II Tone

Mario Reddick, performing as II Tone, remains a fixture in Memphis rap while serving as co-founder of the enduring Black Rain Entertainment imprint, which he has run with childhood friend Lord Infamous. Early recordings showcased an aggressive vocal style that later shifted toward more measured phrasing without sacrificing drive. His recording career opened in the first years of the 2000s via In Too Deep, a project that included a guest spot from his group Da Crime Click. Across the remainder of that decade he issued Heaven Sent Hell Bound plus the Lord Infamous collaborations Club House Click and Blood Money. Nearing his twentieth year in the industry, II Tone proved unusually active in 2017, releasing the albums New Direction: My World Overcometh and the Mr. 4Twenty collaboration Chicken Talk along with the single "Who's Makin Love," which referenced multiple hits by Memphis soul legend Johnnie Taylor.