As announced earlier this week, Tech N9ne will be the guest on tonight’s episode of Drink Champs. A highlight of the sit down between the rapper and hosts N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN is when Tech speaks on the misunderstanding that led to his rift with the Insane Clown Posse and their cult following of fans, the Juggalos.
The beef was the result of an interview the Strange Music head honcho had with Hot 97’s morning show, Ebro In The Morning. Tech, who first connected with the ICP crew in the early 2000s while touring, was asked if there similarities between him and ICP. The answer he gave didn’t sit well with Juggalos.
“The leaders of the Insane Clown Posse movement felt like I didn’t say enough about the Juggalos,” he told the Drink Champs hosts. He believes the group misinterpreted him hating on them when he was actually just annoyed with Ebro, who he thought was making a contrived comparison and didn’t understand his music. “…If your leader says Tech’s not showing enough love, everyone is going to say ‘fuck Tech N9ne,’ and that turned against me.”
After ending up on the receiving end of death threats, Tech was forced to cancel several live performances, including the annual Gathering of the Juggalos festival. Dimebag Darrell, a guitarist for the band Pantera, was killed by a deranged young fan in December 2004 during a concert in Columbus, Ohio; Tech didn’t want to risk the same fate.
“They mad. ‘Oh, he can do these fucking festivals, but can’t come to the gathering.’ ‘He supposed to be a blood, and he’s scared of Juggalos,’” Tech said. “It’s not about being scared, it’s about being aware.”
The latest episode of Drink Champs can be viewed tonight at 10 p.m. ET on REVOLT TV. In the mean time, check out the trailer for Tech N9ne’s interview with N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN below.