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.
The Trust Theory
Tonéx Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Somebody told me that I could not take it
I cannot go by what I see
But I'm trustin' and believin'
That You'll take good care of me
We cannot go by what we see
It's all about faith and the trust theory
It's all about faith and the trust theory
Somebody's hatin' but I keep on crankin'
Somebody's mad because I'm boys with Kirk Franklin
Somebody's always talkin' 'bout me
But I got a point to make and that's makin' history
We cannot go by what we see
It's all about faith and the trust theory
Big as a boulder or small as a seed
It's all about faith and the trust theory
No, we cannot be dismayed
Things won't always go our way
If you praise Him while you wait
Then He will surely make a way
Trust Jesus, trust Jesus
You got to trust Him all the way
Trust, got to trust Him
Got to trust Him all the way
You got to trust Him
You got to trust Him
You got to believe Him
Trust Him all the way
Trust Jesus
You got to trust Him
You got to trust
You got to trust Him all the way
Trust, trust, trust
Trust Him all the way
Trust Jesus, trust Jesus
You got to trust Him
You got to believe Him
It's all about faith
It's all about faith
It's all about faith
Abraham had a son
Isaac was the only one
Led him to a mountain high
Thought he gettin' ready to die
He never had said a word
And a voice from Heaven, he heard
Said, ?Abraham, Abraham
Over there you will see around?
Trust Jesus
Trust Jesus
You got to trust
You got to trust Him all the way
You got to trust
You got to trust
You got to trust
Trust Him all the way
It's all about faith
It's all about faith
It's all about faith
It's all about faith
It's all about, it's all about
It's all about faith
It's all about, it's all about
It's all about faith
It's all about faith
The Trust Theory by Tonex & The Peculiar People is a song about faith and trusting in God's plan despite what may be visible to the eye. The lyrics describe the challenges that the singer faces, including being told by others that they will not make it or take it, and being talked about by others. However, the singer believes in trusting in God, and that He will take good care of them. The chorus repeats that it's all about faith and the trust theory, whether it's big as a boulder or small as a seed.
The song references the story of Abraham and Isaac, where Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son because of his faith in God. The lyrics echo Abraham's story and trust in God, even when the situation appears dire. The song emphasizes that even when things don't go our way, we must trust in Jesus and believe in His plan.
Line by Line Meaning
Somebody told me that I could not make it
Even if someone tells me I can’t succeed, I can make it with faith
Somebody told me that I could not take it
Even if someone tells me I can’t handle it, I can overcome it with faith
I cannot go by what I see
I cannot rely on my eyes and senses
But I'm trustin' and believin'
But I'm putting my faith and belief in God
That You'll take good care of me
That God will take care of me
We cannot go by what we see
We cannot rely on our eyes and senses
It's all about faith and the trust theory
It's all about having faith and trusting in God's plan
Big as a boulder or small as a seed
Whether the challenge is big or small
Somebody's hatin' but I keep on crankin'
Even if someone is hating on me, I will keep going
Somebody's mad because I'm boys with Kirk Franklin
Even if someone is angry that I'm associated with someone else
Somebody's always talkin' 'bout me
Even if someone is always criticizing me
But I got a point to make and that's makin' history
But I have a goal to achieve and that's making a lasting impact
No, we cannot be dismayed
No, we cannot be discouraged
Things won't always go our way
Not everything will work out as we planned
If you praise Him while you wait
If you give God glory while you are waiting
Then He will surely make a way
Then God will create a path
Trust Jesus, trust Jesus
Have faith in Jesus
You got to trust Him all the way
You need to have complete faith in Him
Trust, got to trust Him
Have faith in Him, you need to trust Him
Trust Him all the way
Have complete faith in Him
You got to trust Him
You need to have faith in Him
You got to believe Him
You need to believe in Him
Abraham had a son
Abraham had a child
Isaac was the only one
Isaac was his only son
Led him to a mountain high
Led him to a high mountain
Thought he gettin' ready to die
He thought he was going to die
He never had said a word
He did not say a word
And a voice from Heaven, he heard
A voice from Heaven spoke to him
Said, ?Abraham, Abraham
The voice said his name, twice
Over there you will see around?
Over there, you will see what is around
It's all about faith
It's all about having faith
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANTHONY C. II WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Arris Stephane Ibouily Boucka
on Cry No More
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