, or the next track, but sounds great placed in between the two. The hook stays with you.
20. Loud (5/5) – Turn this one up louder than “Far Out”… and if you’re a fan of some fast rapping, this is the song for you.
21. Need More Angels (3/5) – I can respect this track for what it is, but it doesn’t match the party-tempo of the rest of the album. It’s good the first few times, but you’ll probably be skipping it after that.
22. Doin’ It (1/5) – This is a bonus track, I’ll still rate it, but it won’t be counted in the “iPod” rating below. The beat is great, the verses aren’t bad. I can appreciate Yukmouth too. But my god, the hook is so terrible you can’t even listen to it unless you want to have your friends agree with you on how bad it is…
This album gets an iPod rating of 88% – with 17 tracks on the album (excluding the intro, interludes, and the bonus track), 15 made it to my iPod playlist.
If you buy any album this summer – it should be this one. Tech, yet again, delivers music that any rap fan would consider of a higher quality than any mainstream artist out there today… and I would say it’s even better than that.
Still Going Strong
Everything you love about Strange Music is here. So it should come as no surprise that the album goes hard. If you’ve heard the other Collabos albums, then you know what to expect. Should be a nice reprieve for those of you who thought K.O.D. was too dark. This is a feel good, party disc; more in the vein of Everready.
Let’s face it, you’re reading this review just in case the universe turned inward on itself and Mr. Yates suddenly started making sub-par hip hop; believe me, that still isn’t the case. So go ahead and pick up the album. Yet another in a growing line of truly excellent CD’s from Tech N9ne!
His usual mixed bag
Tech N9ne would be nationally acknowledged as one of the top 5 MCs out today if not for two facts:
1. His beat selection isn’t great. These same sounding brooding tracks weren’t great when Eminem was doing them, and they are just as bad now.
2. These “Strange Music” guys suck. NOBODY would care about these guys if they weren’t riding Tech N9ne’s coattails. Only a couple can flow and they almost all have run of the mill lyrics, and thats at their best. The majority of these guys are completely interchangable and would do Tech N9ne’s career a great service by seperating themselves from it.
These problems are very clear on this album, just like they have been painfully clear on the previous 2 collaboration collections by Tech N9ne which were both weighed down by the burden of carrying a bunch of his no-talent weed-holding Yes-men.
Tech 9ician!
i didn’t get into Tech until just right before “Killer”, but this album is one example of how unfair the music industry is. This guy has one of the most amazing flows in the business. He knows how to make a song, and makes all of the other MCs around him better. This is a good album. And oh yeah, don’t burn it- BUY IT!
Another Amazing CD from the KING of RAP
We have been a TECH N9NE fan since the dawn of time and love every album he releases. We have been able to relate and appreciate every new topic and flow he has thrown out there. We especially love this album not only because its a new style but because it shows that Tech has done it again!!!! He has been able to flip it from a darkness shroud to party out loud. WE LOVE IT!!! Its a great summer album for parties…. get togethers or rollin down the windows and cruisin…. We will always support Tech and everything he does because he is the most talented artist out there and once again proves that he can do ANYTHING!!!! Love the album… So play it LOUD like Tech says!!!!!!!!!!!
Solid with only flashes of greatness.
The Gates Mixed Plate is another solid album from strange. Give it more than a few listens because at first it sounds way different and more mainstream but it grows on you. Much better than 99 percent of other rappers out there. Hopefully Tech finally hits top ten on the Billboard charts with this one. Here’s my track by track breakdown minus the intros:
O.G.-(4/5) Good starter for the album, nice party vibe to it.
F U Pay Me-(3/5) I don’t like to hear about money blah blah blah but this song is ok.
Gamer-(4/5) Cool beat. Nice verses from Tech and Kutt back and forth and Kali on the hook.
Jumpin Jax’-(5/5) Good beat and awesome verses especially Tech. Hook by Irv Da Phenom.
Keep It One Hunit-(4/5) Another hook from Irv. This ones got a real old school vibe. Straight hood sippin KC tea on a summer day.
Pow Pow-(3/5) Reminds me of a Dr. Dre beat. The hook is ok. Hated what Kutt did with the effect on his vocals for his verse.
Harvey Dent-(5/5) Possibly the best song on here. All Tech and all good.
What’s Next-(4/5) Craig Smith brings it. Oobergeek is ok. R&B style beat and hook by Kali.
Afterparty-(5/5) Like this more every time. Tech, Kutt and Devin The Dude all bring it hard. Dude has an odd but cool delivery. Good sex song.
Too Many Girls-(3/5) Verses are good. The beat in the hook could have banged a bit harder. Feels like a filler track.
Pu Wah Wah-(3/5) 816 Boys! This song is good if you take it for what it is. I like Flip Cam and Areola better though.
KC Tea-(4/5) Drinking anthem. Not on the level of Caribou Lou though. At first the hook is annoying but then you find yourself singing it over and over…
Oh You Didn’t Know-(3/5) Really didn’t like it at first but it grows on you. Good beat. Good features.
Far Out-(5/5) The closest thing to Midwest Choppers 3 on this cd. Fast as hell verses. Stevie Stone on the hook. Tech has what may be his best fast verse ever on here.
Paper-(4/5) Jay Rock and Tech rip it. Kali has a good hook.
Loud-(4/5) Good trunk banger. Irv makes the hook.
Need More Angels-(4/5) Always one slow song and this one doesn’t disappoint. Once again Irv rips the hook.
Doin’ It(Bonus track)-(4/5) Most mainstream song Tech’s ever done but also better than most mainstream. Miami style.
Great Party Party Party CD
Dont expect very deep verses from any one on this album (except Harvey Dent) BUT THAT IS NOT A BAD THING! It is a great album to kick it to, party to, dance to. Its just a fun feel good album, which just shows Tech out rhyming everyone! Not that others are bad, but Tech reigns supreme