He's garnered a rep for his signature, rapid-fire delivery, yet he's consid… Read Full Bio ↴He's garnered a rep for his signature, rapid-fire delivery, yet he's considerably more than just a fast rapper. He sings and produces-though not quite a singer nor producer-and is the founder of QN5 Music, though you wouldn't just call him a label head. He's the artist you can't quite categorize.

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.

coffee
Tonedeff Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Have a cup of coffee, sit back and open up your mind
Now this type of rhyme was designed to keep writers above the line
Cause I'll guide us above the swine, and keep the gate up for traitors
While beats cater to cut-creators and fader operators
From Decatur to Kendall, the terminator to pencils and pens
More to the P than the Rentals were friends
But that be dated like them leaders of cheers be under beers
I've contracted calendars to number your years

I put pressure on motherfuckers like 300 lb. Peers
Like a captain on blank pages, I'm steering clear
Whether weather's ever severe, I'll bring ya to mass with the classics
Stopping the wack shit just like naked bitches in traffic
I'm graphic by design, Illustrated like sports without the swimwear
Between her wet thighs is where your bitch be feeling my chin hair
You know I had to go there cause I've been there
I'll Spice your Girl up, that's what I really really want
Now, we can talk coffee like Linda Richman
I'll fold your style, and I'll switch then, take your picture just like I'm Pitman
Throw in Danny Glover to Crispin, it's all related
Sank-a titanic crew now their records be inundated
It's all correlated, everything that I've stated
I speed up Metabolisms while you be decaffeinated
Known for leaving ya satiated, I'm delegated
Representatives in my House ain't thirsty cause I'm Irrigated
Niggas get irritated, Hate it when I'm elated
They're pained cause I pull em down more than windows get shaded
Cause they've evaded the sun and concentrated on the gun
But if I crack em open-if they're see through, I'll breeze through
Adversaries that's even tinted. I've got a penance for pennants
So if you dirty seconds, I'ma clean a minute
Even though, I'd cream the senate, I still don't PUFF laws
Or blow out judiciary committees within the city
And I'm pretty confident, that with these pronouns and consonants
I'll rapture the heavens and all the seven global continents
And I'm in this, Breaking up the plates just like some Greeks in Pangea
Even if they're dubs for the clubs
And I'm off a level that I even out on my own
But, I've been known to take it over the top, like Stallone
So, when the road be getting Rocky and I'm hanging from cliffs
I'm locking out the daylight, and then I hit 'em with this
I keep it on and on and, you, it don't stop
You'd better protect your 7-UP because I'm blowing up the spot
So, I keep it bubbling, so da niggas'll know the half between the boring and me
It's cause I got the pep, see?
If these kids is rhyming 'bout Coke, then I'ma keep my Tab on 'em
They can't Dye-it Right, that's why all of the skags want 'em
I'm icing more niggas at their peaks than a mountain do
Maintenance at the Fontainebleau's all they're amounting to
Rip ya to bits for the sake of counting you, leave ya wound in two
Bounding your throat and make guesstimations about the sound of you
Doggin', but never hounding you, that's just too easy
That threatening style of rhyme never appeased me
So I prefer to squeeze the
Last drop out of metaphors and similes Like they was a squeegee
I've got more game than E3, I never saw E.T
But you I still phone home- Don't fuck around within the Tonedeff zone
Because you bound to get your whole set thrown, Hoes get stoned
I'll repossess your shit and then your clothes get loaned
Cause no army can salvage you when you push me
I'd lay you out Quick, but that's a bigger turn off than bushy pussy
So, I spread the fly vibe like eagles with butterknives
Now you can dissect that line, and three definitions you'll find
With some repetitions and time, you're bound to catch on
But those who don't are getting beat by the beast like Gaston
And lyrically that's the beauty of it I pull back heads like Pez
Cause I was hand-picked by Juan Valdez

Not the number, but the name you call, and I'll be coming when
You need another cup of joe from the CubanColombian.

