Birth name Aaron Dontez Yates Born November 8, 1971 (1971-11-08) (age 39) Origin Kansas City, Missouri, US Genres Hip hop Occupations Rapper, Actor, Label vice president Years active 1985--present Associated acts Kottonmouth Kings, Krizz Kaliko, Brotha Lynch Hung, Psychopathic Records, Hopsin, Kutt Calhoun, Jay Rock, Big Scoob Early lifeTech N9ne was born Aaron Dontez Yates on November 8, 1971 in Independence, Missouri. He began rapping at a very early age, and would rap the letters of his name in order to remember how to spell it.[6] Interaction with his father was infrequent, and his mother suffered from epilepsy and lupus when he was a child, which emotionally affected him and inspired him to "search for God."[6] He would wander around abandoned buildings with his best friend, Brian Dennis, hoping to catch a ghost on film.[6] In 2002, Dennis was shot and killed by his girlfriend's ex-boyfriend, which further inspired Yates' search for a higher power, as well as giving him the drive to vent his frustrations in his music. [edit] CareerEarly in his life, Yates was a member of a group formed in 1991 called Black Mafia.[7] He saw glimpses of success in the group 57th Street Rogue Dog Villians with their single "Let's Get Fucked Up." As a member of the group Nnutthowze, Aaron Yates signed with Perspective Records in 1993.[8] However, the group disbanded soon after being released from the label. Yates signed with Qwest Records briefly before moving to JCOR Records.[8] In 1997 ...