Tonedeff
Hyphen [EP]
Original Release Date: [08.15.01]
[OUT OF PRINT]

Originally pressed in 2001 as a Tonedeff 101 for the uninitiated, Hyphen is a rare-find. Only 2,100 copies were pressed as a promotional venture - all of which sold out within a year.

Unfortunately, the release of Hyphen left many fans and journalists confused as to it's true function. Many people mistakenly saw the release as an actual album, and panned the effort as "repetetive" and "shallow" due to it's high battle rhyme content. Also, many took issue with the CD's production, much of it handled by Tonedeff himself, and were quick to dismiss him as a mediocre producer, and failed to see the beauty of "Fast". Although, there were many disclaimers (even within the album credits), to disprove the notion that Hyphen was an LP, the idea was already commonplace and somewhat hurtful to Tonedeff's career.

Created during Tonedeff's "Battle MC" period, when he first ventured to New York City to pursue his music career, Hyphen is a densely-woven tapestry of punchlines and metaphors.

Containing what many consider to be Tonedeff's first notable tunes, the instantly-catchy "Spanish Song," and the video-game bounce anthem, "Move In, Ride Out," Hyphen is short on conceptual content, and high on energy, witt and irreverance. Tracks like the introductory "Space," and "Battle Rhyme Hookers," showcase the gifted sense of wordplay and fluid delivery that has made Tonedeff a notable figure on the underground hip-hop scene.

Also, in keeping with The Monotone EP, Tonedeff once again forays into the world of harmonics and electronica with the classic, "Fast," as song that details our daily struggle against time itself. Complete with stuttering drum & bass-like arrangements and an etherial breakdown that left jaws floored upon hearing it, "Fast" is truly one of the defining songs in Tonedeff's career.

Yet, the main attraction of Hyphen was its breathrough usage of ECD technology. Years ahead of the competition, Tonedeff utilized this ECD portion on the disc to further ensure his proof of his "battling" skills. On the disc, he features some of his classic NYC Battle Scene moments against some of the brightest stars on the scene at the time. This is what made the CD such a hot commodity.

If you can find a copy on eBay, grab one while you can, as there are no immediate plans to re-press Hyphen.

:: Track Listing ::
01) Space - Produced by Deacon The Villain
02) Detonator (aka Trife=Truffles) - Produced by Tonedeff
03) Spanish Song - Produced by Domingo - [MP3]
04) The Tonedeff/Logic Project - Produced by Logic
05) Battle Rhyme Hookers - Produced by Tonedeff
06) Mixtape-Medley - Produced by Tonedeff
07) Strongholdin' - Produced by Tonedeff
08) Napster Anthem (f/ PackFM) - Produced by Tonedeff
09) Competition Is None - Produced by Tonedeff
10) Massive (f/ Praxis) - Produced by Tonedeff
11) The Book Of The Dead - Produced by Tonedeff
12) Move In, Ride Out - Produced by DJ Rob - [MP3] - VIDEO: [REAL] [WMV]
13) Kronic Braggart - Produced by Tonedeff
14) Coffee - Produced by Tonedeff
15) Allstar Cypher (f/ Wordsworth, Rise, Wiseguy, AL Skillz, PackFM & Substantial)
16) 24HourMC Verse
17) Fast - Produced by Tonedeff - [MP3]

:: ECD CONTENTS ::
01) Flash Interface
02) VIDEO :: Tonedeff Introduction
03) VIDEO :: Battle Highlights [Spiral Lounge Battle, Da Cypha Battle]
04) VIDEO :: Tonedeff @ Braggin Rites [VS Sub-Conscious & Blayd Runna]
05) VIDEO :: Ramdomizer [VS Sub-Conscious & Blayd Runna]
06) Song Lyric Transcripts

:: Credits ::
Written by: Tonedeff for QN5 Music (ASCAP)
Producers: Tonedeff, Deacon The Villain, Domingo & DJ Rob.
Recorded at: QN5 Manor (NYC).
Cover Design: Anwar Montasir for Switched On Studios.
Photography: Nadia Cohen
© 1998-2001 QN5 Music.

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©2004 QN5, INC.