Harlem has been referred to as The Home of the Trendsetters for many years. Harlemite, Tone Status is here to change the way you view Harlem, musically first."For Harlemites to be referred to as trendsetters is an understatement, we've been a huge influence on the world since the 1920's.,especially musically." Harlem Pride,strong opinions,out the box thoughts,left field delivery, and witty lines is what this 24 year old Renaissance Man packs his product with. His Urban Prepster swagger, and his "I just won the lotto" bravado will soon have the masses following his unorthodox blueprint. His first solo project entitled TSUNAMII did really well on iTunes as well as other online distributors,with very little promotion. The lead track "Pop A Rubber-band" had much success in NYC area strip clubs. "My homie G-Dot gave me the beat, and told me he can hear me all over the track, I agreed, and the track was done in 20 minutes, funny thing about this song, Strip Club songs aren't really my lane." Tone Status' versatility has made him into a fine-tuned machine that's able to ride in any lane. Being apart of The Diplomat Family has trained Tone for this business. "The Diplomat experience gave me a chance to learn the in's and
out's of the game. Countless hours in the studio with Juelz Santana sculpted my work ethic as a recording artist." Mr. Status' motto is "Work All Day,No Play."
If he isn't making his own music,he's assisting others to perfect their craft, and he's also an actor. In 2005, Tone landed a role in Cam'rons' Independent classic
"Killa Season" He played a bold street hustler,that tried to take over Cam's block. "This role was a stretch for me!" Although I've hustled before, I've always been
a humble hustler,I was all about that quiet money. "
It's now 2010, the game is wide open,Status says "It's time to let Tone in!" He's currently working on his 2nd project tentatively entitled "LEFT". The warm-up single
"G-Lean" off the project has been getting a lot of praise online. "This song is very Harlem, i'm ecstatic that people from all over the world are still able to feel it.
It's a real fun song that introduces my personality to the people."Lines like "Cool, Calm, and Collected,but if ever disrespected-I get violent/Make the hood look like
an Island/i'm hot and wavy, baby I change the climate/" definitely give u a feel for who Tone Status is. There will be a musical visual for "G-Lean" no later than April 2010.
The "LEFT" project will take the listener into the "far-fetched" mind of this Harlem Globetrotter. "When I make music, i don't duplicate what's
on the radio, instead I create what I feel should be on the radio. Everything from the lingo I use, to my delivery is fresh out the box."
What differentiates Tone Status from the norm is exactly that, He's abnormal."While everybody else went right, i always went left until it was considered normal, then I switch up on them again.
This is my approach with music,acting,business,friends,relationships, etc…" The "odd ball" doesn't spend forever to make most songs. He feels like the longer you take to make a song,is the further
your music is from your real thoughts. "This aint no act, when you hear me on a track these are my thoughts in the rawest form. I don't follow the mainstream when i make music, I construct my songs
with hopes of it becoming the mainstream."
Tone, the son of a strong, plant-loving Chicago raised Mother and a Harlem tough guy turn Correction Officer Father, always had a love for music,and an interest to create music. "When I was seven years
old, my parents bought me a drum-set, i would mumble my favorite songs while beating them drums, aggravating my neighbors. "Growing up,Tone spent the majority on my weekends on 113th street and Lenox,
learning a lot about the streets. The drug-trade always excited Tone as a youth. "The drug dealers had all the cars,all the women, and all the money. I made my first drug sale when I was 12 years old, unconsciously though.
One of the big-time hustlers on the block gave me a bookbag to give to a man in exchange for another bookbag. After the transaction, i asked my idol at the time what was in the bag? he chuckled and said "LIFE!," and gave me
$200. After a couple more bookbag transactions,i realized I was hustling. " In the process,Tone learned a valuable lesson,easy money doesn't last forever, his Idol was murdered in broad daylight in Harlem.
"During my teenage years, and some of my early 20's,I hustled, but never allowed myself to live that life, I learned that it's no future in it." Time spent with his mom is where he got the balance. "My mom's would be playing all types of music,and we'd sing and dance to it while doing chores." Tone credits his mother for his love of music and his open-mind. "Mom dukes kept me active, she had me traveling a lot,kept me in church, put me in basketball & baseball leagues, she even had me fencing. How many kids from Harlem can say they've fenced?" As Tone got older he kept all his life lessons and stories near and dear to him. 'when I would tell my peers stories about my past, they were always blown away or they thought i was lying." Believers and Non-believers influenced Tone to put his stories on paper. "I felt like I owed it to my supporters and naysayers to become a rapper."
