TobyMac
Encyclopedia
Toby McKeehan better known by his stage name TobyMac (styled tobyMac), is a Christian
recording artist, music producer, hip-hop/pop artist, singer-songwriter, and author.
TobyMac was one of the first Christian rappers. He was first known for being a member of the Christian
singing trio DC Talk, staying with them from 1987 until their announced hiatus in 2000. He has since continued a successful solo career with the release of four studio albums: Momentum (2001), Welcome to Diverse City (2004), Portable Sounds
(2007), Tonight
(2010), as well as two remixed albums of the first two albums titled Re:Mix Momentum and Renovating Diverse City, respectively. He also has a full-length Christmas album Christmas in Diverse City
(2011).
Between DC talk and his own solo career, he has sold more than 10 million albums. TobyMac has had six No. 1 hit CHR
singles including "Gone
", "Made to Love
" and "Lose My Soul
." His live concert CD+DVD combo album, Alive and Transported
, was released in 2008 and received the Grammy Award for Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album at the 51st Grammy Awards
in 2009. His fourth studio album, Tonight, was released on February 9, 2010.
in 1987, at Liberty University
in Lynchburg, VA. He and Tait released Christian Rhymes to a Rhythm in 1988, while they recruited classmate, Kevin Max Smith. The three set out on tour after they released their first album in 1989, DC Talk. In 1990 They released their first gold album, Nu Thang. After the Nu Thang tour they recorded their first platinum album, Free at Last. The Free at Last Tour was a success. They were invited to play on The Jay Leno Show and The Arsenio Hall Show, getting mainstream attention. They released their first single for their next album which immediately became a hit single. The album went multi-platinum and the best Christian album in the face of CCM music, Jesus Freak, which they released in 1995. The album led to the extremely popular Jesus Freak World Tour. They eventually released the tour CD, Welcome to the Freakshow. The tour ended in success in time for Supernatural, which would be their last album. The album would sell platinum. They then went solo in 2001.
The band has not toured together since 2001 (except for one show in Redmond, Washington in 2005, and when TobyMac made surprise guest appearances at Winter Jam in 2010 in Nashville and in 2011 in Greensboro, NC and sang "Jesus Freak" with Michael Tait). However, DC Talk has recorded several songs together since their hiatus: "Let's Roll" (a song about the September 11 attacks) in 2002, "Atmosphere (Remix)" on TobyMac's 2004 album Welcome to Diverse City, and "The Cross", a track on Kevin Max's 2007 album The Blood
.
, which was featured on the Momentum album. The song Extreme Days was also used in the movie, Hangman's Curse, based on the popular book by Frank Peretti. His song "Get This Party Started" was featured on an episode of the TV show Roswell
. His song "Yours" made it to the Top 5 on ChristianRock.net. His songs "Yours", "Extreme Days", "Get This Party Started", and "Momentum" were all recently featured in the Xbox 360
video game Crackdown
. Momentum gained five Dove Awards and a Grammy nomination. In 2002 he released his first Christmas album, This Christmas with only two tracks: "This Christmas" and "O Come All Ye Faithful". In 2003 he remix
ed the Momentum album. This album was titled Re:Mix Momentum.His song "Yours" was used in TNA (Total Nonstop Action Wrestling) as "Sting's" Theme song.
On Kirk Franklin
's 2002 album The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin
he was featured on "Throw Yo Hands Up".
, advertisements for the films Transporter 2
, Aeon Flux
, and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift
, as well as advertisements for the television show Prison Break
. The song was also featured in car commercials, men's NCAA clips, NBA Finals (Miami Heat, 2006), World Wrestling Entertainment
(WWE) programming, NFL Football commercials, and "The Ultimate Highlight" on Sportscenter
. Ohio Valley Wrestling
performer Matt Cappotelli
(who currently is unable to perform due to a brain tumor) uses "The Slam" as his entrance theme. In the movie Never Back Down
Toby's song "The Slam" is featured in the main fight scene. "Diverse City" was featured in the Veronica Mars
episode, The Wrath of Con. "Atmosphere" was used in a Volvo car commercial, "Burn For You" was used for cinnamon gum commercials (as well as on a Dr. Phil advertisement). The album gave TobyMac another Dove Award for Rap/Hip-Hop Album of the Year. A remix version of the album, Renovating->Diverse City, was released in 2005.
