In 2011, one thing became abundantly clear to the industry – Tech N9ne had arrived. Following years of being largely ignored by mainstream media, Tech N9ne made sure that 2011 would be the year that he reigned as the king. With All 6’s And 7’s reaching #4 on Billboard’s Top 200 and his name being mentioned by some of the biggest celebrities, Tech N9ne spent much of the year in the center spotlight.

Now that we face a new year, the discussion switches from where Tech N9ne has been to where he is going. After his appearance on the 2011 BET Hip Hop Awards and having been names HipHopDX’s Emcee Of The Year, it’s hard to imagine that the Kansas City King won’t spend even more time in the limelight in 2012. So, what’s next for the #1 independent rapper in the world? Looking at the endless amount of possibilities, we’ve listed the top 5 places we would like to see Tech N9ne pop up in 2012. It’s a new year and it’s time for a takeover.

5) MTV2’s Sucker Free

When MTV2’s Sucker Free decided to show Tech some love in 2011, they did it right. Dedicating the majority of an episode to Tech N9ne and Strange Music, the show headed to KCMO for an exclusive tour of Tech N9ne’s empire. The episode went on to become the highest rated single episode in the show’s history. Needless to say, Tech N9ne equals ratings. With Tech taking on so much in the new year, we definitely expect to see much more of the king on Sucker Free. How about hosting an episode with the lovely Angela Yee ? We can definitely hope so.

4) 2012 BET Hip Hop Awards

The 2011 BET Hip Hop Awards featured some of the biggest names in music, but one name stood out from the pack – Tech N9ne. Kansas City stood front and center during the show’s first Cypher video that also included verses from B.o.B, Big K.R.I.T., Kendrick Lamar, and Machine Gun Kelly. Dropping the now memorable first verse from “Who Do I Catch”, Tech left his stamp on the evening and went on to trend on Twitter. Anticipating this year’s awards, we would make the argument that it’s time for Tech to actually be invited to the ceremony as a nominee. Remember his hilarious acceptance speech at the MTV Woody Awards? Yeah, we do. It’s time to see Nina at the BET podium.

3) Lollapalooza

As one of the biggest music festivals in the country, Lollapalooza manages to draw the absolute biggest names in music every year. Staged in Chicago’s Grant Park, the festival racks up impressive attendance numbers and is considered one of the best outlets for musicians looking to tap into new audiences. With so many emcees taking the Lollapalooza stage every year, it’s not too far fetched to imagine Tech N9ne appearing on the bill. After all, the dude puts on one hell of a show. Even the hipsters can appreciate that.

2) Late Night Television

We’ve speculated on this topic before, but it’s about time it became a reality. The exposure given to guests or even musical performers on late night television is priceless. With millions of Americans tuning in every night, these programs are among the most popular in various demographics. Bottom line: people watch. When Odd Future appeared on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon for a debut television performance, the group experienced a near overnight success story. If Tyler can entertain millions looking like a psychopath, who’s to say that Tech N9ne couldn’t do the same? Can you imagine the banter between Tech and Conan O’Brien? Team Coco needs a bit of the N9ne.

1) Cover Of XXL

If you’re thinking “Duh”, we’re right there with you. In 2011, XXL showed Tech some real love by including him in multiple features, including a four page spread this past summer. Since then, XXL and XXLMag.com have continued to be some of Tech’s biggest supporters. With so much invested in the independent king, it’s about time that Tech N9ne graced the cover of XXL. The fans want it. We want it.

-Victor Sandoval, Assistant Editor Strange Music

Follow Victor on Twitter: @VicMSandoval

• What did you think of our list?
• Where else would you like to see Tech N9ne in 2012?

Let us know in the comments below!