The controversial singer says he's moving on to acting and book writing.
"I just filmed "The Hustle" with Charlie Murphy, David Alan Grier and Kym Whitley," he told us. "And I'm working with Janet Jackson her new album and a couple of songs with Michael."
Does this mean his gospel music career is over? Tonex says [fans] will hear from him internationally (London). He may release an album in fall 2008. Domestically, he's sticking with acting.
Why is he doing it this way? "Less is more," he says. "If you pull back, you get launched forward. Always keep them guessing. A lot of the gospel artists, you see them all of the time. Sometimes you have to pull back to launch forward."
Tonex's energetic stage act and contemporary musical style soon had people comparing him to Kirk Franklin. In 2005, he won five Stellar awards for his 2004 release, Out the Box. By this time, he had become well known for his flamboyant wardrobe.
In 2006 Tonex split with his record label, allegedly over lack of payment, and took a hiatus from the music business.
This year he created a controversial video to fight off gay innuendos made by a gossip Website. The Stellar award-winning gospel artist's label quickly dropped him from its roster and he soon found himself issuing an Open Letter.
"[There's] limitations," he told EUR's Lee Bailey, who recently asked him if he got frustrated in the gospel field. "I've grown so much as a person. My energy is so universal right now…that I'm being called into the world," he explained. "I can still preach in the church and minister to those who are believers… I still pastor."
Amidst all the drama, many were left wondering about Tonex's future in gospel music.
"I think I'll always be a gospel artist cause that's the root of what I do [but] I am expanding my horizons now," he said. "I'll never leave my roots; that's the core of who I am."
As for being boxed in the gospel industry: "I think more people need to be exposed to this message and what I represent. It's a very small demographic and not making small of gospel but it's a big world out there that knows nothing about what we do. I'm the ambassador and I'm the one that can do it with the help of God, of course, he says."
Tonex, who pastors a San Diego church, responded with a lively, expletive-laden YouTube video titled "The Naked Truth." (see video below.)
Word about the video spread online quickly and drama followed. Tonex and his record label, Zomba, soon parted ways for the second time in two years. He originally split from the imprint in 2006, allegedly over lack of payment.
EUR's Lee Bailey recently caught up with Tonex at Steve Harvey's Hoodie Awards in Las Vegas. The award-winning gospel artist, who took a hiatus from the music industry in 2006, wasn't shy about discussing why he made the video.
"…Because at that time, that's what needed to come out," he explained. "It was because [of] a lot of hurts, resentments and things that went on in that area [but] I don't usually discuss vomit, you know. I just kind of moved on from there; the next day everything was fine but I needed to make sure that everybody heard my voice and what I had to say and moved on from there."
Tonex released an Open Letter earlier this month, expressing "deepest regret for any shame that this may have caused my Bishops and or Body Members."
When Bailey asked him if he had any regrets, he said, "You can't change it. It's all about the now --- and the future is so groovy."
Part 2: On Wednesday, Tonex discusses being a gospel artist and what he represents
Part 3: On Friday, Tonex talks about his upcoming projects.
No comments:
Post a Comment