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tobyMac Biography
Review The Artist (37)
Source: http://www.tobymac.com/tobymac_bio.aspx
" If we are gonna be
that city on a hill, we have
to be a diverse city.” — tobyMac.
tobyMac wants to start a revolution, one that will sweep through cities and erase the divisive lines that keep people and cultures apart. Holding up his microphone like a fist in the air, this Grammy-winning artist sees his opportunity in the society-shaping power of music. As a true artist, it's not his impressive sales heights or awards that fire up his voice, but rather it's an unwavering quest to make songs that connect and inspire all who hear them. Crafting the perfect songs to match his vision, tobyMac ignites the first spark with Welcome to Diverse City.
Accentuating his celebrated career with dc talk, tobyMac made his solo bow in 2001 with the Grammy-nominated Momentum. The disc marked a return to tobyMac's hip-hop roots, the very style with which dc talk first emerged, and yet the rapper-singer once again finds himself branching out from this base. As the title implies, Diverse City is an album bursting with musical flavors and nuances, and yet this stylistic blend finds unity through faith as it's threaded through a melding urban rock and hip-hop frame. Reaching into a world of different sounds and cultures, this album knits it all together with a genuine artist's touch.
"I'm not on a mission to flex musical diversity as much as possible, but I don't fear it," admits the emcee. "I don't fear where the music is taking me. There's a blending going on as I drop it all in the pot making what I call musical gumbo."
Case in point, the title track recalls a time when disco rolled into funk and groups like the Gap Band and Parliament rocked the perfect party soundtracks. Building upon this throwback style, tobyMac infuses new life with raps, hooks, and melodies that transform the party energy into a celebration of races united as a single city on a shining hill. After moving feet with its retro revival touches, the album trades in the dancing shoes for bangin' heads as "Slam" and "Phenomenon" surge with rock guitars, explosive vocals, and anthem-like choruses. Then, as a song that feels like summertime in a cup, "Gone" uses a progressive west coast pop style to tell about a friend who gave her disrespectful boyfriend the curbside-kick.
"My style is diversity, it always has been," says tobyMac, who co-produced the album along with such notables as Chris Stevens, Paul Meany, Robert Marvin, Mike Linney, Joe Baldridge, and Solomon Olds. "It's about taking hip-hop and injecting pop melodies and guitars and harmonicas and whatever else it takes to make the song fit the message I'm trying to communicate."
In regards to the message, the new album reflects a shift in the way he expresses ideas. Whereas past albums tended to tackle issues in a more universal manner, Welcome to Diverse City takes a closer look at specific people, sometimes himself, problems, and situations as real life backdrops to the lyrics. This approach, which exudes a more personal touch, adds empathy to a tale of loneliness ("Atmosphere"), urgency to a call for change ("Getaway Car"), and humor to a frustrated confession of days short on time ("Gotta Go"). The album's most personal song, "Burn For You," even tackles the renewed life that tobyMac experienced after adopting twins two years ago.
"In the past I dealt head-on with social issues, but I'm starting to see that social issues come down to real lives," says tobyMac. "As you dig into personal issues and find resolve in God, social issues will begin to take care of themselves."
Throughout the 90s, tobyMac achieved considerable success with his Grammywinning group dc talk, stockpiling a number of gold and platinum albums with seven million combined copies sold. As the group moved into the rearview window, tobyMac boldly stepped out on his own with his solo debut, Momentum. Earning rave reviews from Billboard to CCM Magazine, the 2001 album debuted atop the Billboard Heatseekers chart, sold over 400,000 copies, and landed two number one singles, "Extreme Days" and "Somebody's Watching Me." The DC born artist went on to win several Dove Awards, including Producer of the Year, and two BMI honors as Christian Songwriter of the Year.
In 2002, tobyMac complemented his debut with the holiday single This Christmas and the Momentum DVD, while Re:Mix Momentum, which delivered three more Top 10 hits, followed in 2003. That same year, Momentum lived up to its name as tobyMac topped CCM Magazine's 25 Most Important Artists Shaping Christian Music Today and placed fourth on their 25 Powerful People Who Have Made Christian Music What It Is Today. He also made the cut for Christian Radio Weekly's 50 Most Influential People Today and was named one of the Top 50 Evangelical Leaders of This Generation by Christianity Today.
