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.
Work on Me
Tonéx Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
See no evil
Lord work on my ears, so I won't hear no evil
Hear no evil
Lord work on my heart so I can love everybody
Lord work on my life, so I?ll be pleasing to Your sight
You know what's up
You know what's up, so fix me up
Please Lord, just work on me
You know my faults, my secret thoughts
Please Lord, just work on me
Lord work on my mind, so I won't think no evil
Think no evil
Lord work on my, my, my, my mouth, so I won't speak no evil
Speak no evil
Lord work on my heart so I can love everybody
Lord work on my life, so I?ll be a holy living sacrifice
You know what's up
You know what's up, so fix me up
Please Lord, just work on me
You know my faults, my secret thoughts
Please Lord, just work on me
You know what's up, so fix me up
Please Lord, just work on me
You know my faults, my secret thoughts
Please Lord, just work on me
You know what's up, so fix me up
Lord work on me
You know my faults, secret thoughts
Please Lord, just work on me
Work on me, work on me
Work on me, work on me
Work on me, work on me
Work on me, work on me
Fix me up, work on me
Fill my cup, work on me
Lord, I need You, work on me
Somebody say yeah
Work on me, work on me
Work on me, work on me
Work on me, work on me
Work on me, work on me
Whatever You want from me
(Work on me)
I'm giving You everything
(Work on me)
Lord, work on me
(Work on me)
Somebody say yeah, yeah
Work on me, there's some things you need
Work on me, don't You think You have it?
Work on me, take it off of me
Work on me, hope you don't forget it
Work on me, work on me, Lord
Work on me, work on me, Lord
Work on me, work on me, Lord
Work on me
Work on me
Work on me
Work on me
Work on me, there's some things you need
Work on me, don't You think You have it?
Work on me, take it off of me
Work on me, hope you don't forget it
Work on me, work on me, Lord
Work on me, work on me, Lord
Work on me, work on me, Lord
Work on me
Work on me
Work on me
Work on me
...
The lyrics of Tonéx's song "Work on Me" are a prayer for divine intervention to better oneself as a person. The song reflects on the singer's shortcomings and acknowledges that they are not perfect, but seek to do better. The first two verses ask the Lord to work on the singer's eyes and ears, so they will not see or hear evil. This is followed by a request for the Lord to work on the singer's heart so they can love everybody and be pleasing in His sight.
The next two verses ask the Lord to work on the singer's mind and their mouth so they will not think or speak evil. The song ends with a plea for the Lord to work on the singer in all aspects of their life, so they may improve as a person. The repetition of the phrase "work on me" throughout the song emphasizes the singer's desire for change and improvement.
Overall, the lyrics of "Work on Me" reflect on the importance of self-improvement through the help of a higher power.
Line by Line Meaning
Lord work on my eyes, so I won't see no evil
Pray to God to prevent me from seeing evil or engaging in activities that are harmful to me or others.
Lord work on my ears, so I won't hear no evil
Pray to God to prevent me from hearing or participating in wrongdoing.
Lord work on my heart so I can love everybody
Pray to God to allow me to love everyone, regardless of their differences or flaws.
Lord work on my life, so I’ll be pleasing to Your sight
Pray to God to live in a way that honors Him and is in accordance with His will.
You know what's up, so fix me up
I acknowledge that God knows what needs to be fixed in my life and ask Him to make the necessary changes.
Please Lord, just work on me
Ask God to have a positive influence on me to achieve and lead a better life.
Lord work on my mind, so I won't think no evil
Pray to God to prevent me from having negative thoughts or entertaining evil ideas.
Lord work on my, my, my, my mouth, so I won't speak no evil
Pray to God to prevent me from speaking negatively or unjustly about others.
Lord work on my heart so I can love everybody
Pray to God to allow me to love everyone, regardless of their differences or flaws.
Lord work on my life, so I’ll be a holy living sacrifice
Pray to God to live my life as an act of worship to Him, through obedience and purity.
You know what's up, so fix me up
I acknowledge that God knows what needs to be fixed in my life and ask Him to make the necessary changes.
Please Lord, just work on me
Ask God to have a positive influence on me to achieve and lead a better life.
Fix me up, work on me
Ask God to help and make changes to me.
Fill my cup, work on me
Ask God to fill me up with blessings while working on myself to become better.
Lord, I need You, work on me
Ask God to work on me because I need Him and His guidance.
Work on me, there's some things you need
Ask God to work on me because there are things I need help with.
Work on me, don't You think You have it?
Ask God to work on me and not think I have everything under control.
Work on me, take it off of me
Ask God to take away the negative aspects of my life.
Work on me, hope you don't forget it
Ask God to work on me, and I hope He doesn't forget my request.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: ANTHONY C. II WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Arris Stephane Ibouily Boucka
on Cry No More
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