Friend Encounters: Tech N9ne and Matt Parker

Friend Encounters is a weekly series featuring friends who have met celebrities. With Wizard World starting later this week, I present a special Wizard World edition of Friend Encounters.

Aaron Yates rose to fame as Tech N9ne, a rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur. Fellow rapper Black Walt gave him the name due to his fast-rhyming Chopper style, similar to a TEC-9 semi-automatic handgun. In addition to his released recordings, Tech N9ne's music can be heard in video games, movies, television shows and commercials.

The ever-vigilant Johngy's Beat Contributor Extraordinaire Matt Parker spotted Tech N9ne at Wizard World several years back. Admittedly, I am not as hip to the music scene as Matt (or most people actually), but I had heard of Tech N9ne. Still, I would never have recognized him with ace spotter Matt.

You don't see many rappers at Wizard World, but most rappers don't have the varied body of work that Tech N9ne does. You just never know who will appear at Wizard World. You always have to be alert.

Go to WizardWorld.com for all of the info, including the guest list. Also, follow Wizard World on Facebook for more updates and announcements.

Matt Parker and Tech N9ne in Rosemont, IL-August 2013.

Tech N9ne Likes the J0hngy Shirt

In honor of Tech N9ne, for today only, I will be called J0hngy.  I know it isn't the same thing.  I know it probably makes me look less cool than I am (if that is possible).  Still, I forge forward.

Aaron Dontez Yates (better known as Tech N9ne) was appearing at Wizard World last summer and I took the opportunity to add the rapper to JohngysBeat.com celebrity encounters.  JohngysBeat.com is pretty light on rappers (and by pretty light, I mean extremely).  Oh sure, I have Eric St. Vaughn and his "Body Magic" rap.  I also have a few other musicians.  Real rappers though have pretty much escaped me,  however.

I have to admit that I did not even recognize Tech N9ne though.  Contributor Extraordinaire Matt Parker spotted him and got his picture first.  Never one to be left behind, I also got a picture with him.

Just so I am not toally viewed as a huge square, I must mention that Tech N9ne made a point of telling us that he liked the Johngy shirts.  Yeah, dig that.  Tech N9ne said our shirts were cool.

Maybe I am not as out of it as I think.  That is doubtful, but I cling to the hope at least.

Tech N9ne and me in Rosemont, IL-August 2013.