Modern Disciple Magazine for Men (MDM4M), published in Canada 
NOVEMBER 2004
NOVEMBER 2004
As the founding member of dc talk, Toby McKeehan, also known as TobyMac, has toured the world, selling several million copies in the process. Their "Free At Last" DVD even features one of their shows at the Palace of Auburn Hills.
In 2001, each of the three members of dc talk (Toby, Tait, and Kevin Max) embarked on solo careers. Modern Disciple had the opportunity to talk to TobyMac about life, faith and relationships in his Diverse City.
Modern Disciple: How are you?
TobyMac: I'm doing great! I finished up the record Welcome To Diverse City about three or four weeks ago, took a little vacation with my family, and now I'm getting ready to ramp up to go back on the Third Day tour. We're rehearsing and learning the new songs.
MD: What has God opened up to you in the three years since your last CD, Momentum?
TM: One of the things that God has shown me is the importance of being a part of what God is doing in the world, as opposed to asking Him to bless the things that I have already started. He continues to teach me that. Really, on this record, He continued to open that up. I kept trying to make it about this agenda of style, how to blend hip-hop with the other styles of music. What are the socially-conscious issues songs that need to be on here? In the middle of it, I got frustrated as to why I was beating my head against the wall on this record. I stopped the presses for a time and asked myself "What am I doing, why am I doing it and if I was to do it?"
Without being overly dramatic, I woke up one morning and said, "I know I believe in God and in Jesus, but do I believe that this music can be of any use to Him?" God opened my mind, and I realized that I believe.
I still believe that a song can open the heart of the people. I still believe that God can choose to use a song to wake up a wayward believer to His love. I believe God can choose to use a song to cause someone to taste His love for the very first time. And I had this reignited passion to move forward this record. Suddenly, I was writing more introspective songs, like "Burn For You", and then the issues songs started coming. As God began to open the issues in my heart, exposing the things I was going through, and the songs came that deal with things that I think that we are dealing with in this life.Sometimes, you are glad to know that you are on God's radar, and that He is pushing you and that He is relating to you, and giving you what you need when you need it. That is just a great thing.
MD: We got Diverse City yesterday, and it was worth the wait. Speaking of "Burn For You", how did that song come about?
TM: That was a song that came together in, like, five minutes. I am not Kevin Max, I do not normally write songs in five minutes. Some guys can do that - Kevin is very prolific in his writing. That song is not contrived, that is 100% Toby's testimony. It culminates a lot about my attitude about music and what I do. The way I am still doing energy music, but business-wise, I would probably be smarter to play more laid back music. I would be able to be played more on the radio, and reach a larger demographic, which might be a wise thing as I get a little older. But it is not in me.
MD:You're not going to Perry Como-land? ---> PAGE 2
All articles in MDM4M are © the author or, if no author given, © the publisher.
Opinions and views are solely those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the opinions of MDM4M.
Opinions and views are solely those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the opinions of MDM4M.