Tech N9ne debuts new music at headlining performance at Boulevardia
“It is kind of weird in a way,” said Stephen Johnson, a 44-year-old Tech N9ne fan who attended Boulevardia for the first time to see the Kansas City artist. “I can remember going to a Tech N9ne concert 20 years ago with my boys, and now I am here with my girlfriend and our kids.”
Johnson and his family endured temperatures over 90 degrees Saturday to attend one of Kansas City’s biggest music festivals.
Boulevardia, created by Boulevard Brewing Company, typically spans two days. However, this year’s festival was condensed into a single day of performances, running from noon to 10:30 p.m., with Tech N9ne headlining and closing out the event with a set that blended classics with new material.
As a father of two, Johnson was glad to see Tech N9ne leading the lineup, citing the rapper’s wide-ranging appeal.
“I have friends who like rock who love Tech, and I have friends who only listen to hip-hop who love Tech, so to me he is the obvious choice,” he said.
Tech N9ne said he was honored to be chosen as the final act for one of the metro area’s largest music events. Though he’s now received with enthusiasm, he remembers a time when his place as a headliner drew criticism.
“There were a lot of people who had a lot of negative things about Tech N9ne headlining Rockfest or Boulevardia for the first time,” said Tech. “Now there are not negative comments about hip-hop being the main act, so to get that respect and see there’s a lot of respect for me here in this town, and I love it. I will wear that crown proudly.”
Tech first headlined Boulevardia in 2018 and decided to return this year in celebration of the festival’s 10th anniversary. As an artist with deep roots in Kansas City, he believes the event has evolved into something much bigger than a typical annual music show.
The 53-year-old hip-hop artist sees Boulevardia as a key force in spotlighting local talent and helping emerging artists reach broader audiences.
“Boulevardia has a hand in pushing forward independent artists that people might not have known or who are just being seen for the first time,” said Tech N9ne. “They created a platform where people can get on a big stage in front of a lot of people, and that is a wonderful thing.”
Tech also understands the challenges of organizing an event of this scale, drawing from his experience running his own label, Strange Music. He says that he and his team have long hoped to host their own festival, but the logistics involved are no small task.
“A festival is hard to do. Strange Music has been trying to do it for a long time, and I am proud because 10 years is something to brag about,” he says.
As the sun began to set, the Strange Music logo became an increasingly common sight on T-shirts throughout the festival grounds. For Tech N9ne’s loyal fanbase — known as the “Technicians” — merchandise plays a big role in the experience. The Strange Music merch booth, located near the main stage, became a constant gathering point for fans eager to purchase items to mark the occasion.
D. Hunter, who has been working for the label selling merchandise for six years, has witnessed firsthand the dedication of Tech’s fanbase. The booth offered a variety of products including T-shirts, hats, backpacks and other gear.
“Anything to do with Tech N9ne on it sells like crazy,” said Hunter. “The rebrand of the Bou Lou and all the throwback merch from 2018 when it first launched [is] coming back, so people are trying to get their hands on it.”
According to Hunter, Bou Lou merchandise has remained a fan favorite. The original release came in 2018, when Boulevard Brewing Company and Tech N9ne collaborated to create a beer called “Bou Lou,” inspired by Tech’s signature drink, Caribou Lou.
As performances on the four adjacent stages wrapped up, thousands began streaming toward the main stage for the night’s headlining act.
James Smith, wearing a Tech N9ne T-shirt he purchased in October, came with friends to see one of his favorite artists perform.
“He has this crazy vibe,” said Smith. “I am just excited to see him again, and I am excited to see what he does tonight because in all the Tech shows I have been to, none are the same.”
Tech took the stage alongside a live band featuring guitar, bass, drums and a DJ. He performed fan favorites such as “Riot Maker,” “He’s A Mental Giant,” and all three verses from his “Choppers” series.
Midway through his performance, Tech intensified the theatrics by donning a grotesque silicone clown mask, complete with a glowing red nose and jagged teeth, embodying his infamous “killer clown” persona.
In addition to performing hits, Tech also used the opportunity to preview material from his upcoming album, “5816 Forrest,” set to release June 27. Named after the address of his childhood home, the album contains deeply personal songs that he hopes to expand into a series.
He debuted three new tracks: “Walt Street,” “J6’s,” and “This I Know.” While excited to introduce the songs, Tech admitted to feeling nervous about performing them live for the first time.
“I got new songs on there for my new album, so I’m making it hard for myself,” said Tech. “This will be the first time I am letting people hear me do these live at Boulevardia because I thought it would be a great testing ground for this new show.”
Though Tech was nervous, the performance went off without a hitch. The songs from the upcoming album were well received by concertgoers and dedicated fans alike, with some being slow and thoughtful and others were the uptempo tracks Tech is known for. The new songs blended perfectly within the Tech N9ne festival arsenal.
