Pedro Antonio Rojas, Jr. (born December 14, 1976), better known by his stage name Tonedeff, is an American rapper, producer, singer-songwriter and record executive.
Tonedeff first gained national recognition on the underground hip hop scene after winning a string of distinguished rap battles (i.e. "Braggin Rites"), opening shows for Common, Rahzel, The Beatnuts, Royce da 5'9", and Brand Nubian. He also appeared as a guest artist on several 12" releases, including the controversial KRS-One diss track "Clear Em Out" criticizing Nelly.
He has appeared on most of the Cunninlynguists albums, including Will Rap For Food, SouthernUnderground, A Piece of Strange, Strange Journey Volume One and Oneirology. He appeared on Immortal Technique's "Peruvian Cocaine" (on the album Revolutionary Vol. 2), playing the role of an American CIA agent in an elaborate drug trade conspiracy. He has also provided comedic skits for artists such as Masta Ace and Pumpkinhead.
Tonedeff founded the QN5 Music label in 1997 and releases music independently, with a roster that includes himself, CunninLynguists, Substantial, PackFM, Kokayi, and Extended Famm as well as a production roster that includes himself, Kno, Domingo, Deacon the Villain and Kokayi. He continues to perform and release music internationally today.
Biography
Early life
Born to a Cuban mother and a Colombian father in Newport News, Virginia, Tonedeff first began writing songs at the age of nine.
Career beginnings
Tonedeff formed a group named "The RBM Crew" in 1989 with three schoolmates shortly after relocating to Miami, Florida from Chicago and began recording and performing locally at talent shows and showcases. In 1993, The RBM Crew was offered a development deal by Warner Black Music and began recording the ultimately uncompleted Calligraphy. They disbanded when the label folded in 1995.
In 1993, at the age of sixteen, Tonedeff appeared on The Arsenio Hall Show as a performer, taking the grand prize of the show's national talent search called "Flava of the Future". He alludes to this event in his song "Morethanthis".
After fielding offers from several major labels, Tonedeff decided instead to pursue a college degree in illustration and multimedia – taking a break from his music career until taking up recording of his debut solo project The Monotone EP during his time at Full Sail Center for the Recording Arts in Orlando, Florida.
2000–2003: QN5 Music, Asterisk, Hyphen and The Monotone EP
QN5 was first officially founded by Tonedeff in 1997, though releases were scarce for a few years. In 2000, Tonedeff once again, and this time permanently, started up the record label QN5 Music, which became a hip hop specialty imprint in 2001 by recruiting artists such as CunninLynguists and PackFM, and production teams which boasted the talents of hip hop producers Domingo & Elite. In 2002, the record label The first official QN5 mixtape, Asterisk: One, was released in 2002 in order to promote the label during the Rocksteady Crew's 25th Anniversary in New York City. In 2003, the QN5 record label released a second album of the best of the artists, Asterisk: Two, and the following year Asterisk: Three was released, strengthening the respect and legitimacy of the record label and the collaborative efforts between the label mates.
The early 2000s also saw a number of Tonedeff releases and collaborations on the QN5 label. In 2001 he released Hyphen, a collection of previously recorded tracks, and the first release since The Monotone EP. The next album, Underscore (2003), featured a collection of rarities and B-sides. This album served as another primer for his official debut album, Archetype.
2003–2006: Archetype and Lollapalooza
While Tonedeff kept the fan base satiated with consistent releases, everything was leading up to his studio album, which was delayed a few times. On April 5, 2005, Tonedeff released his first official full-length album, Archetype. The long-awaited album was met with acclaim from fans and reviewers alike. HipHop DX gave Archetype an 8/10, praising Tonedeff's versatility and calling him "among the finest this genre has to offer." In a review for IGN, Jim During seconded those sentiments, concluding "With one of the best flows in hip hop, Tondeff puts out a well-rounded debut." In support of Archetype, Tonedeff embarked on international tours for the next years, including the QN5 Spring Cleaning National Tour and a Scandinavian tour in 2006, and performing at Rock The Bells among many other festivals.