Happy 4th of July! Here at QN5, we’re celebrating our independence with the digital re-release of Tonedeff’s long-lost 2001 ‘battle-rap’ mixtape, Hyphen – for the first time ever! As his first mixtape, only 2,100 copies were pressed – all of which sold out within a year. CD versions of this long-lost release are rare finds that regularly fetch over $100 on eBay – but now, we’re making it digitally available to you!

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, wit and irreverence. 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 early career.

via QN5