Perhaps most impressive is that he does all of these things, and well. With a background as colorful as his talents, Tonedeff grew up in Chicago, IL, before moving to Miami, FL, for the remainder of his adolescence. While it was in Miami that he began recording and performing, it wasn't until relocating to Queens, NY at 21 that the well-traveled emcee really began making noise. He won a string of battles, including the Braggin' Rites MC Battle and NYC's notorious Da Cypha battles, to name a few. At the same time, he built a name for himself by opening for esteemed acts such as Common, Royce Da 5'9, Beatnuts, Brand Nubian and Rahzel.
Where most up-and-comers hit a stalemate, however, Tonedeff had only just begun. After forming the independent label QN5 Music in 2000, he released a series of work including the enhanced Hyphen EP, Happy F*ck You Songs with Extended F@mm, the "Clear 'Em Out" 12" single with KRS-One, and countless guest spots for artists such as Masta Ace, DJ JS-1 and CunninLynguists. 2003 saw him grace the pages of The Source Magazine and the MTV airwaves in a commercial for Hip Hop Week.
April 2005 marks the release of Archetype, his long-anticipated debut LP. A culmination of his artistic abilities, Archetype displays the incontestable versatility and raw talent that sets him apart from the rest. Comprising the spine-tingling harmonies of the intro; the relentless, rapid-fire punchlines of "Let's Go" and "Issawn"; the unabashed wit and comedy of "Disappointed" and "Pervert"; and the breathtaking beauty of the true story "Porcelain"; Tonedeff shatters the mold of conventional hip-hop, bringing it to levels that others only speak of. Influenced by a diverse range of artists - Common, Fresh Prince, Enya, Tori Amos and Bjork, for example-his own style is reflective of such, a melting pot of styles and sounds.
Combining beauty, talent and artistic innovation, Tonedeff is set to awaken hip-hop with a distinctively new sound. Following the QN5 mantra of "the New Hip-Hop," the multi-talented artist breathes new life into a dwindling art form, taking the reigns in the pursuit of new ideals as the originator, the new standard, the archetype.
Fast
Tonedeff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Things move so fast and I can't stop them
Things move so fast and I can't stop them from moving
There's building swaying in the wind
Would you believe, it was just from passing them by
Things are moving so fast
So I keep on moving, and moving on
Keep on moving on
You know I keep on moving, and moving on, to keep on
Keep on moving on
[V2]
I'm so lost inside my head
There's so many thoughts to contemplate
So many ways to move
And I don't know what to do with myself sometimes
So, I start reading the lines on my hands
And then I remember that fate is just a bullshit excuse for failure
Keep thinking you've got time
But there's not enough of it to spend to those you owe
And when they call collect
You still won't get the world to slow down
Things are moving so fast
So fast
So I keep on moving, and moving on
You know I keep on moving, and moving on, to keep up
Keep on moving on
You know I keep on moving, and moving on, to keep on
Keep on moving on
Keep treading; keep Moving on
Because time will fight against you
Because time will fight hard against you; work against you
Keep on moving, cause time is coming 'round
The lyrics of Tonedeff's song "Fast" touch on the idea of time moving too quickly and the struggle to keep up with it. The first verse sets the scene of things moving at a rapid pace, and the singer feeling powerless to stop it. They mention a building swaying in the wind, which emphasizes the idea of instability and the unpredictability of life. The chorus is a repetition of the phrase "keep on moving," which implies that there's no other option but to keep going and trying to keep pace.
The second verse delves deeper into the singer's emotional state, describing how consumed they are by their own thoughts and the overwhelming feeling of having too many options for how to move forward. They mention reading the lines on their hands, which is a common tactic used in fortune-telling, suggesting that the singer is seeking guidance or perhaps trying to find some sort of answer in the chaos. The lyrics take a darker turn when the singer mentions the consequences of not spending enough time with others, and the fact that time won't slow down for anyone, no matter how much they wish it would.
Overall, the song's message seems to be that time waits for no one, but that the only option is to keep moving forward and doing the best you can to keep pace. While there's a sense of urgency and even dread in the lyrics, there's also a sense of defiance and determination to not let time beat them.
Line by Line Meaning
Things move so fast and I can't stop them
The world is full of rapid changes that I am unable to hinder.
There's building swaying in the wind
The rapid changes make even stationary things look unstable.
Would you believe, it was just from passing them by
The changes are so quick that just passing by can create such an impact.
So I keep on moving, and moving on
In order to keep up with the fast changes, I just move forward without stopping.
I'm so lost inside my head
I am overwhelmed by the constant barrage of thoughts in my mind.
There's so many thoughts to contemplate
There are too many thoughts to sort through, which adds to the feeling of being lost.
So many ways to move
There are too many avenues to choose from, and it's difficult to know which one to take.
And I don't know what to do with myself sometimes
I feel directionless and can't figure out what the best course of action is.
Keep thinking you've got time
I continually assume that there will be time in the future to do what I need to do.
But there's not enough of it to spend to those you owe
However, in reality, time is limited, and you can't always use it to pay back debts.
And when they call collect
When people come calling for repayment or assistance, it can be overwhelming.
You still won't get the world to slow down
No matter how much you plead and try to hold things back, the world will keep moving at a fast pace.
Because time will fight against you
Time will constantly be a challenging force, working against you to prevent progress.
Keep on moving, cause time is coming 'round
To keep moving forward is the only way to keep up with the constant flux of the world.
Contributed by Lincoln B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
alberts1985
I can’t believe I found this song
kong6x3
how does this only have 500 views ?
Jeff Istheshit
Do ya thang boi...
wisewarriormuzic
It is a fucking SIN that this has less than 100,000 views
127o0o0oX
@kong6x3 because a kid like lucky806 uploaded it
Dean Youngblood
@127o0o0oX what? lol