After a relatively quiet stretch, the usually prolific Tech N9ne returned in 2019 with his 13th solo album, N9NA. Celebrating 20 years of his label Strange Music, the Kansas City emcee spends the bulk of the album ruminating on his decades in the game as one of the most successful independent rappers of all time, taking time to boast, brag, and pour out gratitude to everyone who got him here. Another packed value-for-money bounty, N9NA features a handful of familiar faces (Krizz Kaliko, Jelly Roll, King Iso) but maintains the focus on Tech's ever-tight bars, head-spinning chopper delivery, and irrepressibly confident attitude. He rattles off a laundry list of bona fides on "Like I Ain't," while waving the freak flag for his impressively varied audience of Juggalos, metalheads, and rap purists on "Lord of Weird." The team of producers -- including usual player Michael "Seven" Summers -- keeps the energy high and the vibes varied, injecting dread and drama when Tech amps up the menace ("F.T.I. 2.0," "You Line!") and beefing up the bass when it's time to party ("F'n Do It," "EDI's"). Just shy of two dozen tracks, Tech knows how to please his horde of devoted diehards and there's no lack of highlights here. Even when the final third of the album smooths out with more restrained production, he simply packs in more bars and twisting wordplay. Tech rarely disappoints and N9NA is no different.