Bliss is the sixteenth studio album by American rapper Tech N9ne. It was released on July 14, 2023,[1] through Strange Music and RBC Records. Guests on the album include Conway the Machine, Joyner Lucas, X-Raided, Qveen Herby, Durand Bernarr and a variety of local Kansas City acts including the Popper, 2 Gunn Kevi as well as members of Tech N9nes longtime rap group Nnutthowze, Phlaque the Grimstress and Zkeircrow.[citation needed]
| Bliss | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | July 14, 2023 | |||
| Studio | Strangeland | |||
| Genre | Gangsta rap | |||
| Length | 76:00 | |||
| Label | Strange Music | |||
| Producer |
| |||
| Tech N9ne chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Bliss | ||||
| ||||
Promotion
editOn November 18, 2022, Tech N9ne premiered the official video to "Screen".[2]
On February 17, Tech N9ne released the single "Tell Everyone" featuring Isaac Cates and Ordained on his official YouTube channel as an anthem for his favorite team the Kansas City Chiefs, after performing at the teams victory parade and rally succeeding Super Bowl LVII.[3]
On March 10, the official music video to "Things I Like" was released via Techs official YouTube channel.[4][5]
On April 7, Tech N9ne invited nineteen fans to the Strange Music headquarters to watch the video to the track "3D", in which they were instructed to wear 3D glasses whilst doing so. After the videos conclusion, despite claiming he wouldn't be present, he popped out from behind the projector the video was presented on shocking the viewers.[6]
In lieu of Fathers Day, on June 16, the video to "Fatha Fig Ya (Food for Thought)" featuring RMR was released as a nod to all patriarchs.[7]
On July 28, in efforts to bring awareness to gun violence among the black community and misconceptions of fame, Tech released the video to "Drill Sergeant".[8]
The music video to "Pull Out" featuring Head Da Don was released on September 19, 2023.[9]
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| UndergroundHipHopBlog | 5/10[10] |
At The Pitch KC, Belle Yennie expressed that, "stunningly different, Bliss highlights how Tech N9ne can quite literally do it all, incorporating textured scream sections with Kim Dracula and fluid vocals from Durand Bernarr. Though Tech was a little unsure of the number of collaborative artists on the album, the exciting challenge paid off and every song originally planned earned a rightful spot. The album showcases Tech's versatility and lyrically moving talent both working individually and with others."[11]
A writer at UndergroundHipHopBlog under the name "Legends Will Never Die" stated in his article that the album "didn't need to be 25 tracks/76 minutes long" and that all the guest artists "perform on his caliber at best or mid to unlistenable at worst".[10]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Welcome to the P.I.T.S. (skit)" |
|
| 0:48 |
| 2. | "Badge of Honor" |
|
| 4:02 |
| 3. | "Knock" (featuring Conway the Machine, Joyner Lucas and X-Raided) |
| Dame | 5:24 |
| 4. | "KC Huh? KC What?" (featuring Roblo DaStar, King D and Lil Ava) |
| Dame | 3:53 |
| 5. | "They Know Meh" (featuring the Popper) |
| Dominique Sanders | 3:27 |
| 6. | "Y'all Having a Good Time?! (skit)" |
| Wyshmaster | 0:35 |
| 7. | "Tell Everyone" (featuring Isaac Cates and Ordained) |
|
| 2:59 |
| 8. | "Things I Like" |
| Ervin Pope | 3:07 |
| 9. | "3D" |
|
| 3:04 |
| 10. | "W H A T (We're Hungry and Thirsty)" (featuring Kim Dracula and HU$H) |
|
| 3:04 |
| 11. | "Crowd Participation (skit)" |
| Wyshmaster | 0:36 |
| 12. | "Wess Paul Bennett" (featuring Joey Cool and King Iso) |
| Wyshmaster | 4:29 |
| 13. | "Pull Out" (featuring Head Da Don) |
| Goodro | 3:39 |
| 14. | "Fatha Fig Ya (Food for Thought)" (featuring RMR) |
|
| 2:50 |
| 15. | "Reach Us" (featuring X-Raided, 2Gunn Kevi and Head Da Don) |
|
| 3:25 |
| 16. | "Red Aura" (featuring Durand Bernarr and Qveen Herby) |
| Dame | 3:02 |
| 17. | "Screen (album version)" (featuring Jehry Robinson) |
|
| 4:41 |
| 18. | "That Was Dope! (skit)" |
| 0:32 | |
| 19. | "Drill Sergeant" |
|
| 2:59 |
| 20. | "Bro So Mo (Lemony Snicket's)" |
| Dame | 3:39 |
| 21. | "I Met a Morph" (featuring UBI) |
| Dame | 4:05 |
| 22. | "Problem at the Pump (skit)" | 1:02 | ||
| 23. | "Deer Alley" |
|
| 2:42 |
| 24. | "2 Happy" (featuring Nnutthowze – Zkeircrow & Phlaque the Grimstress) |
| Dame | 4:43 |
| 25. | "Got What I Wanted" (featuring Navé Monjo) |
| Ervin Pope | 3:34 |
| Total length: | 76:00 | |||
References
edit- ^ "Bliss - Tech N9ne Album". AllMusic. 2023. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
- ^ "Tech N9ne - Screen". Strange Music Inc. November 18, 2022. Retrieved September 13, 2024 – via YouTube.[unreliable source?]
- ^ "Tech N9ne releases new song in dedication to Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl run". KMBC 9 News. February 17, 2023. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
- ^ ""Things I Like" official video". Strange Music, Inc. March 10, 2023. Retrieved September 13, 2024 – via YouTube.[unreliable source?]
- ^ "Pre-Save Tech N9ne's New Song "Things I Like" Now!". Strange Music, Inc. March 8, 2023. Retrieved September 13, 2024.[non-primary source needed]
- ^ "Tech N9ne Surprises Some Of His Biggest Fans With Trick '3D' Experience". HipHopDX. April 8, 2023. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
- ^ "Tech N9ne Drops Gems On New Song 'Fatha Fig Ya' In Time For Father's Day". HipHopDX. June 17, 2023. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
- ^ "Video: Tech N9ne - "Drill Sergeant"". Rap Radar. July 29, 2023. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
- ^ "Tech N9ne & Head Da Don "Pull Out" Video Premiere". Billboard. September 19, 2023. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
- ^ a b "Although a Bit of a Mixed Bag, Tech N9ne's 24th Album "Bliss" Finds Him Free of Any Conflict (Album Review)". Undergroundhiphopblog. July 28, 2023. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
- ^ Yennie, Belle (July 28, 2023). "Tech N9ne's Bliss is a challenging, thoughtful culmination of a career that uses the rapper's platform to push for a more inclusive world". thepitchkc.com. Retrieved October 22, 2024.