Album Review: Tech N9ne- The Gates Mixed Plate

    Average Rating: 8.5/10
Overall Rating: 7.2/10

     
  1. Intro
2. O.G (10/10)
3. Fu Pay Me Ft. Makzilla & Krizz Kaliko (8.5/10)
4. Gamer Ft. Kutt Coulhoun (9/10)
5. Jumpin' Jax Ft. Krizz Kaliko & Bishop (7.5/10)
6. Keep It One Hunt Ft. Glasses Malone, Big Scoob & Irv Da Phantom (8/10)
7. Pow Wow Ft. Kutt Coulhoun, Tay Gigz, Rivv Loc, Mon E.G & The Ghostwriter (8/10)
8. Harvy Dent (10/10)
9. Tony G (Skit)
10. What's Next Ft. Craig Smith & Oobergeek (6.5/10)
12. Afterparty Ft. Deven The Dude & Kutt Coulhoun (6.5/10)
13. Too Many Girls Ft. Sundaie & Krizz Kalio (6/10)
14. Puh Wah Wah Ft. 816 Boyz (8/10)
15. Sean Tyler (Skit)
16. KC Tea (10/10)
17. JT Quick (Skit)
18. Oh, You Didn't Know Ft. Ive Da Phantom & The Popper (8/10)
19. Far Out Ft. JL, P.R.E.A.C.H & Steve Stone (10/10)
20. Paper Without Brian B Shynin Ft. Jay Rock & Joe Vertingo (9/10)
21. Loud Ft. Bizzy, Alen Wayne & Ive Da Phantom (10/10)
22. Need More Angles Brother K.T & Ive Da Phantom (10/10)
23. Doin' It Ft. Yukmouth, Chillest Illest & Ome (7.5/10)

     It's difficult to release two albums in the same year, Lil Wayne did it with "Rebirth" and "I Am Not a Human Being", but they both where failures as far as I’m concerned. Tupac did with "All Eyez on Me" and "The Don Killumanati: The 7 Day Theory", which were both successes; however Tupac was a legend, it was almost impossible for him to make a bad albums. Fat Joe did it with "The Elephant in the Room" and "J.O.S.E 2" where "The Elephant in the Room" was a success, and "J.O.S.E 2" was a failure, so how did Tech N9ne do with his second 2010 album "The Gates Mixed Plate" after releasing one of his best efforts, "K.O.D"?

    "The Gates Mixed Plate" was generally a much lighter, less horrorcore themed, and a more of a raw hardcore club themed album than Tech's previous albums. The lyrics, production, and the entire album in general was a lot less dark and horrorcore than his previous albums, and they were all a bit more party/club themed, the lyrics circled around partying and drinking more and Tech tried to provide funner than less more serious flows. Now that the theme of the album is given, how did “The Gates Mixed Plate” work out for Tech? especially because Tech is known for his really strong and aggressive style, and not the KC club theme which was used a lot on this album.

     Even though Tech got more club themed tracks, the album was still pure Tech N9ne hip-hop, and most of the tracks here where still hard hitting and over the top along with a concept to match the rhythm, they may not really some of Tech's best, but there was a few stand out tracks on the album like "O.G" which was about the Kansas City part scene, “K.C. Tea" was a Kansas City drinking theme song, "Far Out" which was about getting all the attention, and "Loud" which was about Tech not caring about anyone, and just playing as much loud music as he wants. Those few songs jump in as the album’s best tracks, they were all fast lyrically, the production on each of those tracks was hard hitting, there was nearly nothing wrong with them, but they were just simply not quite Tech’s best tracks, they were excellent songs, but not exactly the Tech people are used to.

      Tech still had a couple of horrorcore themed tracks on the album, which still had some kind of sad, dark K.O.D styled message. "Harvey Dent" was the best on the album, it was about Tech’s second, darker side, it sounded like a K.O.D leftover, which for some reason wasn’t on the album, and "Need More Angles" was dark, it had a really dark and clear message, and it was one of the best track on the album.     

    Like every album, The Gates Mixed plate does have it’s worst tracks, but here, the worst tracks where decent at best, which is good, because normally ‘worst tracks’ are bad songs or just filler. "What's Next", "After Party" and "Too Many Girls" all sounded a little dumbed down, which was okay, I don't mind dumbed down music when it's good, but compared to Tech they are not nearly up to his level, and as expected, those tracks, and a few more on the album where not up to Tech's level, they could have been a lot better if Tech and company paid a bit more attention to the lyrical strength on the album.

     "The Gates Mixed Plate" was not by any means a bad or even mediocre album, and at the same time it's not even near being something up to an amazing album. It was good, it had its highlights, it’s great tracks, but it wasn't really up to Tech N9ne's level, and honestly the album kinda disappointing when it comes to looking Tech's past work as a whole. Still, it's one of the better albums that came out in 2010, and one of the better second albums that any rapper had in the same year.