Overall Meaning

The song "Coffee" by Tonedeff features a stream-of-consciousness rhyming style that is meant to keep writers above the line. The listener is encouraged to grab a cup of coffee, sit back and open up their mind to the lyrical flow. The rhyme scheme flows smoothly from Decatur to Kendall and from pencils to pens, as the artist guides the listener above the swine and gates up for traitors.

The artist puts pressure on motherfuckers like 300 lb. Peers, steering clear on blank pages, bringing listeners to mass with the classics and stopping wack shit like naked bitches in traffic. The lyrics are illustrated like sports without the swimwear, taking listeners deep between her wet thighs. The artist's pronouns and consonants rapture the heavens and all the seven global continents. The artist mentions breaking up the plates like the Greeks in Pangea, representing the interconnectedness of everything. The song also comments on cocaine use and draws on pop culture references like Linda Richman and Stallone's Rocky character.

Line by Line Meaning

Have a cup of coffee, sit back and open up your mind
Take a break and clear your thoughts

Now this type of rhyme was designed to keep writers above the line
This type of rhyme is meant to elevate and inspire writers

Cause I'll guide us above the swine, and keep the gate up for traitors
I'll lead us to greatness while keeping away the uncommitted

While beats cater to cut-creators and fader operators
The music caters to producers and DJs

From Decatur to Kendall, the terminator to pencils and pens
From any location and using any tool, I will prevail

More to the P than the Rentals were friends
There is more to me than meets the eye, and I'm better than my peers

But that be dated like them leaders of cheers be under beers
That reference is old and irrelevant now

I've contracted calendars to number your years
I'll make an impact on your life that you'll remember for years

I put pressure on motherfuckers like 300 lb. Peers
I apply pressure and influence like a much larger person

Like a captain on blank pages, I'm steering clear
I'm taking control of my creativity and direction

Whether weather's ever severe, I'll bring ya to mass with the classics
No matter what obstacles I face, I'll deliver timeless music to the masses

Stopping the wack shit just like naked bitches in traffic
I'll stop bad music in its tracks like a nude person in the streets would stop traffic

I'm graphic by design, Illustrated like sports without the swimwear
My lyrics are detailed and vivid, similar to sports illustrated magazines without the swimsuits

Between her wet thighs is where your bitch be feeling my chin hair
I'm sexually appealing to women and they like the feel of my beard

You know I had to go there cause I've been there
I'm confident in my sexuality and experiences

I'll Spice your Girl up, that's what I really really want
I'll make your girl more interesting and fun

Now, we can talk coffee like Linda Richman
We can discuss and enjoy coffee in a humorous way like Linda Richman would

I'll fold your style, and I'll switch then, take your picture just like I'm Pitman
I can imitate your style, improve on it, and make it my own like a photographer would

Throw in Danny Glover to Crispin, it's all related
I can reference any topic or person and make it relevant to my message

Sank-a titanic crew now their records be inundated
I've defeated my competition and what's left has been overwhelmed by my success

It's all correlated, everything that I've stated
Everything I've said is connected and relevant to my overall message

I speed up Metabolisms while you be decaffeinated
I'm full of energy and inspiration while my competition is depleted

Known for leaving ya satiated, I'm delegated
I'm known for satisfying my fans and I have a team to support me

Representatives in my House ain't thirsty cause I'm Irrigated
My team is well-fed and taken care of because of my success

Niggas get irritated, Hate it when I'm elated
My competition gets upset when I'm happy and winning

They're pained cause I pull em down more than windows get shaded
I'm bringing down my competition and their success more than a window shade lowers the light

Cause they've evaded the sun and concentrated on the gun
My competition has avoided personal growth and focused on violence

But if I crack em open-if they're see through, I'll breeze through
If I can expose my competition's weaknesses, I'll easily surpass them

Adversaries that's even tinted. I've got a penance for pennants
My competition is shaded and inferior to me. I have a passion for winning championships

So if you dirty seconds, I'ma clean a minute
If you're average, I'll elevate the situation to greatness

Even though, I'd cream the senate, I still don't PUFF laws
Even though I'm powerful, I won't break the law or use my power irresponsibly

