While hip-hop headlines today are being commandeered by the shocking confession of a man who says he shot Tupac Shakur, rap has been hit with another surprise, this one a little more celebratory. Tech N9ne's 12th studio record, 'All 6's and 7's' debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 chart and No. 1 on the Rap Albums chart, after moving 55,806 units. His last effort, 2010's 'The Gates Mixed Plate,' released roughly a year ago, sold only around 50,000 copies total.

The hardcore effort was released on Tech N9ne's own label, Strange Music, where he has sold more than one million albums independently since beginning his career in hip-hop 20 years ago. Since it was self-released, 'All 6's and 7's,' also made it to No. 1 on the Independent Albums chart. While it's not Tech's first No. 1 on this particular chart, the shock value sets in that after two persistent decades in the game, the Kansas City, Miss. OG finally finds his way into the top 5 and with the No. 1 rap album in the country.

Assists on the album were a departure from Tech's usual underground roots, with more mainstream artists -- Yelawolf, Busta Rhymes, T-Pain, B.o.B., E-40, Snoop Dogg, the Deftones and Lil Wayne -- contributing to the new effort. But Tech's lyrics on the album cut 'Love Me Tomorrow' suggest otherwise: "Tech will never go mainstream/ Mainstream will go Tech."

In an interview with MTV, Tech said he's been fighting off major label deals and that it'd take "around $900 million or something [to sign a deal]" at this point. And those who think he's a sell-out, he has this to say: "I can give a s--- about a chart position. A fan telling me that they love the album means more than them little glass trophies. The people, I think, genuinely love the album."

The rapper is currently out supporting the album on the 'All 6's & 7's' tour, which wraps this August.



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