, was released in 2007 and sold 50,645 copies in its first week, debuting at No. 10 on the Billboard 200
, and at No. 1 on the SoundScan Contemporary Christian Overall chart. The album also received a Grammy nomination for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album. The songs "Made to Love" and "I'm For You" both hit No. 1 and were the second and third most played songs on Christian Hit Radio stations in 2007. "Ignition" is being used by ABC
/ESPN
to promote its coverage of NASCAR
, and "Boomin'" has also been used to promote a new crime-drama, The Women's Murder Club, on ABC, as well as others. In September 2007, his song "Feelin' So Fly" appeared in the film The Game Plan
starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. Recently, "Ignition" received worldwide exposure when it was used as the Arizona Cardinals
entrance music during the pre-game of Super Bowl XLIII
. Then in March 2011, it was played during NCAA tournament promo during Arizona vs UConn game. TobyMac was awarded two Dove Awards for his work on this album, including Artist of the Year. His music video featuring the song "Boomin" was awarded a Dove Award for Short Form Music Video of the Year. Around this time also, he wrote his song, "New World" for the "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
" and recorded the song "What We Gonna Do?" for the VeggieTales
movie, The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie
. "Feelin' So Fly" and "I'm for You" appear in Thrillville: Off the Rails
.
was a live recording of the Portable Sounds Tour in Houston, TX. It included covers of popular DC Talk songs "Jesus Freak" and "In the Light". The album included a DVD of the concert and gained him a GMA Dove and a Grammy Award
.
, was released on February 9, 2010. The album debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard 200, selling 79,000 units in its first week. The album's first single, "City on Our Knees
", was released on August 14, 2009. The song reached No. 1 on Billboards Hot Christian Songs
and No. 1 on both Christian AC and CHR. Christopher Stevens and Dave Wyatt joined McKeehan in producing the album, as with the production of his 2007 release, Portable Sounds
. Truett, aka TruDog, Toby's oldest son, was once again featured on a song as in the previous albums. The album is a mix of pop
, rock
, hip-hop, Latin
, and funk
, similar to his album Portable Sounds. The album charted No. 6 on the Billboard Top 200 and No. 1 on the Billboard Christian albums chart; selling 79,000 units in its first week. He recently finished touring with Skillet
and House of Heroes
on the "Awake Tonight Tour". The title track of the new album is featured in the intro of MLB Network's TV show 30 Clubs 30 Days. In March, he announced the "Hello Tonight" summer 2010 tour with Chris Tomlin
. The song "City on Our Knees" earned TobyMac a Dove Award for Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year. The song "Showstopper" was used to promote World Wrestling Entertainment's (WWE) June 2010 Pay Per View, "Fatal 4-Way", and was used at least once in NCAA Basketball. It was also used as an introduction to Thursday Night Football in 2009-2010. His single "Tonight" was also used as a pregame introduction at home games for the Baltimore Orioles during the 2011 MLB season. The song was also promoted for ESPYS' Best U.S Male Olympian. TobyMac's "Tonight" was listed best Christian album of 2010 on iTunes and his Christmas single titled "Christmas This Year" (featuring Leigh Nash) was awarded the holiday song of the week on iTunes. He won the "Artist of the Year" at the 2011 Dove Awards. Additionally, the songs "Get Back Up" and "City On Our Knees" were recognized for being two of the Top 25 most performed songs on Christian radio over the past year.
TobyMac just ended a tour with Third Day
, Michael W. Smith
, Jason Gray and Max Lucado
on the World Vision
-sponsored "Make a Difference Tour 2010".
Tonight was nominated for a Grammy in the category "Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album" for the 53rd Annual Grammy awards.
TobyMac's first full-length Christmas album, Christmas in Diverse City
, was released October 4, 2011. It contains songs from each of the Diverse City members as well as TobyMac. Its other guest artists include: Leigh Nash, Owl City
, Jamie Grace
, Victor Oquendo, Superherose, Arch Nemesiz, Tim Rosenau, Todiefunk, and Byron "Talkbox" Chambers.
and Kevin Max
entitled, Jesus Freaks: DC Talk and The Voice of the Martyrs – Stories of Those Who Stood for Jesus, the Ultimate Jesus Freaks, and, Jesus Freaks: Revolutionaries: Stories of Revolutionaries Who Changed Their World: Fearing God, Not Man. These books are mainly focused on Christian martyrs. Toby Mac has also written two more books with Michael Tait, one titled, Under God, containing stories of America's spiritual battles, and another book called, Living Under God: Discovering Your Part In God's Plan.
TobyMac has written a fifth book called, City On Our Knees. 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. "We all collectively said, 'Let's just give this a shot'", Elwood recalls; "Three naïve guys, a willing band, and some really good songs." 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.
Toby released a DVD, TobyMac: Moving Pictures Featuring His Entire Work of Music Videos, on November 10, 2010.
Toby will also be in the movie I'm In Love With a Church Girl scheduled to be released in the Fall of 2011.
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.
.
They have five children: Truett, born September 4, 1998; twins Moses and Marlee, adopted in 2002; Leo, born on November 2, 2004; and Judah, born March 24, 2006.
Truett has appeared on the albums Momentum, Re:Mix Momentum, This Christmas, Welcome to Diverse City, Renovating Diverse City, Portable Sounds and Tonight as the artist "TruDog". Judah McKeehan has appeared on the album Tonight on the track "Loud'N'Clear" with Truett.
nominations
GMA Dove Award awards
Video awards
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
recording artist, music producer, hip-hop/pop artist, singer-songwriter, and author.
