The Ti K emission band from TiN and substoichiometric ${\mathrm{TiN}}_{\mathrm{x}}$ (0.35\ensuremath{\le}xl1) has been investigated. The Ti p--like states are very strongly hybridized with the N 2p states located \ensuremath{\sim}6 eV below the Fermi level (${E}_{F}$) in TiN. In the presence of nitrogen vacancies, p-like nonbonding states are detected \ensuremath{\sim}2 eV below ${E}_{F}$. As x decreases, the intensity of the nonbonding structure increases, that of the \ensuremath{\sim}6 eV peak decreases, and the valence-band states move closer to ${E}_{F}$ reflecting the decrease in cohesion. Theoretical x-ray spectra have been obtained with use of the Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker coherent-potential-approximation densities of states and appropriate transition-matrix elements. The theory is shown to account for all the trends observed experimentally.