Special Effects is the fifteenth studio album by American rapper Tech N9ne. It was released on May 4, 2015, by Strange Music.[1] The album is broken up into several portions representing days of the week,[2] with collaborations with artists including Corey Taylor, B.o.B, Lil Wayne, 2 Chainz, T.I., Hopsin, E-40, Yo Gotti, Audio Push and Eminem, among others. The album also features fellow Strange Music artists Krizz Kaliko, Big Scoob and Ces Cru. Production on the album was handled by Seven, Strange Music's in-house producer, Excision along with Joseph Bishara who was the composer of Insidious and The Conjuring.

Special Effects
Studio album by
ReleasedMay 4, 2015
Recorded2013–2015
GenreHip hop
Length77:04
LabelStrange
Producer
Tech N9ne chronology
Strangeulation
(2014)
Special Effects
(2015)
Strangeulation Vol. II
(2015)
Singles from Special Effects
  1. "Aw Yeah?"
    Released: March 26, 2015
  2. "Hood Go Crazy"
    Released: February 26, 2015
  3. "On the Bible"
    Released: May 4, 2015
  4. "No K"
    Released: September 23, 2015

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [3]
Artistdirect(Favorable)[4]
HipHopDX     [5]
RapReviews7.5/10[6]
XXL      (XL)[7]

Special Effects was met with generally positive reviews from music critics. David Jeffries of AllMusic said, "Sticking to his guns with angry, soul-searching lyrics spewing out while the high-powered crossover collaborations fly about, Tech N9ne skillfully rides his career trajectory as it soars ever upwards with Special Effects, an album that's powerful more than purposeful, plus a therapy session where all the party people can sing along."[3] Eric Diep of HipHopDX praised the production, and said, "Casual listeners — who are more familiar with his Hip Hop catalogue — will likely be turned off by the handful of straight-up rap records. His core audience, though, will revel in the album's moments like the return of "Psycho Bitch" with a crazy storytelling verse from Hopsin over sinister production."[5] Michael Blair of XXL said, "Steadily nearing the fine line between underground and mainstream for years now, Tech’s 15th studio album finds itself as the apex of where the two classifications meet and invite both the well-acquainted enthusiast and the curious onlooker."[7]

Commercial performance

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The album debuted at number 4 on the Billboard 200, selling 60,000 copies in the United States.[8] In its second week of sales, the album sold 14,000 copies in the United States.[9]

Track listing

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Sunday Morning
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."The Procedure (Intro)"  0:14
2."Aw Yeah? (InterVENTion)"Seven2:50
3."Lacrimosa"
Seven4:18
4."Condolences (skit)"  0:26
Sunday Evening
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
5."On the Bible" (featuring T.I. and Zuse)
Seven4:09
6."Shroud" (featuring Krizz Kaliko)
4:47
7."More Psycho Messages (skit)"  0:52
8."Psycho Bitch III" (featuring Hopsin)
Seven4:55
9."Wither" (featuring Corey Taylor)
Seven4:43
10."Dead Alive (skit)"  0:33
Monday
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
11."Hood Go Crazy" (featuring 2 Chainz and B.o.B)
N43:45
12."Bass Ackwards" (featuring Yo Gotti, Big Scoob and Lil Wayne)Seven4:03
Tuesday
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
13."No K" (featuring E-40 and Krizz Kaliko)
Seven3:08
Wednesday
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
14."Countdown (skit)"  0:13
15."Speedom (WWC2)" (featuring Krizz Kaliko and Eminem)Seven[10]4:55
16."Give It All" (featuring Audio Push and Krizz Kaliko)
Seven4:59
17."Yates" (featuring Marcus Yates)
  • Yates
  • Summers
  • Marcus Yates
  • Seven
  • M. Yates
3:47
Thursday
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
18."M.T.M.D. (skit)"  0:15
19."A Certain Comfort" (featuring Kate Rose)
  • A. Yates
  • Summers
  • Kathryn Caggianelli
Seven3:41
20."Burn It Down" (featuring Ryan Bradley)
  • A. Yates
  • Summers
  • Ryan Greshock
  • Lance Bennett
Seven3:50
Friday
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
21."Life Sentences" (featuring Krizz Kaliko, Joey Cool and Gee Watts)
  • A. Yates
  • Watson
  • Summers
  • Taven Johnson
  • Gary Watts
Seven4:56
Saturday
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
22."Dyin' Flyin'" (featuring Krizz Kaliko)
  • A. Yates
  • Watson
  • Summers
  • Cates
Seven3:51
Sunday
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
23."Worldly Angel"
  • A. Yates
  • Watson
  • Cates
Seven4:59
Encore
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
24."Roadkill" (Tech N9ne and Excision)
DJ Excision2:56
Total length:77:04
iTunes deluxe edition (bonus tracks)[11]
No.TitleProducer(s)Length
25."Anti" (featuring Krizz Kaliko and Band of Psychos)Seven4:48
26."Young Dumb Full of Fun" (featuring Ces Cru and Mackenzie O'Guin)Seven3:35
Total length:85:27

Charts

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References

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  1. ^ "Strange Music – Special Effects a day earlier". strangemusicinc.com. Retrieved 2015-03-03.
  2. ^ "Tech N9ne "Special Effects" Album Tracklist Features Eminem & Lil Wayne".
  3. ^ a b David Jeffries. "Special Effects – Tech N9ne". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-05-08.
  4. ^ Florino, Rick (2015-05-01). "Album Review: Tech N9ne – 'Special Effects'". Artistdirect. Rogue Digital, LLC. Retrieved 2015-05-08.
  5. ^ a b Diep, Eric (2015-05-05). "Tech N9ne – Special Effects". HipHop DX. Retrieved 2015-05-08.
  6. ^ "Tech N9ne :: Special Effects :: Strange Music Inc". Rapreviews.com. Retrieved 2015-05-18.
  7. ^ a b Blair, Michael (2015-05-08). "Tech N9ne Keeps Getting Better on 'Special Effects'". Xxlmag.com. Retrieved 2015-05-08.
  8. ^ Harris, Christopher (2015-05-13). "Hip Hop Album Sales: Tech N9ne, Drake, Nicki Minaj". HipHopDX. Retrieved 2015-05-21.
  9. ^ Harling, Danielle (2015-05-17). "Hip Hop Album Sales: Snoop Dogg, "Furious 7" & Tech N9ne". HipHopDX. Retrieved 2015-05-21.
  10. ^ a b Smith, Trevor (April 6, 2015). "Tech N9ne Breaks Down "Special Effects" Features, Including Eminem's 24-Bar Verse". HotNewHipHop.com. Retrieved April 6, 2015.
  11. ^ "tracklist". itunes.com. Retrieved 2015-04-06.
  12. ^ "Tech N9ne Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 20, 2015.
  13. ^ "Tech N9ne Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 2015-05-20.
  14. ^ "Tech N9ne Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 20, 2015.
  15. ^ "Tech N9ne Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 20, 2015.
  16. ^ "Billboard 200 – Year-end Chart". Retrieved December 9, 2015.
  17. ^ "Billboard Independent Albums- Year-end Chart". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2015.
  18. ^ "Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums- Year-end Chart". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2015.
  19. ^ "Billboard Rap Albums- Year-end Chart". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2015.