Tobymac has his Eye On It

 

It’s hard to start writing about Tobymac without first mentioning dc Talk from whence he sprang. While at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, Toby McKeehan met fellow dc Talk bandmates: Kevin Max Smith and Michael Tait.  They formed dc Talk in 1987 and went on to achieve great success in both Christian and mainstream music. The band went on to win 4 Grammy Awards, 16 GMA Dove Awards and other recognition. However, they decided to take an extended "intermission" in 2000. I don't want to stray off topic so I'll refrain from gushing about dc Talk, but what a great threesome.  Michael Tait is enjoying his role as the lead singer for The Newsboys and Kevin Max releases a new project just about every year so those of us dc Talk fans who want to hear new material can get out fix just fine. But I wouldn't be opposed to a reunion tour and the band never OFFICIALLY disbanded. Hmmmmm.

Since coming on the scene as one of the first Christian rappers, Toby (born Kevin Michael McKeehan on October 22, 1964) has become one of the most popular, top-selling Christian artists in the industry. The following discography is his solo legacy thus far:

§  2001: Momentum

§  2003: Re:Mix Momentum

§  2004: Welcome to Diverse City

§  2005: Renovating Diverse City

§  2007: Portable Sounds

§  2008: Alive and Transported

§  2010: Tonight

§  2011: Christmas in Diverse City

§  2012: Dubbed and Freq'd: A Remix Project

§  2012: Eye On It

 

Eye on It was released on September 5, 2012, it has become the third Christian album ever to be in the #1 spot on the Billboard 200 chart and #1 on the Digital Albums chart (most downloads).  At press time, Toby has the #3 spot on the Christian Song chart for Me Without You, #24 on the Dance/Electronic albums chart for Dubbed and Freq’d, and Eye On It is down to #42 on the Billboard Top 200 chart. All of the accolades and achievements are because he is truly gifted and anointed to speak the truth through music.  But Toby’s lyrics, actions and reputation reflect his faith in Jesus Christ and his humility as a disciple, not as a performer seeking fame and acclaim.

The first time I saw Tobymac I was a new Christian.  I had been led to Christ by Third Day and when I went to Phoenix for my first Third Day show, Tobymac was opening.  I read about the band and thought they sounded great in the short sample I listened to online so I was looking forward to hearing them.  I was BLOWN AWAY.  Not only was I new to Christianity and Christian Music, I was very new to the idea that worship could sound like THIS!  The show started and it was pure electricity and adrenaline through the opening song. Toby’s entire entourage was dancing, flipping around, rappin’ and RUNNING all over the stage.  It was so high energy.  I loved worship like that.  I felt like King David leaping down the street naked in front of the Ark of the Covenant!  Well, maybe not exactly.  But it was a cool revelation of the way God speaks His Word to people of all walks of life, with every different personality and background that God gave them to give them their uniqueness, He continues to speak to them individually with custom-made witness.  The truth through hip-hop.  I was down.

Eventually, as always, I had to get every album and I do, have them all now.  My family including my son, sister and a niece and two nephews have all gone to see him in concert numerous times.  He’s a family favorite who gets quoted and sung and requested time and time again. We love us some Tobymac and we love Truett, aka Trudog, Toby’s adorable son who has so far, gotten a single joint on nearly all of Dad’s records. Eye On It finally portrays Trudog with a voice that has changed and sounds a little more like Dad, but still like the Trudog we’ve come to love.

As far as diversity, Tobymac and The Diverse City Band proclaim a theme that sounds like One God, One Love, Many Colors.  I raise my child like that.  I liked the theme of my first Tobymac CD, Welcome to Diverse City.  Toby's wife Amanda, is from Jamaica and having spent a significant amount of time there, Toby has a great reggae sound of his own when he wants to head in that direction. Tobymac’s songs consistently show diversity as a theme in their styles.  The album “Tonight” goes from high energy dance to ballad to Caribbean theme to Latino theme creating an energetic flow through the track list.  One of my favorites is City On Our Knees which I can’t even sing all the way through because it makes me cry a little.  He just knows how to use every musical style out there to create a sound that always sounds like Toby and always glorifies God.  He sounds like a man with a mission to make everyone get up and dance because it’s incredibly joyful to be loved children of an Almighty God.  His clever, funny, anecdotal rap lyrics and his sweet, worshipful ballads combine to create a collection of albums that I can’t even pick a favorite from.  I love each and every one.  Some days are just days that call for Portable Sounds and sometimes I really need to hear Welcome To Diverse City because I had it first and I know every single rap on the CD. But the man has other interests! Other projects! Besides being a super cool and hip father and husband, Toby has lent his talents to ministry a number of ways. Tobymac is a regular collaborator and producer of other projects. 

From Wikipedia:

TobyMac has written two books with Michael Tait and Kevin Max, Jesus Freaks: DC Talk and The Voice of the Martyrs – Stories of Those Who Stood for Jesus, the Ultimate Jesus Freaks,^[19] and Jesus Freaks: Revolutionaries: Stories of Revolutionaries Who Changed Their World: Fearing GOD, Not Man.^[20] These books are mainly focused on Christian martyrs. Toby Mac has also written two more books with Michael Tait, one titled, Under God,^[21] containing stories of America's spiritual battles, and another book called,Living Under God: Discovering Your Part in God's Plan.^[22]

TobyMac has written a fifth book called, City on Our Knees.^[23] The book is about how Christians past and present have set aside differences, come together in unity, and stepped forward in action and prayer.

TobyMac is the president of the record label Gotee Records. He created the label with Todd Collins and Joey Elwood in order to produce Out of Eden's Lovin' the Day after efforts to sign the group to an established label proved unsuccessful.^[24] "We all collectively said, 'Let's just give this a shot'", Elwood recalls; "Three naïve guys, a willing band, and some really good songs."^[24] Gotee features artists such as Relient K, House of Heroes, Jamie Grace and Abandon Kansas. However, as a recording artist, TobyMac is under contract with ForeFront Records.

Toby also performs in "Rock the Universe" in Universal Studios and "Night of Joy" in Walt Disney World annually each September. Toby usually alternates between Rock the Universe and Night of Joy.

Toby has also helped establish a camp, called Camp Electric, located near Nashville, Tennessee, for young musicians who want to have pop and rock skills.^[25]

Toby released a DVD, TobyMac: Moving Pictures Featuring His Entire Work of Music Videos, on November 10, 2010.^{[citation needed]}

Toby will also be in the movie I'm In Love With a Church Girl originally scheduled to be released in the Fall of 2011, and currently in post-production.^[26]

Toby made a headline appearance at the quadrennial event NYC (a conference of the youth of the Church of the Nazarene) at its most recent North American gathering in Louisville, Kentucky.^[27]

 

And did I mention how very BLUE his eyes are?  Amazing.