During these past few years, tobyMac toured incessantly as a headliner in addition to co-headlining with Kirk Franklin and sharing stages with Third Day, among others. Showing everyone he's more than just "talk," tobyMac put his artistic vision and values back into action with Welcome to Diverse City, another album living up to its title.
"People fashion a great city by holding tight the beauty of our differences with the bonds of our unity," he concludes. "My new album invites people to ponder how they relate to each other and to God and how He relates to them, but at the same time, I know it's gonna drop a bomb that'll make any listener feel the energy.
Now that's celebrating Diverse City! |
Would you please submit the latest tobyMac biography to me? Thank You.
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Review about tobyMac
I Love Your Music! | Reviewer: Whitney Mayes | 9/8/09
I'm doing a report on your music for my public speaking class. I think God has blessed you with an amazing voice and beats that you display in your music. When I told the class that I was going to write about you for my report most of them laughed; I think that's just the role your supposed to play as an Christian though. When people laugh at you, don't give up- that's just the beginning of spreading the word of Christ. The bible says that you will be judged for your actions as well as others for their actions, so in a way I'm glad that I can share your life to my class. Maybe it'll make them want to listen to your music and become Christians in this dying world. We all need to share the gospel more often as it seems like this world could end any day, Just a glimpse of hope could brighten someone's life. Thank you for being a wonderful inspiration to my life and for making such amazing music for people to listen to when times get tough! Your an amazing person and I can tell just from listening to your music. God bless you, your music and your family!
u r cool | Reviewer: Eli K. | 5/11/09
dude, when I first started to listen to ur songs, i couldn't believe it!! ur an awesome singer and I love like all of your songs. I love boomen, and thank you, ive been brought closer to God. Stay cool!!!
Dear Toby | Reviewer: Martinus Burger | 4/1/09
I am a big fan of yours. I love your music and the words of your songs. Above all, I love the way you make me excited about Jesus. I am 12 years old and also love Jesus with my whole heart. I live in Namibia,AFRICA.
Missing you at Spirit Song | Reviewer: Pam Nichols | 3/26/09
I'm taking my 8th group to Cincy, Kings Island this year, Spirit Song 2009, you have blessed every year! Will miss you and the band so much, 88 kids have watched you and worshipped with you from my little town in Ohio for the past few years at Spirit Song. Lord bless wherever He is taking you! Thanks from a 57 year old grammy and youth leader! I crank up Boomin' when I am walking and get some great cheers as I bust some moves to Diverse City! Grammy Pam
toby,s music | Reviewer: spencer | 3/23/09
i love your music it is awesome i had your CD it is so cool i listen to your music i had your dc talk CD i listened to in the light and Jesus Freak and it is unbelievable i have a thing for you go to WWW.globalrevial.com my church is miracle faith center (MFC) so see ya and love your music to Thank you for awesome music email pizzamaniaman@yahoo.com thank you and god bless you toby keep up the god life changing music .
Spencer
Loose my soul | Reviewer: Nicola | 1/28/09
Fist off i want to say i enjoy your style of music. The title song "Lose My Soul" has gotten me through rough times. And for the fact of not wanting to be of this world but I want to be apart of the heavenly world. And also its ashame that God has been taking out of our life style.
May God Bless You
Nicola
i love Jesus | Reviewer: justin | 1/25/09
dear toby, i think you are so aswome that i can listen to you all the time, all of the songs i heard are aswome! The cd and dvd i have of you is when you where in houston. Irene,lose my soul,and gone and the whole cd is aswome!!!!!!!!!!!!
Awesome!!!! | Reviewer: Anonymous | 1/11/09
Dear Toby, you rock! I let one of my friends listen to your music at a sleepover. He was so inspired, he became a christian right then and there! I wanted to cry, but then again I wanted to shout for joy. You have saved many lives, including my friend's. Now he Listens to your music every day, and he reads the bible every day. Thank you so much, and see you at a concert some time soon! Thanks again!!!!
you are awesome | Reviewer: Sean | 12/1/08
Man you are the best my mom got me a cd of you. One time and i let my friend listen to it. Now me and him have bought a few of your cds. Lots of the pepole that we let listen to your music really like it. Me and my friend are addicted to your music. You are the best!!
tobymac | Reviewer: ashley | 11/21/08
i love to listen to you music because it teachs me that i am not alone trying to follow christ.i ever got my sister adryanna to listen to it with me i just want to be with god my whole life as it said he will not leave you at all he is there for you.
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