BY Dana Scott • August 29, 2018

Tech N9ne has carved his own niche as an eccentric lyrical maverick, etching out the blueprint for how to become an independent powerhouse since the early 2000s. The Strange Music founder and his cohort Krizz Kaliko delivered a stellar live performance with a three-piece backing band for NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series released on Tuesday (August 29).

The Kansas City underground rappers performed four of their fan favorites “Dysfunctional,” “Aw Yeah? (interVENTion),” “Fragile,” and “Speedom (Worldwide Choppers Pt. 2)” in that order. Tech’s trademark double-timed staccato flow, Krizz’s frenetic rhyme style and operatic backing vocals accompanied by the band’s bass guitar, rhythm guitar and drums gave soulful renditions of each song.

The most heartfelt moment of the performance came at the end of “Aw Yeah? (interVENTion)” when Tech screams “Mama!”

“It’s hard to do that and not shake, man” Tech says. “It’s so much emotion. Give me a minute.”

Krizz then explains the inspiration for the song came as a dedication to Tech’s mother who died from lupus in June 2016.

“This is how we laugh at all the other rappers,” Krizz Kaliko says while laughing towards the end of their set.

Watch Tech N9ne and Krizz Kaliko’s Tiny Desk Concert performance in the clip below.

Read more at HIPHOPDX