Even though O2 brought him more mainstream success, Tonex said that this album was not what he had in mind for release. In an interview with The Addicted website, Tonex states, "although O2 came 2 years after Pronounced Toe-Nay, it was not, and I repeat not, the original album I turned in, nor was it the album that I wanted the public to hear. That's a whole other story."

Although he had reached gospel superstardom by the time O2 was released, Tonex continued to release independent projects that showcased even more of his versatile creativity. In 2000, he released Circu$$, an album which was composed mainly of songs aimed at attacking record labels and unfair practices in the record industry, in essence labelling the whole industry a "circuss". He also released Nureau Ink Orphans as a free download thru a Soundclick.com webpage in that same year.

In 2003, he released his most sprawling collections of underground work at that time. Figure Of Speech and Protranslutionary were released and are currently out of print. Figure Of Speech was a rock/experimental album which was released under the pseudonym "The O'ryn Project", while "Protranslutionary" featured his Christian radio hit "God Has Not 4Got" and a guest appearance by his mother E.B. Williams on the song "The River".
Later that same year, Oak Park 92105 was released on his now defunct Nureau Underground website. According to Tonex, it was this album that he intended to release after Pronounced Toe-Nay, and not O2. "Oak Park was the sequel to Pronounced Toe-Nay", says Tonex in an interview with The Addicted website. "Oak Park was supposed to come out August 19th 2003. The label was afraid of it. So basically all of my throw away albums by the label always end up being heralded as my greatest artistic achievements. Oak Park was the album where that same diaryesque approach that Pronounced Toe-Nay had blossomed."
Oak Park 92105 was a double album featuring 24 songs that mainly dealt with Tonex's life growing up in the Oak Park community nestled in the eastern tip of southeast San Diego, California. It was eventually re-released on iTunes in 2006 with some new songs, however, the album didn't come without controversy, as Tonex opted to include a "parental advisory: explicit lyrics" notice on the front cover of the album, making it the first album by a Christian-based artist to carry the notice. Tonex said the "explicit lyrics" notice is not a result of "cussing" on a record but rather content that "might be a little too deep for children."
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Out The Box
His 2004 double CD Out The Box earned him the most widespread acclaim so far. Divided into segments ranging from traditional gospel and praise anthems to splashes of urban dance, rock, and hip-hop, the ambitious Out The Box was a sprawling double disc set with 36 tracks, which included innovative intros, interludes, and a number of studio tracks. The supporting cast included a 10-piece band, 4 dancers, a 16-voice ensemble, and a 40-voice choir. Notable guest appearances on the album included Kirk Franklin, who plays piano in the live version of "God Has Not 4Got" and appears as an artist on "Since Jesus Came", and former Prince percussionist Sheila E, who appears on the Latin-flavored "Todos Juntos".
Out The Box debuted at #1 on the Billboard Magazine Top Gospel Album Chart in September 2004, appeared on Billboard’s Top 200 and Top R&B Chart, was #5 on the Contemporary Christian Chart, and to date has sold over 500,000 copies. He also netted a Grammy nomination for Best Soul Gospel Album the following year, and had another bonafide Christian radio hit with the ballad "Make Me Over".[7] In 2005, Tonéx won a total of six Stellar Awards including "Artist of the Year" for Out The Box.[8]
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Controversy and turbulence
In July 2004, his father died, forcing him to take on the responsibility of becoming senior pastor of their family's church in his stead.[2] He also divorced his wife of 5 years, Yvette Williams (née Graham). Also, Verity Records sued Tonéx for one million dollars citing breach of contract.[9] Subsequently, Tonéx announced that he would retire from the Gospel music industry, frustrated by politics and mistreatment.[10] Following the announcement, Kirk Franklin posted a personal blog on his own website sympathizing with the artist feeling "the weight of an industry that is only built to make money, not heal broken souls." [11]
In March 2007, a reconciliation with Zomba Label Group was announced, which would be a joint venture for his Nureau Ink label. The deal was struck under the auspices of new Zomba president Jazzy Jordan (who has previously guided the careers of R. Kelly and Salt-N-Pepa). With a new record deal under his belt, he was preparing to release a double disc set titled Stereotype: Steel & Velvet, which was slated to be released on September 11, 2007, and was purportedly supposed to do for his career what Thriller did for Michael Jackson and what Purple Rain did for Prince.