TobyMac was one of the first Christian rappers. He was first known for being a member of the Christian
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
singing trio DC Talk, staying with them from 1987 until their announced hiatus in 2000. He has since continued a successful solo career with the release of four studio albums: Momentum (2001), Welcome to Diverse City (2004), Portable Sounds
Portable Sounds
Portable Sounds is the third full-length studio album from Christian pop rock and hip hop artist tobyMac. It was released on February 20, 2007, and debuted at number 10 on the Billboard 200. The album features the singles "Lose My Soul", "Made to Love", "Boomin'", "I'm for You", and "One World "...
(2007), Tonight
Tonight (TobyMac album)
Tonight is the fourth solo album from the Christian pop–hip hop artist TobyMac. It is the follow-up album to his 2007 release Portable Sounds, and was released on February 9, 2010. The Deluxe Version of the album will contain a DVD containing interviews with Toby about the songs on the record, the...
(2010), as well as two remixed albums of the first two albums titled Re:Mix Momentum and Renovating Diverse City, respectively. He also has a full-length Christmas album Christmas in Diverse City
Christmas in Diverse City
Christmas in Diverse City is TobyMac's first full-length Christmas album and fifth full-length studio album. It was released on October 4, 2011.- Tracklisting :6 of the 13 tracks are songs by Tobymac's Diverse City band...
(2011).
Between DC talk and his own solo career, he has sold more than 10 million albums. TobyMac has had six No. 1 hit CHR
Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
singles including "Gone
Gone (tobyMac song)
"Gone" is a 2004 single by TobyMac from his album Welcome to Diverse City. It stayed at number 1 on R&R magazine's Christian CHR chart for 10 weeks. A remix is found on McKeehan's album Renovating Diverse City. The song is also featured in WoW Hits 2005....
", "Made to Love
Made to Love
"Made to Love" is a song by contemporary Christian singer tobyMac from his third album, Portable Sounds. It was released as the album's lead single on December 26, 2006. This was also by the compilation album, WOW Hits 2008.-Music and lyrics:...
" and "Lose My Soul
Lose My Soul
"Lose My Soul" is a single from tobyMac's 2007 album Portable Sounds, and features guest performers Kirk Franklin and Mandisa. "Lose My Soul" wasn't an instant hit. Over a year after the song was originally released, the song hit number 2 on the Christian Billboard charts...
." His live concert CD+DVD combo album, Alive and Transported
Alive and Transported
Alive and Transported is a live album by Christian hip hop artist tobyMac. It was released on May 27, 2008 and debuted at number 112 on the Billboard 200, and also placed at number 4 on Billboards Top Christian Albums chart. It is currently sold as a CD/DVD combo...
, was released in 2008 and received the Grammy Award for Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album at the 51st Grammy Awards
51st Grammy Awards
The 51st Annual Grammy Awards took place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA on February 8, 2009. Robert Plant and Alison Krauss were the biggest winners of the night, jointly winning five awards including Album of the Year and Record of the Year...
in 2009. His fourth studio album, Tonight, was released on February 9, 2010.
DC Talk (1988–2001)
Toby formed DC Talk with Michael TaitMichael Tait
Michael DeWayne Tait is a Contemporary Christian Music artist. Michael Tait met Toby McKeehan and Kevin Max while attending Liberty University in the late 1980s, and formed four-time grammy winning band DC Talk, with whom he released 5 acclaimed studio albums...
in 1987, at Liberty University
Liberty University
Liberty University is a private Christian university located in Lynchburg, Virginia. Liberty's annual enrollment is around 72,000 students, 12,000 of whom are residential students and 60,000+ studying through Liberty University Online...
in Lynchburg, VA. He and Tait released Christian Rhymes to a Rhythm in 1988, while they recruited classmate, Kevin Max Smith. The three set out on tour after they released their first album in 1989, DC Talk. In 1990 They released their first gold album, Nu Thang. After the Nu Thang tour they recorded their first platinum album, Free at Last. The Free at Last Tour was a success. They were invited to play on The Jay Leno Show and The Arsenio Hall Show, getting mainstream attention. They released their first single for their next album which immediately became a hit single. The album went multi-platinum and the best Christian album in the face of CCM music, Jesus Freak, which they released in 1995. The album led to the extremely popular Jesus Freak World Tour. They eventually released the tour CD, Welcome to the Freakshow. The tour ended in success in time for Supernatural, which would be their last album. The album would sell platinum. They then went solo in 2001.
