T.O.B.E’s music envelopes exactly what his moniker implies. T.O.B.E was born in Cleveland, Ohio, a city overrun with all the ills that urban life has to offer, poverty, pimping, prostitution and the horrific aftermath of the drug trade and ongoing epidemic.
T.O.B.E started to take rap serious after his partner in rhyme and crime Toby Hobbs a.k.a. M.C. Tobe was murdered in his home in the early 90’s. The two made a videotaped pact that whomever dies; the other would carry his name into the world of rap music with him. Shortly after the death of Toby, T.O.B.E’s cousin played one of his tapes for members of the legendary r&b group the O’Jays. They loved it and immediately wanted to sign T.O.B.E to a production deal, but to this street smart hustler the dollars just didn’t make sense. T.O.B.E recorded a couple of songs with Eddie Levert Sr. which were never released.
T.O.B.E’s performances include: being part of the Def Comedy Jam tour around New York City where he performed during intermissions. He has opened for such acts as: Ice Cube, Redman, Sadat X, Eightball & MJG and has also performed in a rap contest against the now world known Bone Thugs and Harmony. T.O.B.E’s most recent performance was August of 2005 at Club Speed in New York where he received the biggest applause of all the artists performing that night.
T.O.B.E’s songs draw from the pain that he has endured seeing his people struggle and die to survive on the mean streets of C-Town. His forthright lyrical content, and insightful storytelling ability draw from first hand experience. T.O.B.E is a workaholic in and out of the studio and is driven to be heard by the world!! As his number one fan would say “sit back and jus’ listen to my dog”!