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.
Gathered
Tonedeff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When you've gone this far
Got all my belongings gathered
Got my best shoes on
Walking on the line
Hope you're there with me
Following behind
What you gonna do when no one's
There to hear your song
And if so, how long until you
Think you should move on.
Walking on the line
No one there to catch me
Curious and blind
Fear of what I can't see
So don't, don't say you want it
When you know you don't need it
How hard is it to say what's on your mind
Don't say you want it
When you know you don't need the weight to make it to the other side
But are you brave enough to try.
Sometimes we think we can fly, with our wings tattered
Sometimes we don't think to try, cause we don't know any better
So, I've gathered myself just to prove
To me that I'm not afraid anymore -
I am not afraid anymore
Of what's around the corner.
I am not afraid anymore
Nothing really seems to matter
When you've gone this far
Got all my belongings gathered
Got my game face on
Walking on the line
I know you're here with me
Following behind
Watching intently
Sometimes we think we can fly, with our wings tattered
Sometimes we don't think to try, cause we don't know any better
So, I've gathered myself just to prove
To me that I'm not afraid anymore.
Sometimes, we blink at the moon like we didn't see it coming
Sometimes we jump in too soon, from the fear of running.
Just when you think that there is nothing in the world
To see - Just know there is something around the corner
You know there's something around the corner. (Hey)
You know, there's something around the corner.
But you don't have to be afraid anymore.
The lyrics of Tonedeff's song "Gathered" reflect a sense of determination and bravery in the face of fear and uncertainty. The opening lines convey a feeling of having come a long way, with nothing left to lose. The singer has gathered all their belongings and is wearing their best shoes, preparing for what's to come. The following lines describe stepping onto an imaginary line and not knowing what lies ahead, but hoping that someone is following and watching over them. The fear of the unknown is palpable in the lyrics, with phrases like "fear of what I can't see" and "sometimes we jump in too soon, from the fear of running."
The chorus is particularly powerful in its message of not pretending to want something that you don't need. The singer is challenging themselves and asking if they are "brave enough to try." They acknowledge that sometimes we fail and sometimes we don't even try, but it's important to gather ourselves and keep going. The bridge talks about the fear of the unknown and how it can make us hesitant or blind to what's around us. But ultimately, the song ends on a positive note with the reminder that there is always something around the corner, and we don't have to be afraid anymore.
Overall, "Gathered" is a song that speaks to the human experience of facing fear and uncertainty. It encourages us to be brave and to keep moving forward, even when we don't know what lies ahead. Its introspective message and emotive delivery make it both relatable and inspiring.
Line by Line Meaning
Nothing really seems to matter
When you're this far along, everything seems insignificant
When you've gone this far
When you've come a long way, everything else falls away
Got all my belongings gathered
I have everything I need to begin my journey
Got my best shoes on
I am ready to take on whatever challenges I may encounter
Walking on the line
I am walking a risky path without faltering
Hope you're there with me
I hope I'm not alone in my journey
Following behind
I know there are those who are supportive of me and my journey
Watching intently
Those supportive of me don't want me to fall or fail
What you gonna do when no one's
What will you do when you're alone and need help
There to hear your song
When you have something to say but no one is listening
And if so, how long until you
If someone is listening, how long will they stay to hear you out
Think you should move on.
Will you give up if no one wants to hear what you have to say?
No one there to catch me
I am alone and there is no one to help me
Curious and blind
I am intrigued by what's ahead but unaware of the risks
So don't, don't say you want it
Don't pretend to be interested when you're not
When you know you don't need it
When you're aware that you don't actually want/need it
How hard is it to say what's on your mind
Why is it difficult to be honest about what you truly think/feel
Don't say you want it
Don't lie about your intentions or desires
When you know you don't need the weight to make it to the other side
When you're aware that whatever you're pretending to want is unnecessary
But are you brave enough to try.
Are you courageous enough to be honest and follow through with your true intents?
Sometimes we think we can fly, with our wings tattered
Sometimes we try to achieve something without the necessary tools/resources
Sometimes we don't think to try, cause we don't know any better
Sometimes we don't pursue our dreams due to the lack of knowledge or awareness
So, I've gathered myself just to prove
I have prepared myself to demonstrate my strength and courage
To me that I'm not afraid anymore -
I have overcome my fears and insecurities
Of what's around the corner.
I am no longer afraid of what's ahead of me and what it may hold
I am not afraid anymore
I am confident and courageous in pursuing my journey
Got my game face on
I am ready to face any challenges that may arise
I know you're here with me
I am aware that I am not alone in my journey
Sometimes, we blink at the moon like we didn't see it coming
Sometimes we're taken aback by things that we should have seen coming
Sometimes we jump in too soon, from the fear of running.
Sometimes we hastily make decisions out of fear and end up regretting it
Just when you think that there is nothing in the world
When you feel like everything is lost and there's nothing left
To see - Just know there is something around the corner
There's always something to look forward to even in difficult times
You know there's something around the corner. (Hey)
You're aware that there's always something to look forward to
But you don't have to be afraid anymore.
You can be courageous and confident in pursuing your journey
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind