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.
Thank Q
Tonéx Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sending my light, took my dignity
Eternity in Hell ain't for me
You took my faults, made them history
Just fill my eyes when I think of You
All the chains that You pulled me through
You're the director, I'll take Your cue
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
Friday, Saturday, that's my 7 y'all
Sunday, fun day, You forgiven up all my sins
All my issues, You got rid of them
Got rid of all condemnation from my past You see
Thank q, Lord Jesus, I shall have everything
Never gonna run, never gonna get
Never gonna leave Your sight
Never gonna be ashamed, Jesus, You saved my life
Just wanna thank q for loving me
Just wanna thank q for keeping me
Just wanna thank q for choosing me
Lord, I just wanna say thank q
I don't deserve the things You do for me
When I was drowning, You rescued me
When I was sinking, You lifted me
Lord, I just wanna say thank q
I was once blind and I couldn't see
You took the blindness way off of me
You took my shackles and set me free
That's why I praise You for everything
When I was lost, couldn't find my way
You just moved off the dark cloud away
Through all my heart, sweat and pain
I life my hands up high and say
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
Friday, Saturday, that's my 7 y'all
Sunday, fun day, You forgiven up all my sins
All my issues, You got rid of them
Got rid of all condemnation from my past you see
Thank q, Lord Jesus I shall have everything
Never gonna run, never gonna get
Never gonna leave Your sight
Never gonna be ashamed, Jesus, You saved my life
Just wanna thank q for loving me
Just wanna thank q for keeping me
Just wanna thank q for choosing me
Lord, I just wanna say thank q
I don't deserve the things You do for me
When I was drowning, You rescued me
When I was sinking, You lifted me
Lord, I just wanna say thank q
Thank q for loving me
Thank q for keeping me
Thank q for choosing me
Lord, I just wanna say thank q
Yo, yo, yo, I keep the banging for my people
Check the steeple, got the bells ringing
Systematically, emphatically changing the industry
So radically, I made you hear automatically, yo
We rock and don't stop the Christ boogie
At the top of the charts is like a Christ movie
You ain't feeling my flow but yo, you don't move me
You 'bout the fishes and loaves, you just a Christ groupie
Yodi yodi yo, everybody know, ain't nobody like You
I'ma take a minute, just a lil' minute 'coz I wanna thank q
Not just for the clothes, not just for the dough, I just wanna thank q
I'll do what You do, You know it's true, I just wanna thank q
Thank q for my moms, thank q for my pops, I just wanna thank q
Thank q for my wife, thank q for my house, I just wanna thank q
Thank q for my car, thank q for my job, I just wanna thank q
Thank q for my shirt, thank q for my church, I just wanna thank q
Just wanna thank q for loving me
Just wanna thank q for keeping me
Just wanna thank q for choosing me
Lord, I just wanna say thank q
I don't deserve the things You do for me
When I was drowning, You rescued me
When I was sinking, You lifted me
Lord, I just wanna say thank q
Just wanna thank q
Just wanna thank q for
Just wanna thank q for choosing me
Lord, I just wanna say thank q
I don't deserve
When I was drowning, You
When I was sinking, You
Lord, I just wanna say thank q
The song "Thank Q" is a celebration of the love and grace from Jesus Christ that rescued the singer from a life of errors and led him towards eternal life. The opening lines of the song express the messy state the singer was in before he encountered Jesus Christ. He had lost his sense of purpose and his dignity. However, Christ's intervention enabled him to rise above his mistakes and establish a new history. The song acknowledges how unmerited God's love, forgiveness, and mercy are.
The chorus reinforces the message of thanksgiving for Christ's loving-kindness. The word "q" stands for gratitude, and the song's title highlights the essence of being grateful to Christ for His love and merciful intervention. The verses go deeper into how Jesus changed the singer's life. He acknowledges how Jesus wiped away his sins and rescued him from being lost. The rapper's verse talks about his success in the music industry achieved through his faith in Christ.
The song's overarching message emphasized the importance of being thankful to God for everything He has done. It is a gratification message for Christians to appreciate what they have and whom they are, knowing it all comes from God's grace. In sum, Tonéx's "Thank Q" is a song of gratitude, redemption, and faith in God.
Line by Line Meaning
I was a mess fo' shiggidy
I was a complete disaster
Sending my light, took my dignity
I was losing my sense of worth and direction
Eternity in Hell ain't for me
I don't want to end up in Hell forever
You took my faults, made them history
You helped me overcome my past mistakes and moved on from them
Just fill my eyes when I think of You
You are always on my mind
All the chains that You pulled me through
You helped me break free from my problems and struggles
You're the director, I'll take Your cue
You are in control of my life, and I trust you to lead me
Can nobody do me like You do
You are unique and irreplaceable in my life
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
Friday, Saturday, that's my 7 y'all
Sunday, fun day, You forgiven up all my sins
All my issues, You got rid of them
You are there for me every day of the week, and with Your forgiveness, You help me overcome all my problems and weaknesses
Got rid of all condemnation from my past You see
Thank q, Lord Jesus, I shall have everything
By forgiving me of my past mistakes, I am free from the weight of condemnation, and with You by my side, I am blessed with everything I need
Never gonna run, never gonna get
Never gonna leave Your sight
Never gonna be ashamed, Jesus, You saved my life
With You, I will never stray or feel ashamed because You are always with me, and You saved my life
Just wanna thank q for loving me
Just wanna thank q for keeping me
Just wanna thank q for choosing me
Lord, I just wanna say thank q
I want to express my gratitude to You for loving me, keeping me on track, and choosing me as Your own
I don't deserve the things You do for me
When I was drowning, You rescued me
When I was sinking, You lifted me
Lord, I just wanna say thank q
I know I don't deserve Your mercy and grace, but You came to my rescue when I was drowning and lifted me up when I was sinking, and for that, I am thankful
Yo, yo, yo, I keep the banging for my people
Check the steeple, got the bells ringing
Systematically, emphatically changing the industry
So radically, I made you hear automatically, yo
I am making spiritual music for my listeners, and I aim to change the music industry in a positive way
We rock and don't stop the Christ boogie
At the top of the charts is like a Christ movie
You ain't feeling my flow but yo, you don't move me
You 'bout the fishes and loaves, you just a Christ groupie
My music is making an impact and is at the top of the charts, but some people may not resonate with it, and that's okay because they're just interested in Christianity on the surface level
Yodi yodi yo, everybody know, ain't nobody like You
I'ma take a minute, just a lil' minute 'coz I wanna thank q
Not just for the clothes, not just for the dough, I just wanna thank q
I'll do what You do, You know it's true, I just wanna thank q
You are incomparable, and I want to take a moment to express my thankfulness to You, not just for material things but for everything in my life, and I will follow Your example
Thank q for my moms, thank q for my pops, I just wanna thank q
Thank q for my wife, thank q for my house, I just wanna thank q
Thank q for my car, thank q for my job, I just wanna thank q
Thank q for my shirt, thank q for my church, I just wanna thank q
I am grateful for every aspect of my life, including my family, home, job, and church, and I want to thank You for all of it
Just wanna thank q
I simply want to express my gratitude to You
Just wanna thank q for
Just wanna thank q for choosing me
Lord, I just wanna say thank q
I don't deserve
When I was drowning, You
When I was sinking, You
Lord, I just wanna say thank q
I want to thank You for choosing me and for being my rescuer and savior when I was struggling
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANTHONY C. II WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Arris Stephane Ibouily Boucka
on Cry No More
Still waiting on the next...