The band has not toured together since 2001 (except for one show in Redmond, Washington in 2005, and when TobyMac made surprise guest appearances at Winter Jam in 2010 in Nashville and in 2011 in Greensboro, NC and sang "Jesus Freak" with Michael Tait). However, DC Talk has recorded several songs together since their hiatus: "Let's Roll" (a song about the September 11 attacks) in 2002, "Atmosphere (Remix)" on TobyMac's 2004 album Welcome to Diverse City, and "The Cross", a track on Kevin Max's 2007 album The Blood
The Blood (album)
The Blood is an album by Christian music artist Kevin Max that was released December 26, 2007.-Overview:Unlike Max's previous albums , The Blood is a gospel album instead of having his usual rock stylings...
.
Momentum (2001–2003)
In 2001, TobyMac released his first solo album titled Momentum. McKeehan composed and recorded the song "Extreme Days" for the 2001 Truth Builder Productions film Extreme DaysExtreme Days
Extreme Days is a 2001 Christian-based comedy romance film about four boys on a roadtrip that they have been planning their whole lives. Their dreams are to participate in many extreme sports, but they are stopped short due to many circumstances.-Plot:...
, which was featured on the Momentum album. The song Extreme Days was also used in the movie, Hangman's Curse, based on the popular book by Frank Peretti. His song "Get This Party Started" was featured on an episode of the TV show Roswell
Roswell (TV series)
Roswell is an American science fiction television series developed, produced, and co-written by Jason Katims. The series debuted on October 6, 1999 on The WB and moved to UPN for the third season. The last episode aired May 14, 2002...
. His song "Yours" made it to the Top 5 on ChristianRock.net. His songs "Yours", "Extreme Days", "Get This Party Started", and "Momentum" were all recently featured in the Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
video game Crackdown
Crackdown
Crackdown is an open world, third-person shooter video game for the Xbox 360. It was released in North America on February 20, 2007, and worldwide by February 23, 2007. Crackdown was developed by Realtime Worlds, and distributed by Microsoft Game Studios. It was conceived by Realtime Worlds...
. Momentum gained five Dove Awards and a Grammy nomination. In 2002 he released his first Christmas album, This Christmas with only two tracks: "This Christmas" and "O Come All Ye Faithful". In 2003 he remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
ed the Momentum album. This album was titled Re:Mix Momentum.His song "Yours" was used in TNA (Total Nonstop Action Wrestling) as "Sting's" Theme song.
On Kirk Franklin
Kirk Franklin
Kirk Dwayne Franklin is an American Gospel music musician, choir director, and author, and is most notably known for leading urban contemporary gospel choirs such as The Family, God's Property and One Nation Crew .- Early years :...
's 2002 album The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin
The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin
The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin is a studio album by Kirk Franklin.-Synopsis:The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin is the 7th album released by Kirk Franklin. The U.S...
he was featured on "Throw Yo Hands Up".
Welcome to Diverse City (2004–2006)
Welcome to Diverse City was released in October 2004. The album debuted and peaked on the Billboard 200 at number 54, selling 21,000 copies that week. The album's song "The Slam" was featured in the film Never Back DownNever Back Down
Never Back Down is a 2008 action film starring Sean Faris, Amber Heard, Cam Gigandet, and Djimon Hounsou. It was theatrically released on March 14, 2008. The film's respective tagline is "Win or lose.....
, advertisements for the films Transporter 2
Transporter 2
Transporter 2 is a 2005 action film directed by Louis Leterrier and produced by Luc Besson. It is the sequel to The Transporter . It is itself followed by Transporter 3 ....
, Aeon Flux
Æon Flux (film)
New Zealander Graeme Revell composed the score for Æon Flux; the soundtrack is available via Varèse Sarabande as advertised on the film's official website -Comic book prequel:...
, and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift
The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift
The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift is a 2006 street racing action film directed by Justin Lin. It is the third installment in the The Fast and the Furious film series and currently the sixth in terms of series chronology...
, as well as advertisements for the television show Prison Break
Prison Break
Prison Break is an American television serial drama created by Paul Scheuring, that was broadcast on the Fox Broadcasting Company for four seasons, from 2005 until 2009. The series revolves around two brothers; one has been sentenced to death for a crime he did not commit, and the other devises an...
. The song was also featured in car commercials, men's NCAA clips, NBA Finals (Miami Heat, 2006), World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
(WWE) programming, NFL Football commercials, and "The Ultimate Highlight" on Sportscenter
SportsCenter
SportsCenter is a daily sports news television show, and the flagship program of American cable network ESPN since the network launched on September 7, 1979. Originally broadcast only daily, SportsCenter is now shown up to twelve times a day, replaying the day's scores and highlights from major...
. Ohio Valley Wrestling
Ohio Valley Wrestling
Ohio Valley Wrestling is an American independent professional wrestling promotion based in Louisville, Kentucky. OVW is run by owner Danny Davis and was a member of the National Wrestling Alliance from 1997 until 2000...
performer Matt Cappotelli
Matt Cappotelli
Matthew Lee "Matt" Cappotelli is an American professional wrestler, last working in Ohio Valley Wrestling, which was the primary developmental territory for World Wrestling Entertainment until February 7, 2008...
