After making up one third of the dc Talk for the better part of 10 years, TobyMac, one of Christian music’s first rappers, forged ahead with a solo career that’s been equally successful and innovative, thanks to hit singles like “Gone,” “Made to Love,” “Lose My Soul” and "City On Our Knees."
Fusing pop, rock, soul and hip-hop into what he calls a “musical gumbo,” TobyMac’s solo debut, Momentum released in 2001. It featured popular tracks “Extreme Days,” “Get This Party Started” and “Yours,” which were all spotlighted in popular TV shows and video games.
Then with his 2004 album Welcome to Diverse City, TobyMac upped the creative ante with tracks such as “Burn For You” and “Atmosphere.” Those songs were also used in promos for hit television shows, movies, sports programming and commercials. Welcome to Diverse City was also awarded the Dove Award for “Best Rap/Hip-Hop Album of the Year.”
Continuing to make compelling music with a blatant faith focus, TobyMac has released two more successful studio albums, Portable Sounds and Tonight, which recently debuted at #6 on the Billboard 200. The project’s first single “City on our Knees” was released six months prior to the album’s street date and reached the #1 spot. This spring, TobyMac will compile the best songs off both albums to create a remix album entitled Dubbed & Freq'd: A Remix Project.
As well as working on his own music, TobyMac has recently teamed up with new artist Jamie Grace on her Grammy nominated "Hold Me" and Mandisa's new song "Good Morning."
His latest single "Steal My Show," off his fifth studio album Eye On It (August 28, 2012), which also features, "Me With Out You," is a song about giving your life over to God. “I was putting my five-year-old to bed one night and he said, ‘Daddy, how can you steal a show?’ I said, ‘Well if like four bands play one night and they just kill it, they stole the show,” Toby shares. “So he said, ‘Why would you be asking someone to steal your show?’ and I explained to him, ‘Dad’s asking God to take his show and do something bigger. Dad’s asking God to steal his show.’”
He continues,“No matter who you are, no matter what you do, you have a life, and you can take it an make it yours, or you can give it away to God.”
In addition to his most recent album Eye On It, TobyMac will also appear on the DVD and CD Thank You Billy Graham (September 11, 2012)- a project paying homage to famed preacher Billy Graham. Part of the proceeds from Thank You, Billy Graham will be donated to Franklin Graham’s Samaritan’s Purse and Mercy Corps.
TobyMac is currently on his EYE On It Tour, and this winter he will be on the road with many of his favorite artists- including Brandon Heath, Mandisa, Chris August, Britt Nicole, Jamie Grace, and Group 1 Crew- on the HITS DEEP Tour. The tour kicks off in Cordova, TN on November 29, 2012.
TobyMac was recently honored at the 55th annual Grammy Awards, taking home the award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album for Eye On It. "As a teenager writing songs, I never imagined winning a GRAMMY," Toby said. "It is an honor every artist dreams of! I'm truly humbled and so grateful for the amazing talent that surrounds me."
The singer took home the award for "Artist of the Year," at the K-LOVE fan awards, and was nominated for "Male Artist of the Year," and "Song of the Year," for his single, "Me Without You."