Before I joined this fine blog that is 7thboro, I started a site 7 years ago in Chicago. My focus was to shine a spotlight on a lot of talented emcees who were working hard to emerge from obscurity. Some life changes, and a few years later, I found myself back in my home state of New Jersey. So now, my focus was seeking out all the Hip Hop The Garden State had to offer, and I wasn’t disappointed, I mean Jersey only being a bridge away from the birth of the culture we love so much, it only made sense.
Jersey has a lot of Hip Hop talent, some known, many unknown. With technology today, and the flooding of content and information and very short attention spans, alot of talented dudes get lost in the fray, one emcee who refuses to be one of those dudes, is Tone Liv.
Hailing from Perth Amboy, New Jersey (My hometown), Tone Liv has been in the game for way over a decade now, and his catalog speaks on what a consistent emcee he has been throughout that time. I myself, know Tone personally, I went to school with him, and when I landed back in New Jersey, I was pleasantly surprised to know he was spitting bars as one half of Remarkable Mayor along with Stilt B, which was actually the first time I got to first hear Tone rhyme.
Throughout the years, Tone has put out numerous projects, the latest, Catching Flies With Chopsticks, and has collaborated with many emcees and producers, he doesn’t seem to be letting up anytime soon. I got a chance to ask him what’s his motivation? To what does he attribute his longevity in Hip Hop?
He replied back… ” I think just being creative that’s what keep me going. I really love making music for people”. As to his longevity he told me, “I think just staying true to myself and not chasing whatever hot at the time..” And that’s reigned true throughout Tone’s career.
I got to listen to a very good album in Catching Flies with Chopsticks, and the production on here is supplied by some of the most talented beatsmiths in West Coast based Dibiase, Sultan Mir, as well as Jersey mainstays in DJ Priority and A Sharp..also production cues from Gov Matic, T.C.O.R., and DJ Mentplus to name a few… ” I was inspired to make Catching Flies because I wanted to work with some of the top producers that I know. So basically I’m catching my own buzz and riding in my own lane..” Said Tone when I asked him what was the power source to bring this project together.
Tone is a Jersey Hip Hop all-star in my book, and I say it because, with numerous projects under his belt, many shows performed throughout and outside the state, he’s remained consistent, never switching it up to the current trends and always keeping it gritty. From Remarkable Mayor, to Only Built for Timberland Boots, to Cheap Porn, Tone truly shows the essence of Jersey Hip Hop, will we ever see Tone Liv ride into the sunset, ” I will hang it up when Rosario Dawson becomes my wife”, well we hope the Mayor gets the girl, but I also hope we’ll get much more Tone Liv to rock too.
You can listen to Tone’s latest project below:
