Aaron Dontez Yates, professionally known as Tech N9ne, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. He began his music career in the late 20th century, earning his stage name from fellow rapper Black Walt, who likened Yates's rapid-fire, "chopper" rhyming style to the TEC-9 semi-automatic handgun. Yates later attributed a symbolic meaning to the moniker, explaining that "tech" represents the technique of rhyming and "nine" signifies the number of completion.
In 1999, Yates co-founded the independent record label Strange Music alongside business partner Travis O'Guin. Over his career, he has achieved significant commercial success, selling more than two million albums. His music has been widely featured across television, film, and interactive media, and in 2009, he was recognized with the Left Field Woodie Award at the mtvU Woodie Awards.