(who currently is unable to perform due to a brain tumor) uses "The Slam" as his entrance theme. In the movie Never Back Down
Never Back Down
Never Back Down is a 2008 action film starring Sean Faris, Amber Heard, Cam Gigandet, and Djimon Hounsou. It was theatrically released on March 14, 2008. The film's respective tagline is "Win or lose.....
Toby's song "The Slam" is featured in the main fight scene. "Diverse City" was featured in the Veronica Mars
Veronica Mars
Veronica Mars is an American television series created by Rob Thomas. The series premiered on September 22, 2004, during television network UPN's final two years, and ended on May 22, 2007, after a season on UPN's successor, The CW Television Network. Veronica Mars was produced by Warner Bros...
episode, The Wrath of Con. "Atmosphere" was used in a Volvo car commercial, "Burn For You" was used for cinnamon gum commercials (as well as on a Dr. Phil advertisement). The album gave TobyMac another Dove Award for Rap/Hip-Hop Album of the Year. A remix version of the album, Renovating->Diverse City, was released in 2005.
Portable Sounds (2007–2008)
McKeehan's next album, titled Portable SoundsPortable Sounds
Portable Sounds is the third full-length studio album from Christian pop rock and hip hop artist tobyMac. It was released on February 20, 2007, and debuted at number 10 on the Billboard 200. The album features the singles "Lose My Soul", "Made to Love", "Boomin'", "I'm for You", and "One World "...
, was released in 2007 and sold 50,645 copies in its first week, debuting at No. 10 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
, and at No. 1 on the SoundScan Contemporary Christian Overall chart. The album also received a Grammy nomination for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album. The songs "Made to Love" and "I'm For You" both hit No. 1 and were the second and third most played songs on Christian Hit Radio stations in 2007. "Ignition" is being used by ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
/ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
to promote its coverage of NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
, and "Boomin'" has also been used to promote a new crime-drama, The Women's Murder Club, on ABC, as well as others. In September 2007, his song "Feelin' So Fly" appeared in the film The Game Plan
The Game Plan (film)
The Game Plan is a 2007 family comedy film directed by Andy Fickman and starring The Rock. This is the last film in which Johnson uses his ring name "The Rock." This is also the last Disney film to be distributed by Buena Vista, due to Disney semi-retiring the name in May 2007, making all other...
starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. Recently, "Ignition" received worldwide exposure when it was used as the Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
entrance music during the pre-game of Super Bowl XLIII
Super Bowl XLIII
Super Bowl XLIII was an American football game pitting the American Football Conference champion Pittsburgh Steelers against the National Football Conference champion Arizona Cardinals to decide the National Football League champion for the 2008 season. The game was played on February 1, 2009,...
. Then in March 2011, it was played during NCAA tournament promo during Arizona vs UConn game. TobyMac was awarded two Dove Awards for his work on this album, including Artist of the Year. His music video featuring the song "Boomin" was awarded a Dove Award for Short Form Music Video of the Year. Around this time also, he wrote his song, "New World" for the "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a 2005 epic fantasy adventure film directed by Andrew Adamson and based on The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the first published and second chronological novel in C. S. Lewis's children's epic fantasy series, The Chronicles of...
" and recorded the song "What We Gonna Do?" for the VeggieTales
VeggieTales
VeggieTales is an American series of children's computer animated films featuring anthropomorphic vegetables in stories conveying moral themes based on Christianity...
movie, The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie
The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie
The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie is a 2008 American animated feature-length family adventure film directed by Mike Nawrocki and written by Phil Vischer. Produced through Big Idea Productions animation studio and the animation by Starz Animation, it is the second film featuring...
. "Feelin' So Fly" and "I'm for You" appear in Thrillville: Off the Rails
Thrillville: Off the Rails
Thrillville: Off the Rails is a theme park simulation video game developed by Frontier Developments. The sequel to the 2006 game Thrillville, it is again published by LucasArts...
.
Alive and Transported (2008)
TobyMac released his first live album as a solo artist in 2008. Alive and TransportedAlive and Transported
Alive and Transported is a live album by Christian hip hop artist tobyMac. It was released on May 27, 2008 and debuted at number 112 on the Billboard 200, and also placed at number 4 on Billboards Top Christian Albums chart. It is currently sold as a CD/DVD combo...
was a live recording of the Portable Sounds Tour in Houston, TX. It included covers of popular DC Talk songs "Jesus Freak" and "In the Light". The album included a DVD of the concert and gained him a GMA Dove and a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
.
Tonight (2010)
TobyMac's fourth studio release, TonightTonight (TobyMac album)
Tonight is the fourth solo album from the Christian pop–hip hop artist TobyMac. It is the follow-up album to his 2007 release Portable Sounds, and was released on February 9, 2010. The Deluxe Version of the album will contain a DVD containing interviews with Toby about the songs on the record, the...
