Born on July 2, in Kinston, NC, Antonio Whitfield aka Tonknee (pronounced Tony)  Mastahz was introduced to the world.  Tone moved from Kinston and was raised in Wilmington; N.C. Tone Mastahz is no stranger to diversity and moving to survive.  At the tender age of 3, Tonknee was given up by his biological parents. Throughout his youth and adolescence, Tone was exposed to a life style that no child should have to endure.  I can honestly say, “I have more mothers than the average person” says Tone with a joyful smile. 

Most people that are in the business were brought into it through their family or the church, but not Tone.  His trip took him down a different path. The path began in the 5th grade, trying to impress a young lady by the name of Lonnette.  This was his reason for getting into music. Sad to say Tone failed to impress Lonnette, but the music stayed in him as he continued to blossom.  So to Lonnette from Tone, where ever you are, thank you.  Tone continued to write, as well as study the songs that were hits.  You can see that within his music, “I'm influenced by" HITS" and “HIT MAKERS!”  “If you were anyone in the game that made a hit record, you've had some influence on me” says Tone.  Tone also gives credit to everyone from LL Cool J to M.C. Hammer.  You can include New Edition to the man who walked the line himself, Johnny Cash.  In Tone’s opinion, “If it’s a hit, music is music to me.”

There are many more influences and some may be repetitive in many other bios.  To Tone, the bottom line is about making good music and music for everyone.  Even though his roots can be found in the streets of Wilmington, a creative mind has no boundaries.  Tone plans to bring to the world the sound of Wilmington through his extended family of  emcees like Natural Criminals, Home Boys In Affect (H.B.I.A), Rhythm Seekas, Jazzstronaunts and Tha Council, just to name a few. “This is my family, in the south, you don’t forget about family,” says Tone. Look out for Tone Mastahz and his family, Wilmington has a story to tell.

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