Style: A party mix of rap/rock/reggae; compare to Gnarls Barkley
Top tracks: “City on Our Knees,” “Changed Forever,” “Hold On”
Over the past decade, Kevin Michael McKeehan, a.k.a. tobyMac, has consistently raised the standards for Christian music. The industry forerunner, consummate perfectionist, and one-third of former supergroup dcTalk is the brains behind Gotee Records and acts such as Relient K, GRITS, and Out of Eden. His credits include three RIAA Gold-certified records, five Grammy Awards, the annual “Winter Wonder Slam Tour” and now, a fourth solo project, Tonight. Oh, and did we mention he’s the father of five?
Never one to skimp on his offerings—Toby spends an average of three months writing and recording a single song—he unleashes another round of fierce creativity and relentless energy on Tonight. The 13 tracks have much in common with previous records Momentum, Welcome to Diverse City, and Portable Sounds—they are designed to be performed live, boast universal appeal, and cleverly mesh hip-hop, rock, reggae, and funk—but a fresh sense of urgency pervades Tonight. On the hard-hitting title track, featuring Skillet’s John Cooper, Toby urges listeners to seize the moment and embrace a truly meaningful approach to life. On single “City on Our Knees,” his fastest-charting and -selling track to date, he advocates starting now to create unity and reconciliation: “We’re one choice from together.” And amid lively horns and strings, “Start Somewhere” describes Toby’s pain in the aftermath of a marital argument and his determination to reconcile before the sun goes down.
Toby also delivers compassionate, relatable lyrics to listeners going through tough times. “Get Back Up” proclaims, “It’s never too late to get back up again … You may be knocked down but not out forever.” “Hold On” is a sweet song of encouragement to his wife that could apply to anyone who’s struggling. Meanwhile, songs like “Changed Forever” and “Captured” reveal Toby’s deep love and gratitude toward God: “You got me / All I want to do is get into you / I’m yours.” The techno stylings of “Funky Jesus Music” are pure fun, as is the danceable “ShowStopper,” a playful tribute to Toby’s high-octane live performances. Of course, a mid-album highlight is an appearance by Tru-Dog, Toby’s 10-year-old son, Truett.
Sonically, Toby knows what works for him, and it would be easy to capitalize on the same power-packed crowd pleasers. But he enjoys finding ways to push himself. With “Break open the Sky,” he explores traditional reggae for the first time, featuring singers from Haiti, Trinidad and Bermuda—and guest vocals from Israel Houghton.
Some may find it hard to take Toby seriously—how could anyone have that much energy?—but there’s no argument that Tonight is fastidiously created and executed. Embarking on a spring tour with the Diverse City Band and Skillet, Toby’s mission is once again to “drop the joy bomb” on cities across America. And with this lineup, he won’t disappoint.
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