PAGE 22 / 56

‘Tonepaay

Tonepaay is a well known epPer outta East Oakland. He is the
founder prot NewThousand Music Group and has a couple pro-
jects being released.

INTERVIEW BY @EUROPEANIAN

BM: What is your Rap name? Tonepaay: My name is Tonepaay spelled T-O-N ABM: Tell us the
story behind your rap name. -Tonepaay: Well my name started in the streets of East Oakland, because every
one knew of me as Tone and I always had money, and was always looking for a way to get paid. One day I
was busting a freestyle and I was talking about getting paid, and then my cousin Alexis said that was tight the
way you said Tonepaay, and my cousin told me at that moment that Tonepaay should be my rap name, In 1997 from
that day on, my name was officially stamped and certified from the streets to the studio.ABM: How long have you been
in the rap game? Tonepaay: I started rapping back in 1994, in 10th grade when I was in high school. Back in those days
everybody couldn't rap or freestyle, so the ones that couldn't ended up being the listeners and critics. I always joined the
freestyle circle in the boys bathroom to see who had the cleanest freestyle, I was one of the best at school. My first time
in the studio recording my first song I had this other artist that wanted to be on the same song I dropped a hot 16 on
and wanted to replace me with his verse. So like real MCs we got a beat and battled and too the song to school for
ryone to listen to see who was the better MC. That day I won that battle and on that day I found out I got the juice
Me and my 2 other classmates decided to formed a rap group called the “Chronic Inhaling Agency” (C.LA.). I have
been in the rap game since 2005 when I hooked up with Numskull, who is 1/2 of the platinum selling and grammy
nominated act “The Luniz”, who introduce me to the game, and made me apart of the rap group “The Caliban”. So in
reality, I am a 16 year veteran in the world of hip hop.ABM: What got you involved in the hip hop scene? Tonepaay: In
2005 when I met Numskull from the Luniz he was like a mentor to me teaching me and showing me the behind the
scenes side of business.One thing Num told me that I will never forget he said," I can make you famous but I can't get
you paid." I was too young to understand what he was telling me, but now it all makes sense, you gotta read between the

22 | All Bay Music Magazine | wwwallbaymusic.com