His often chameleonic image and genre-bending musical style (which he himself has dubbed Nureau) have made him alternately revered and reviled among conservative fans of Gospel music. Nonetheless, he has carved out a niche for himself as a formidable vocalist, and prolific songwriter and record producer. After honing his producing skills with a series of experimental independent recordings, TON3X made his national debut with a re-release of his most successful independent album "Pronounced Toe-Nay." His first high-profile television appearance was performing a medley of "Trinity" & "One Good Reason," blowing the crowd away on the Stellar Awards, which was a coup as TON3X (then Tonéx) was a relative unknown at the time.
A single and music video from Pronounced Toe-Nay were serviced to media outlets for "Personal Jesus". Upon its release, the album bore 5 different record label logos: Rescue Records, the independent label that originally released the album; MSS Records, TON3X's then-active vanity imprint label; Tommy Boy Gospel, the label to which TON3X was signed as an artist; Verity Records, the label to which his independent label Rescue Records sold his album's masters; and Jive Records, the mainstream umbrella over Verity Records.
Two years later, he delivered the musically progressive and pop-leaning album "O2" which got off to a great start with the popularity of the upbeat music video for the single "Bout A Thang" featuring energetic hip-hop dance and an edgy urban image not usually associated with Gospel artists. The album received it's greatest boost from the momentum gathered by the single "God Has Not 4got" on Gospel radio. The song was nominated for multiple Stellar Awards the following year. Reminiscent of the style of R. Kelly, an additional single "That's When" also garnered much radio airplay.
His 2004 double CD "Out The Box" earned him the most widespread acclaim so far, debuting at #1 on the Billboard Magazine Top Gospel Album Chart in September of 2004. He also netted a Grammy nomination for Best Soul Gospel Album the following year, and had a bonafide radio hit with the ballad "Make Me Over". The same year, TON3X won a total of six Stellar Awards including "Artist of the Year" for Out The Box.
Following Out The Box, TON3X took the independent route, gaining creative control as well as control of his brand as a whole. TON3X has been releasing old albums, mixtapes, EP's, and singles through iTunes and his online store under the label heading of Nureau iNK. Among these releases are, a 2-track single from his hip-hop alter ego T. Bizzy, an exclusive remix album "Pronounced Remyx", and a sprawling two-disc confessional opus called "Oak Park 92105" previously only available through underground websites. A special version of "Oak Park 92105" was given a limited release to the Christian market and re-titled "Oak Park 921'o6" featuring a new song "Fail U" as lead single. Fail U was supported by a urban Japanese themed music video which is available on YouTube and iTunes. A primarily Jazz collection entitled "The London Letters" was released through Nureau iNK on iTunes and has garnered rave reviews and strong support from the Jazz community and gained secular fans that knew not of TON3X.
In March 2007, a reconciliation with Zomba Label Group was announced, which would be a joint venture for his Nureau iNK label. The deal was struck under the auspices of new Zomba president Jazzy Jordan who has previously guided the careers of R. Kelly and Salt-N-Pepa. However, as of June 2007, a split with Zomba was again announced. In the wake of several candid and revelatory songs and video blogs, TON3X is facing much scrutiny, with the bulk of criticism centering on his use of profanity in both his songs and his blogs. Though a single, "Joy," was released to radio as of May 16, 2007, his new album "Stereotype: Steel & Velvet" was stalled by Verity Records. The release date of September 11, 2007 was pending on the Verity Record label, and ultimately canceled.
Most recently, TON3X has released two mixtapes which fans consider actual albums as they both contain 20 tracks. "The Naked Truth" and "Bapost.o.g.i.c." were both released in on CD as limited edition pressings. Fans and supporters scrambled to their copies of The Naked Truth as it contains material that resulted in him being shunned by the Gospel community as well as material documenting his struggles, challenges, and revelations over the last five years. The Naked Truth and Bapost.o.g.i.c. could have been released as a set as they completely support each other in documenting where TON3X had been and where he was going. Bapost.o.g.i.c. is a new era that took TONEX from his old self to the new and improved TON3X. Bapost.o.g.i.c. is a vision, and a focus to erase the lines between C.O.G.I.C., Apostolic, and Baptist religions and bring the focus back to God. Supporting and citing the movement of 1906's Azusa Street Revival, TON3X wants unity and focus on God and not on religion and traditions.
