Kansas City rapper Tech N9ne has said in interviews that “absolute power is being able to move a sea of people through your words, your beats, your heart.” Tech N9ne’s efforts to move people often come from dark personal struggles, like his suicidal thoughts and guilt over a girlfriend’s abortion. His bizarre choice of music—who would have thought the theme from horror film Halloween could result in such sick beats—and focus on controversial issues, have established him as one of underground rap’s most respected and innovative artists. It may sound like stuff that would trigger you to get a Zoloft prescription, but his brutal honesty is refreshing to hear in a genre steadfastly becoming more about bling, bitches and billboard charts everyday. With Kottonmouth Kings.

Tue., Oct. 9, 7 p.m., 2007