Straight Out the Gate

Album: Something Else (2013)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • System of a Down frontman Serj Tankian lends his voice to this track. Tech told Rolling Stone that he is a huge fan of Tankian and reached out to him. "I think he is fu--ing insane lyrically, musically, spiritually . . . Totally cluster-f--k-ish like myself – you never know what's going to happen in the music," he said. "If you talk to Serj, he'll probably tell you he knew nothing about Tech N9ne until the song was sent to him, and after listening to it he went and got all my music, and it makes him run faster on the treadmill."

    "I had not heard of Tech N9ne when we were sent the track," Serj admitted to Rolling Stone. "I checked out a bunch of his songs and really got into his flow, intensity and dynamics, and I agreed to sing on it. Originality in hip-hop and rock are hard to come by."
  • This song opens Tech N9ine's Something Else album. He told Artist Direct: "When I heard this beat, it was really simple. I knew it was going to be the first song on the album. That's why I called it 'Straight Out the Gate.'"
  • Tech discussed Serj Tankian's contribution to the song with Artist Direct: "As I began writing the lyrics, it was more E.B.A.H. influenced," he said. "Serj is the one who took it political and current events-ish with the words he chose. 'We are the darkness but we're leaving' is like we're dying. 'We are the gods that are deceiving' could be David Karesh, Jim Jones, The Vatican, or whatever. 'We are the painters of blind faith' could be a lot of religious leaders. 'We are the children of your rivals' could be Osama's kids. He made it mean something. My s--t is powerful all the way through. I'm talking about myself and being good and bad all the time."

Comments: 1

  • Aa from Your Mom’s HouseLive tech and system of the down. My gawd. Send me more!!!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," Kiss

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," KissSong Writing

After cutting his teeth on hardcore punk videos, Paul defined the grunge look with his work on "Hunger Strike" and "Man in the Box."

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s EditionMusic Quiz

You know the scenes - Tom Cruise in his own pants-off dance off, Molly Ringwald celebrating her birthday - but do you remember what song is playing?

Rupert Hine

Rupert HineSongwriter Interviews

Producer Rupert Hine talks about crafting hits for Tina Turner, Howard Jones and The Fixx.

Tony Joe White

Tony Joe WhiteSongwriter Interviews

The writer of "Rainy Night in Georgia" and "Polk Salad Annie" explains how he cooks up his Louisiana swamp rock.

Songs Discussed in Movies

Songs Discussed in MoviesSong Writing

Bridesmaids, Reservoir Dogs, Willy Wonka - just a few of the flicks where characters discuss specific songs, sometimes as a prelude to murder.

90210 to Buffy to Glee: How Songs Transformed TV

90210 to Buffy to Glee: How Songs Transformed TVSong Writing

Shows like Dawson's Creek, Grey's Anatomy and Buffy the Vampire Slayer changed the way songs were heard on TV, and produced some hits in the process.