, was released on February 9, 2010. The album debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard 200, selling 79,000 units in its first week. The album's first single, "City on Our Knees
City on Our Knees
"City on Our Knees" is a song by contemporary Christian musician tobyMac from his album, Tonight, which was released in 2010. It was released as a radio single in August 2009 and reached number 1 on Billboards Hot Christian Songs chart in October 2009. It also reached No. 8 on Billboard's...
", was released on August 14, 2009. The song reached No. 1 on Billboards Hot Christian Songs
Hot Christian Songs
Christian Songs is a Billboard chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States....
and No. 1 on both Christian AC and CHR. Christopher Stevens and Dave Wyatt joined McKeehan in producing the album, as with the production of his 2007 release, Portable Sounds
Portable Sounds
Portable Sounds is the third full-length studio album from Christian pop rock and hip hop artist tobyMac. It was released on February 20, 2007, and debuted at number 10 on the Billboard 200. The album features the singles "Lose My Soul", "Made to Love", "Boomin'", "I'm for You", and "One World "...
. Truett, aka TruDog, Toby's oldest son, was once again featured on a song as in the previous albums. The album is a mix of pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
, rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
, hip-hop, Latin
Latin American music
Latin American music, found within Central and South America, is a series of musical styles and genres that mixes influences from Spanish, African and indigenous sources, that has recently become very famous in the US.-Argentina:...
, and funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
, similar to his album Portable Sounds. The album charted No. 6 on the Billboard Top 200 and No. 1 on the Billboard Christian albums chart; selling 79,000 units in its first week. He recently finished touring with Skillet
Skillet (band)
Skillet is an American Christian rock band formed in Memphis, Tennessee in 1996. The band currently consists of husband and wife John and Korey Cooper , along with Jen Ledger and lead guitarist Seth Morrison. The band has released eight albums, two receiving Grammy nominations: Collide and Comatose...
and House of Heroes
House of Heroes
House of Heroes is an alternative rock band from Columbus, Ohio. They were also known by the name No Tagbacks. They are generally considered to be Christian rock, though their lyrics are not always transparently Christian...
on the "Awake Tonight Tour". The title track of the new album is featured in the intro of MLB Network's TV show 30 Clubs 30 Days. In March, he announced the "Hello Tonight" summer 2010 tour with Chris Tomlin
Chris Tomlin
Christopher Dwayne "Chris" Tomlin is an American Christian Contemporary Music artist, worship leader, and songwriter from Grand Saline, Texas, United States. He is a former staff member at Austin Stone Community Church and is signed to EMI's sixstepsrecords. Tomlin also leads worship at many...
. The song "City on Our Knees" earned TobyMac a Dove Award for Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year. The song "Showstopper" was used to promote World Wrestling Entertainment's (WWE) June 2010 Pay Per View, "Fatal 4-Way", and was used at least once in NCAA Basketball. It was also used as an introduction to Thursday Night Football in 2009-2010. His single "Tonight" was also used as a pregame introduction at home games for the Baltimore Orioles during the 2011 MLB season. The song was also promoted for ESPYS' Best U.S Male Olympian. TobyMac's "Tonight" was listed best Christian album of 2010 on iTunes and his Christmas single titled "Christmas This Year" (featuring Leigh Nash) was awarded the holiday song of the week on iTunes. He won the "Artist of the Year" at the 2011 Dove Awards. Additionally, the songs "Get Back Up" and "City On Our Knees" were recognized for being two of the Top 25 most performed songs on Christian radio over the past year.
TobyMac just ended a tour with Third Day
Third Day
Third Day is a Grammy award-winning Christian rock band formed in Marietta, Georgia during the 1990s. The band was founded by lead singer Mac Powell, guitarist Mark Lee and former member Billy Wilkins. The other band members are bassist Tai Anderson and drummer David Carr...
, Michael W. Smith
Michael W. Smith
Michael Whitaker Smith is a Billboard top ten Billboard Hot 100 recording artist and Grammy Award-winning American singer-songwriter, composer, and actor. He is one of the best-selling and most influential artists in Contemporary Christian music. Smith also has achieved a considerable amount of...
, Jason Gray and Max Lucado
Max Lucado
Max Lucado is a best-selling author and writer and preacher at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas...
on the World Vision
World Vision
World Vision, founded in the USA in 1950, is an evangelical relief and development organization whose stated goal is "to follow our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in working with the poor and oppressed to promote human transformation, seek justice and bear witness to the good news of the Kingdom of...
-sponsored "Make a Difference Tour 2010".
Tonight was nominated for a Grammy in the category "Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album" for the 53rd Annual Grammy awards.
