The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
TobyMac playing Wolstein with bunch of his CCM friends
TobyMac is giving fans what they want on tour that features other CCM artists
Long before TobyMac was a contemporary Christian music solo hit-maker, the rappersinger-producer gained fame as a member of ’90s hip-hop and rock trio DC Talk. ¶ It was during his tenure in the influential outfit, known for platinum albums “Free at Last,” “Jesus Freak” and “Supernatural,” that TobyMac experienced a life-changing moment at the old Cleveland Municipal Stadium.
“The first stadium I ever played in my life was with Billy Graham in Cleveland,” said TobyMac, calling from Tennessee. “He asked DC Talk to come there and play. We were like, ‘Why would Billy Graham want us with him … in a stadium … in Cleveland? It was so odd. (We were), like, grungy rock and rollers, punks just out of college.
“I remember going to soundcheck and my heart racing when I walked out from the dugout area. It was just incredible. It was an amazing night, kind of a lifechanging night, not only for us but for probably a lot of people there. It was spectacular.”
Amazing nights quickly became the norm for TobyMac, who around the turn of the century went on his own and never looked back. To date, the Grammy Award-winning artist has sold more than 11 million units. His most recent studio effort, 2015’s “This Is Not a Test,” includes topfive radio hits “Beyond Me,” “Feel It,” “Move (Keep Walkin’)” and “Love Broke Thru.”
While TobyMac continues his “Hits Deep Tour,” which comes to Northeast Ohio for a show April 7 at the Wolstein Center in Cleveland, the prolific songwriter is already looking ahead at his next project.
When it comes to styles, the 52-year-old said he’s not afraid of jumping around. However, he feels at the heart of music he’s just a soul artist. And yes, he embraces the double entendre aspect of the word.
“Stylistically, I’ve always been a sort of hip-hop, funk-pop range, but it feels soulful this time,” TobyMac said. “It’s just stories about things I’m going through. I try to write from the perspective of what I’m experiencing and plan on it resonating with people, because it can’t be that different from what they’re experiencing. We’re all humans trying to make it in a crazy world.
“So the next project feels a little bit more intimate and somewhat confessional. I like soul because I feel like it’s sort of a natural fit on me. I’m not talking about vocal runs, I’m talking about with soulful music comes honesty and sort of deep waters. It’s looking in the inside, and drawing from that.”
Anticipation is high for that next album, which TobyMac expects to have out next year. There’s no doubt the artist continues to be one of the stars of the CCM world; however, that’s a tag with which he often struggles.
“It’s always been a little bit of a niche, but there are these sparks where it completely crosses over into the mainstream throughout the years,” TobyMac said. “I think with streaming, the wall has been coming down, but now it’s coming down in a much faster pace.
“So forget the labels and just ask, is this good or not? Does it resonate? I think the label hurts us a little bit. I just wish I was known as a funk-pop artist. That’s not me denying my faith. My faith is real, but I’m making music, and I’m a Christian. That’s the way it is today.”