Currently TON3X is completing a three week run starring as James "Thunder" Early in the musical play DREAMGIRLS at The Lyceum Theater located in downtown San Diego. The musical play received rave reviews and is the first of many musical and acting endeavors in the near future for TON3X. From November 2008 to January 2009, TON3X will also be starring in The Princess And The Black Eye Pea at The Lyceum Theater in downtown San Diego. TON3X is also working as a writer and staff producer for Nextlyfe Entertainment (Brandy, Eric Benet, Something for the People, Ne-Yo). TON3X wrote and produced songs for upcoming/current projects by Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, Brandy, Usher, Pussycat Dolls and Danity Kane.
Alive
Tonéx Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But holla back in 3 days
Hear me when I say
I'm gonna turn this party out
Nail me in my feet
Nail me in my hands
Bu tin 3 days
I promise you that
Ohhh oohhh ohhh
I was there
When they pierced him in his side
The savior's dead
Sopranos: But I just left the tomb & he's not there
Altos & Sopranos: Not there (repeat)
Tenors: Take it easy!
What'd you say to me?
Are you kidding me?
He's not there!
Where's his body at?
Who rolled the stone back?
I can't believe that he's not there!
Go head whip me on the 3 9
Look into my eyes
You could never kill me I was murdered willingly
I could have called 10 thou
To come & bail me out
But I took it like a champ
Grace can't hold me down
I'm invincible
Ohhh oohhh ohhh
I was there
When the sun refused to shine
The savior's dead
But I just left the tomb & he's not there
Who could have trespassed the savior's tomb
Who would have stolen his corpse form the grace?
I went down into hell & I snatched the devil's keys
I set the captive free
Death where is your sting?
Sunday morning it was on & poppin
The stone was rolled away I told death behave
Death where is your sting?
Sting where is your grave?
Grave where is you victory?
Jesus just mad history
Alive
Altos: Jesus is not there, got up like he said, all power in his hands & his alive!
The lyrics of "Alive 2" by Tonex & The Peculiar People speak about the resurrection of Christ and how His death and resurrection were the ultimate victory over death, sin, and the devil. The song starts with a reference to the famous Biblical story where Jesus Christ died on the cross and was buried, but He rose again on the third day. The lines "Call out my name, holla back in 3 days, Hear me when I say I'm gonna turn this party out, Nail me in my feet, nail me in my hands, But in 3 days I'm gonna rise again" signify the death of Jesus Christ and the promise of His resurrection.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the fact that Jesus is not dead, but He is still alive. The verses go on to express how those who believe in Jesus can never be killed or destroyed as He conquered death and offered eternal life to all who believe in Him.
The last part of the song talks about how Jesus went down to hell and took the keys from Satan, which is a reference to his triumph over the devil after his death. The lyrics "Greater is He that's in you" speaks about the power of the Holy Spirit, who lives in the hearts of believers and gives them strength to overcome challenges in life.
Overall, "Alive 2" is a powerful Christian song that celebrates the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and how His victory over death offers eternal life to all who believe.
Line by Line Meaning
Call out my name, holla back in 3 days
Ask for me by name, but I won't be here for a few days
Hear me when I say I'm gonna turn this party out
Believe me when I tell you that I'm going to make this party amazing
Nail me in my feet, nail me in my hands
Pierce my feet and hands with nails
But in 3 days I'm gonna rise again
Despite being nailed to a cross, I will come back to life in three days
I'm not dead, I'm still alive
I didn't stay dead, I am alive again
With me on the freeline
When you follow me and my teachings
You can never kill me, I was murdered with a cleave
Nobody can truly kill me, because I was already killed unfairly
Could have called then thou, come and bail me out
You could have helped me when I was in trouble
But I took it like a [Incomprehensible]
But I accepted my unfair treatment without complaint
I went down into Hell and I took the keys from Satan
I went to the underworld and defeated the devil
There was some discussions about me
My actions caused a stir in the spiritual world
There's some board meetings about you too in Hell
There are also discussions about your fate in the afterlife
But greater is He that's in you
But remember, there is a higher power within you
I got up and got out
I got up and left the place where I was buried
[Incomprehensible]
This lyric is indiscernible and cannot be accurately interpreted
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: HAROLD DAVIS, DONALD E. FLETCHER, WELDON DEAN PARKS, ANTHONY C. II WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Arris Stephane Ibouily Boucka
on Cry No More
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