Rapper Tech N9ne took to Twitter on Monday to offer sympathies to the family of battle rapper Tech 9 — whose stage moniker sounds and is spelled comparatively — and elucidate that he himself is especially alive and well.
“This Tech N9ne is going through customs back in the U.S. coming from Canada, coming from Europe,” he said in a Twitter video. “My family’s calling my phone wondering if I’m OK. I’m OK. Condolences go out to battle rapper Tech 9. Philly stand up.”
Tech N9ne’s real name is Aaron Dontez Yates and he co-founded the independent hip-hop label Strange Music Inc., situated in Kansas City, Mo.
The rapper, 47, whose music has been highlighted in “Alpha Dog,” has been mistaken for the battle rapper on account of their close indistinguishable aliases. In the video, he said that he watched huge numbers of Tech 9’s battles.
Philadelphia battle rapper Tech 9, whose real name is Akeem Mickens, was declared on Monday to have passed on by individual battle rapper Buttah From Da Block.
“PHILADELPHIA AND THE BATTLE RAP CULTURE ALL TOOK A LOSS WITH THIS ONE. HE WAS A PIONEER, GENTLEMAN, GREAT FATHER ENTREPRENEUR, ENTHUSIAST AND PHILANTHROPIST. With Deep Hurt And sorrow i say we will miss u and love u bro,” he composed on Facebook.
Mickens was considered “one of the architects of modern battle rap” and later turned into a commentator, as indicated by hip-hop news website the Source.
Grammy winner Kendrick Lamar and “Superstar” rapper Lupe Fiasco were among the fans who paid tribute to Tech 9 via web-based networking media following expression of his passing.
“THEY SAY MY FACE DONT LOOK THE SAME WITH THE STOCK-Condolences to the family of the late great Tech9 of philly. Rest well,” Lamar wrote.
“Rip Tech 9…one of the most entertaining battle rappers,” Fiasco tweeted. “Condolences to his family and friends. May God have mercy on his soul.”