Or blow out judiciary committees within the city
I won't interfere with legal proceedings in the city

And I'm pretty confident, that with these pronouns and consonants
I'm confident in my ability to use words to deliver a powerful message

I'll rapture the heavens and all the seven global continents
I'll inspire people around the world with my music

And I'm in this, Breaking up the plates just like some Greeks in Pangea
I'm working hard and making waves like ancient Greek explorers breaking up the continents

Even if they're dubs for the clubs
Even if my music is made for clubs and dancing

And I'm off a level that I even out on my own
I'm on a level of my own, even compared to my peers

But, I've been known to take it over the top, like Stallone
I'm not afraid to go all out and exceed expectations like Sylvester Stallone

So, when the road be getting Rocky and I'm hanging from cliffs
When things get tough, I'll be ready to persevere and overcome challenges

I'm locking out the daylight, and then I hit 'em with this
I'm blocking out negativity and delivering a powerful message

I keep it on and on and, you, it don't stop
I'm persistent and unstoppable

You'd better protect your 7-UP because I'm blowing up the spot
You better be ready to protect yourself because I'm about to make a big impact

So, I keep it bubbling, so da niggas'll know the half between the boring and me
I keep my music exciting and fresh to stand out from the competition

It's cause I got the pep, see?
I have the energy and passion to keep my music exciting and inspiring

If these kids is rhyming 'bout Coke, then I'ma keep my Tab on 'em
If my competition is rapping about drugs, I'll keep an eye on them and stay positive

They can't Dye-it Right, that's why all of the skags want 'em
My competition can't do things properly and that's why people with bad habits like them

I'm icing more niggas at their peaks than a mountain do
I'm surpassing more of my competition at their highest point than a mountain would

Maintenance at the Fontainebleau's all they're amounting to
My competition is only achieving basic maintenance while I'm achieving greatness

Rip ya to bits for the sake of counting you, leave ya wound in two
I'll dissect and destroy my competition to prove my superiority

Bounding your throat and make guesstimations about the sound of you
I'll control my competition to the point of predicting their next move or sound

Doggin', but never hounding you, that's just too easy
I'll criticize my competition but I don't need to bully or harass them

That threatening style of rhyme never appeased me
I don't need to be threatening in my music or style

So I prefer to squeeze the Last drop out of metaphors and similes Like they was a squeegee
I'll extract the most meaning and depth out of my metaphors and similes like a squeegee extracts liquid

I've got more game than E3, I never saw E.T
I'm more impressive and knowledgeable than a video game convention, even though I've never seen E.T

But you I still phone home- Don't fuck around within the Tonedeff zone
I still communicate with my fans and listeners, but don't mess with me or my music

Because you bound to get your whole set thrown, Hoes get stoned
I'll destroy your entire crew and silence your female fans

I'll repossess your shit and then your clothes get loaned
I'll take back your possessions and redirect them to better use

Cause no army can salvage you when you push me
You can't be saved from my wrath or influence

I'd lay you out Quick, but that's a bigger turn off than bushy pussy
I could defeat you quickly, but it's not satisfying or impressive

So, I spread the fly vibe like eagles with butterknives
I spread a positive and infectious energy like an eagle spreading its wings

Now you can dissect that line, and three definitions you'll find
My lyrics have multiple meanings and can be interpreted in different ways

With some repetitions and time, you're bound to catch on
If you listen closely and study my music, you'll understand its depth and meaning

But those who don't are getting beat by the beast like Gaston
Those who don't understand my music are missing out and losing to my superior talent

And lyrically that's the beauty of it I pull back heads like Pez
My lyrics are captivating and impressive, like a Pez dispenser revealing candy

Cause I was hand-picked by Juan Valdez
I was chosen and have the talent and support to deliver great music

Not the number, but the name you call, and I'll be coming when
My name and reputation will precede me, and I'll be ready to deliver greatness

You need another cup of joe from the CubanColombian.
You'll want to hear more of my music and energy, just like you'll want another cup of coffee from Cuba and Colombia.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS