Having a quick tongue can get you far in the rap game. Big Pun did it and right now Twista is topping the charts with countless singles with his Guinness record flow. Tonedeff is one more emcee that you can add to that list although his name may not be as well known to audiences. Creating a bigger name for himself with his previous album Underscore and taking the spotlight on several tracks with the CunninLyngusits, Tondeff’s most recent release Archetype is the right direction for one of QN5’s premier artists.

While there’s no shortage of rappers who can rip the mic at impressive speeds, Tonedeff is one of the few who not only can speak his mind fast but do it while being understandable. Tondeff’s precision on Archetype is the most notable part, as he can fit a whole story into a four minute track. In addition, you’ll find yourself rewinding, not because you couldn’t understand what he said, but because you just need to hear that line again. Archetype’s sickest track is a little deep into the album with “Loyal,” a signature Kno beat where Tonedeff works perfect over the speedup vocals. Deff’s lyrics also have some depth which is a nice change from a lot of material out there. “Loyal” talks about relationships and love without getting corny, while “Politics” tells the tale of his rap career and why he’s a name that you might not know. “Quotables,” Archetype’s biggest collaboration track brings in big names like Wordsworth, Rise, and Substantial allowing the crew to go over a more traditional beat. Of course, everyone comes hard on their verses, bringing in dope punchlines and metaphors, truly earning the title quotables.

Kno, is just one of many including Elite and Domingo who offer Tondeff production that fits his style perfectly. This can be heard in “Let’s Go,” one of Archetype’s catchiest tracks which sounds like Tonedeff backed up by a drumline percussionist. With consistent releases, unbelievable production from Kno, and a strong lineup of artists headed by Tonedeff and the CunninLynguists, QN5 is slowly growing into a label that you can count on for top notch underground material. Overall, Archetype is on point in just about every aspect, and with a bonus DVD including interviews with various producers and Immortal Technique, this album is a buy worthy of your cash.