This Is It.
That's what I kept typing when getting info on TobyMac's new album, This is Not a Test. This may not be his last album, and he doesn't remind anyone of Michael Jackson, but there's a feeling of finality in the air with the new record. Toby, now over the age of 50 and a seasoned veteran in the Christian music industry, typically blends pop with a mix of rock, rap/hip-hop and soul/funk grooves-usually taking years to release a studio album. Longtime fans have been wondering: will T-Mac ever return to form as a hip-hop artist, or will they find more of the same mainstream electronic pop of his last album Eye On It?
This is Not a Test has blasted the idea that Toby is on a musical decline. Although lead single "Beyond Me" feels like a stripped-down continuation of light electronic pop (perfect for Christian radio), subsequent singles have been some of his career's best. These songs - "Backseat Driver," "Til the Day I Die," and "Feel It" sound inspired by some top hits in today's mainstream radio- but not ripped off. Take, for instance, "Backseat Driver," with the horn part in the chorus-it makes me think of songs like "Talk Dirty to Me" or Ariana Grande's "Problem," among others following this trend.
"Feel It" reminds me of Bruno Mars' huge hit "Uptown Funk." It's funky, fun, and very energetic. But a rip-off? Definitely not. Just a great take on a current trend.
Always keeping up with musical and social trends, Toby has seen throwback funk and '80s/'90s music making big comebacks lately-but these are genres commonly found in his music throughout his career. Take, for instance, "Diverse City," which featured funk legend Bootsy Collins. Or perhaps songs like "Boomin," a funky hip-hop track. Toby has plenty of songs with these influences.
But one of the best presents so far from the new album has been "Til the Day I Die." It's a great blend of a mainstream hip-hop sound with EDM influences and pop vocals. The energy is flowing, the lyrics are smart, and the featured rapper, NF, totally kills his lines. Reminding me of an aggressive Andy Mineo, NF helps make the song next-level. Songs like this on the album almost make Toby look more like a DJ such as Calvin Harris instead of a singer-songwriter-rapper.
All I can think is wow, these are much different days than those when Toby first began his career with DC Talk. The group started making Christian hip-hop in 1989. Their first records are funny to listen to now: explicitly Christian, Bible-beating lyrics hit you throughout the first records. Toby has mellowed out and learned how to refine his lyrics after all those '90s years when DC Talk garnered some pop/rock hits. He has sung more than rapped his vocals for awhile now, but still raps with a simple, old-school style from time to time. It seems more fitting to call him a "hit generator" or "master artist" rather than a rapper.
Toby has been working on making Christianity cool in hip-hop for decades now. Although still very much ignored by the mainstream and even the underground, "Christian hip-hop" has been a little cooler lately with the likes of Andy Mineo, Lecrae and the 116 Clique getting some love. But Toby has been around since the days when radio wouldn't play his group's music at all, most Christian listeners found rap repulsive, and there were no such things as blogs or Christian hip-hop shows on the internet.
Toby has been on a roll (not for 2,000 years or so) the last decade while other music stars have suffered from economic decline in markets. Americans have found themselves with less money to spend on albums and tickets. Despite this, the Christian music industry, specifically big acts like TobyMac, have remained quite popular-even gaining momentum and album sales while the rest of the market declines. Either some funky accounting is going on, or TobyMac is doing a lot right with his funky set.
Fans of different types of pop music-including rap, R&B, and rock-should check out Toby's discography. You may be pleasantly surprised. Don't let the Christianity discourage you-Toby's passion for making good positive music really shines through, especially on these latest songs.
Got Spotify? Stream the "Ultimate TobyMac" playlist.
Love YouTube? You're covered with the "Best of TobyMac" playlist. Celebrate life, music, and funk with a little TobyMac.
Also, check out Monikker's album review of This is Not a Test