TobyMac's first full-length Christmas album, Christmas in Diverse City
Christmas in Diverse City
Christmas in Diverse City is TobyMac's first full-length Christmas album and fifth full-length studio album. It was released on October 4, 2011.- Tracklisting :6 of the 13 tracks are songs by Tobymac's Diverse City band...
, was released October 4, 2011. It contains songs from each of the Diverse City members as well as TobyMac. Its other guest artists include: Leigh Nash, Owl City
Owl City
Owl City is an American electronica musical project by singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Adam Young formed in 2007 in Owatonna, Minnesota. Young created the project while experimenting with music in his parents' basement...
, Jamie Grace
Jamie Grace
Jamie Grace Harper is an American Contemporary Christian musician, rapper, songwriter, and actress from Atlanta, Georgia. She is best known for her role as Jamie Grace on IShine KNECT on Trinity Broadcasting Network...
, Victor Oquendo, Superherose, Arch Nemesiz, Tim Rosenau, Todiefunk, and Byron "Talkbox" Chambers.
Other work
TobyMac has written two books with Michael TaitMichael Tait
Michael DeWayne Tait is a Contemporary Christian Music artist. Michael Tait met Toby McKeehan and Kevin Max while attending Liberty University in the late 1980s, and formed four-time grammy winning band DC Talk, with whom he released 5 acclaimed studio albums...
and Kevin Max
Kevin Max
Kevin Max Smith is an American singer, songwriter, and poet. He is best known for being a member of the Christian pop group dc Talk...
entitled, Jesus Freaks: DC Talk and The Voice of the Martyrs – Stories of Those Who Stood for Jesus, the Ultimate Jesus Freaks, and, Jesus Freaks: Revolutionaries: Stories of Revolutionaries Who Changed Their World: Fearing God, Not Man. These books are mainly focused on Christian martyrs. Toby Mac has also written two more books with Michael Tait, one titled, Under God, containing stories of America's spiritual battles, and another book called, Living Under God: Discovering Your Part In God's Plan.
TobyMac has written a fifth book called, City On Our Knees. 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
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
Gotee Records
Gotee Records
Gotee Records is a record label founded by dc Talk member Toby McKeehan , Todd Collins, and Joey Elwood...
. He created the label with Todd Collins and Joey Elwood
Joey Elwood
Joey Elwood is one of the co-founders of Gotee Records, along with the other Gotee Brothers, Toby McKeehan and Todd Collins. The record label was created when, after failing to find a label willing to sign the group Out of Eden, Elwood, McKeehan, and Collins decided to produce Lovin' the Day on...
in order to produce Out of Eden
Out of Eden
Out of Eden was an American Gospel music group often identified with R&B, and contemporary Christian music. It featured sisters Lisa Kimmey, Andrea Kimmey-Baca, and Danielle Kimmey...
's Lovin' the Day
Lovin' the Day
Lovin' the Day is the debut album of the Dove Award-winning American urban gospel group Out of Eden, released in 1994. It features sisters Lisa, Andrea, and Danielle Kimmey...
after efforts to sign the group to an established label proved unsuccessful. "We all collectively said, 'Let's just give this a shot'", Elwood recalls; "Three naïve guys, a willing band, and some really good songs." Gotee features artists such as Relient K
Relient K
Relient K is an American rock band formed in 1998 in Canton, Ohio by Matt Thiessen, Brian Pittman, and Matt Hoopes during the band's junior year in high school and their time at Malone University...
, House of Heroes
House of Heroes
House of Heroes is an alternative rock band from Columbus, Ohio. They were also known by the name No Tagbacks. They are generally considered to be Christian rock, though their lyrics are not always transparently Christian...
, Jamie Grace
Jamie Grace
Jamie Grace Harper is an American Contemporary Christian musician, rapper, songwriter, and actress from Atlanta, Georgia. She is best known for her role as Jamie Grace on IShine KNECT on Trinity Broadcasting Network...
and Abandon Kansas
Abandon Kansas
Abandon Kansas is an American Alternative Rock band. As the name suggests, the band originates from Wichita, Kansas. The band is currently on tour to promote their new album, Ad Astra per Aspera, which was released on Gotee Records in 2011....
. However, as a recording artist, TobyMac is under contract with ForeFront Records
ForeFront Records
ForeFront Records is a Christian Music record label founded in 1987 by Dan R. Brock, Eddie DeGarmo, Dana Key, and Ron W. Griffin. It was purchased by EMI in 1996 from current owners Dan R. Brock and Eddie DeGarmo and is now part of the EMI Christian Music Group.In 1998, ForeFront released a 2-CD...
.
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.
Toby released a DVD, TobyMac: Moving Pictures Featuring His Entire Work of Music Videos, on November 10, 2010.
Toby will also be in the movie I'm In Love With a Church Girl scheduled to be released in the Fall of 2011.
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.
