Even though Tech N9ne has spent years cranking out a series of collaboration albums, he couldn’t resist inviting his (wildly talented) rapping friends to join in on the fun on his latest album, Special Effects. Most of the album's 25 tracks include features from some very familiar faces. The biggest surprises, though, come from those you don't know, who compete with industry veterans on an album full of quotable verses. This is ripe territory to rank the best features on the album and include some of our favorite bars.
Anyone we're missing here? Scroll through the list to see who had the best verse, and share your favorite lyrics in the comments.
COVER
Big Scoob - "Bass Ackwards"
Big Scoob channels his inner Busta Rhymes on “Bass Ackwards” and angrily rattles off a war cry. Sandwiched between N9na and Lil Wayne, Scoob doesn't hold anything back during his confessional verse.
Quotable Lyrics
When'd you push a package? When'd you ever clap shit?
All these niggas talking ain't done nothing but this rap shit
Reason why I shook this place and had to find some space
I killed one of these rap niggas and ate they fucking face
Outta place in this rap game, biggest mistake I ever made
Hit rewind and de-line, deleting everything I layed
Joey Cool - "Life Sentences"
The relative unknown from Missouri gets some Hometown love from Tech N9ne, guesting on one of the album's later tracks, "Life Sentences." His verse is impressive enough to pump a little life into the moody final stretch of Special Effects.
Quotable Lyrics
You thinkin' you can let 'em in, partake in buildin' excellence
The serpents come in twos and they meticulous with they meddlin'
The feathers flock together, see the relationships we settle in
Got consequences so it's best to let 'em go, we blessed again
Marcus Yates - "Yates"
On "Yates," Tech invites his cousin Marcus Yates to join him on a track that honors their last name to the fullest effect. Marcus comes through with a haunting hook perfect for soundtracking your next angry driving session. He also brings along a doozy of a verse to close one of the most badass songs on the album.
Quotable Lyrics
Tired of bein' with the intermediate
Faded on bullshit, control the whole medium
I done ran inside my meniscus
I done out-rapped everybody Christmas
T.I. - "On the Bible"
T.I.'s verse on one of the album's early leaks, "On The Bible," matches Tech's energy to help deliver an anthem of allegiance. Tip does a fine job of articulating that if he or Tech don't fuck with you, you probably aren't much of anyone.
Quotable Lyrics
Otherwise, nigga you just soft as all them other guys
I'll kill ya dead and I put that on my mother eyes
Don't listen to these niggas, they just kick a bunch of lies
How they got a bunch of guns? Shot 'em all a bunch of times
I really do believe Tech got a bunch of nines
Before they gave my nigga Meech a bunch of time
I really know my nigga Young had a bunch of pies
For the low, all my niggas had it for the high
Krizz Kaliko - "Give It All"
Krizz Kaliko is all over this album and delivers every time. It's his performance on the hook of "Give It All," however, that steals the show. With Price and Oktane of Audio Push delivering fantastic verses and N9na himself dropping what's arguably his best verse on the album, it's still Kaliko's chorus that gets stuck in your head. He gives the song the perfect smoky vibe on an otherwise aggressive album.
Lil Wayne - "Bass Ackwards"
Special Effects is a mostly serious album, so it's a delight when "Bass Ackwards," a banger with a less dense and more fun aesthetic, comes around. Lil Wayne's closing verse is the main event on a track also featuring Big Scoob and Yo Gotti.
Quotable Lyrics
My double R & R, I park on the curb in this bitch
The money, I'm submerged in this shit
So frankly, I'm stalking Ben Franklin
I am Wayne Carter, oops, I meant Cayne Warter
Cocaine on back order
Flip you ass backwards
Bitch you are bass ackwards if you think that's awkward
Price - "Give It All"
Price (of Audio Push) had a tough act to follow after an intense, near flawless verse from Tech N9ne to set the stage on "Give It All." Price proves to be valiant in his own right, totally going in on a verse that covers a lot of ground considering the amount of time he's given.
Quotable Lyrics
I fall asleep, it all is weak, most y'all shouldn't be called MCs
Bro, ya discography, you ain't sell cause all of ya talk is cheap
Smoke up all the tree, my whip look like it got a fog machine
My crib look like a pharmacy, that's prolly why you wanna haul my team
Krizz Kaliko - "Speedom"
Surrounded by two of the best choppers of all time, Krizz Kaliko delivers a solid verse and an earworm of a hook that makes reference to "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child." While Em and Tech can't be beat, Kaliko is hardly overshadowed.
Quotable Lyrics
This is it man, the hitman, the Ip Man, karate 'em
And the fans will lift hands, we'll be dancin' out of 'em
And in Kansas advanced to withstand a pile of 'em
Who stands with two hands to move in the crowd of 'em
2 Chainz - "Hood Go Crazy"
2 Chainz shows up on Special Effects to do what 2 Chainz does best--talk about how awesome 2 Chainz is. He delivers fire with every bar he's offered on "Hood Go Crazy," the albums' first single, and the song that's gonna get the most radio play on the whole album.
Quotable Lyrics
Cooler than a polar bear in a bowl of ice
With a ring, married to the game, had 'em throwin' rice
Wait a minute, put my thing in her
I'm trynna knock up, I'm trynna put a singer in her
So I can do a banger with her
Eminem - "Speedom"
It’s reported that Eminem was so excited to feature on Tech N9ne's newest record that he gave his verse for free. His enthusiasm comes across in the form of some of the fastest delivery he's ever done, and, lyrically, he deserves a fat paycheck.
Quotable Lyrics
Cause when I pick up a pen I'm venomous
And I'm as slick as Dennis the Menace
Like an evil dental hygienist, sinister
You've been yelling dementedness
I invented this, I'm the genesis
Eminem is a nemesis to a feminist
Fuckin' smart alec degenerate
I got Ellen DeGeneres
Tryna tell me these men are just full of jealousy