Personal life
McKeehan and his wife Amanda (Mandy) were married in 1994. Amanda, who comes from Jamaica, is the daughter of Judy and Robert Levy (of Jamaica Broilers fame). Being married to a Jamaican, and with regular visits to the island, TobyMac is well immersed in Jamaican music, language and other aspects of local culture. Toby and Mandy live in Franklin, TennesseeFranklin, Tennessee
Franklin is a city within and the county seat of Williamson County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 62,487 as of the 2010 census Franklin is located approximately south of downtown Nashville.-History:...
.
They have five children: Truett, born September 4, 1998; twins Moses and Marlee, adopted in 2002; Leo, born on November 2, 2004; and Judah, born March 24, 2006.
Truett has appeared on the albums Momentum, Re:Mix Momentum, This Christmas, Welcome to Diverse City, Renovating Diverse City, Portable Sounds and Tonight as the artist "TruDog". Judah McKeehan has appeared on the album Tonight on the track "Loud'N'Clear" with Truett.
Discography
- 2001: Momentum
- 2004: Welcome to Diverse City
- 2007: Portable SoundsPortable SoundsPortable Sounds is the third full-length studio album from Christian pop rock and hip hop artist tobyMac. It was released on February 20, 2007, and debuted at number 10 on the Billboard 200. The album features the singles "Lose My Soul", "Made to Love", "Boomin'", "I'm for You", and "One World "...
- 2010: TonightTonight (TobyMac album)Tonight is the fourth solo album from the Christian pop–hip hop artist TobyMac. It is the follow-up album to his 2007 release Portable Sounds, and was released on February 9, 2010. The Deluxe Version of the album will contain a DVD containing interviews with Toby about the songs on the record, the...
Awards
Grammy AwardGrammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
nominations
- 2003: Best Rock Gospel Album – Momentum
- 2005: Best Rock Gospel Album – Welcome to Diverse CityWelcome to Diverse City (album)Welcome to Diverse City is the second full length studio album released by Christian singer TobyMac. The songs on this album deal with racial tolerance in society and a desire to know God better...
- 2008: Best Gospel Song – "Made to LoveMade to Love"Made to Love" is a song by contemporary Christian singer tobyMac from his third album, Portable Sounds. It was released as the album's lead single on December 26, 2006. This was also by the compilation album, WOW Hits 2008.-Music and lyrics:...
" - 2008: Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album – Portable SoundsPortable SoundsPortable Sounds is the third full-length studio album from Christian pop rock and hip hop artist tobyMac. It was released on February 20, 2007, and debuted at number 10 on the Billboard 200. The album features the singles "Lose My Soul", "Made to Love", "Boomin'", "I'm for You", and "One World "...
- 2009: Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album (Alive and TransportedAlive and TransportedAlive and Transported is a live album by Christian hip hop artist tobyMac. It was released on May 27, 2008 and debuted at number 112 on the Billboard 200, and also placed at number 4 on Billboards Top Christian Albums chart. It is currently sold as a CD/DVD combo...
) – won - 2010: Best Gospel Song (City on Our KneesCity on Our Knees"City on Our Knees" is a song by contemporary Christian musician tobyMac from his album, Tonight, which was released in 2010. It was released as a radio single in August 2009 and reached number 1 on Billboards Hot Christian Songs chart in October 2009. It also reached No. 8 on Billboard's...
) - 2011: Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album
GMA Dove Award awards
- 2002: Rap/Hip Hop Album (Momentum)
- 2002: Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song ("Somebody's Watching Me")
- 2003: Short Form Music Video ("Irene")
- 2005: Rap/Hip Hop Album (Welcome to Diverse City)
- 2006: Rock Recorded Song ("The Slam")
- 2006: Special Event Album of the Year (Music Inspired by the Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the WardrobeMusic Inspired by the Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the WardrobeMusic Inspired by The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is a collection of songs by various Christian artists with the common theme of C. S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia. The album was released in anticipation of the December 9, 2005 premiere of the film The Chronicles...
) - 2008: Artist of the Year
- 2008: Short Form Music Video of the Year ("Boomin'")
- 2008: Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year ("Portable Sounds")
- 2009: Long Form Music Video of the Year (Alive and TransportedAlive and TransportedAlive and Transported is a live album by Christian hip hop artist tobyMac. It was released on May 27, 2008 and debuted at number 112 on the Billboard 200, and also placed at number 4 on Billboards Top Christian Albums chart. It is currently sold as a CD/DVD combo...
) - 2010: Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year ("City on Our KneesCity on Our Knees"City on Our Knees" is a song by contemporary Christian musician tobyMac from his album, Tonight, which was released in 2010. It was released as a radio single in August 2009 and reached number 1 on Billboards Hot Christian Songs chart in October 2009. It also reached No. 8 on Billboard's...
")
Video awards
- 2007: Rock Video ("Boomin")
- 2007: Video of the Year ("Boomin")
- 2009: Pop Video of the Year ("Lose My Soul")
- 2009: Video of the Year ("Lose My Soul")