Who is TobyMac? TobyMac, born Kevin Michael McKeehan, is an American Christian singer, rapper, and producer born in 1964 in Virginia. A founding member of the group DC Talk in the 1990s, he has led a solo career since 2001 blending hip hop, pop, and rock, earning seven Grammy Awards and selling more than ten million albums.
TobyMac is one of the rare Christian artists to have spanned four decades without ever leaving the top of the charts. As a student at Liberty University, he founded the trio DC Talk in 1987 with Michael Tait and Kevin Max, a groundbreaking mix of rap, rock, and pop that shook up the norms of contemporary Christian music and peaked with the double platinum album Jesus Freak in 1995.
When DC Talk put its journey on pause around the turn of the 2000s, TobyMac launched a solo career that never slowed down: Momentum in 2001, followed by a string of albums carried by hits like Made to Love and City on Our Knees. In 2019, the accidental death of his son Truett turned his life and his music upside down, yet he has kept carrying it forward, as shown by his latest album Heaven On My Mind, released in 2025.
- Origin
- Fairfax, Virginia, USA
- Style
- Christian pop rock, hip hop, and urban pop
- Active since
- 1987 with DC Talk, solo since 2001
- Good to know
- Seven Grammy Awards won between DC Talk and his solo career
How did TobyMac get started?
Born Kevin Michael McKeehan in 1964 in Fairfax, Virginia, TobyMac first set out to study political science at Liberty University in Lynchburg. It was there that he met Michael Tait and Kevin Max, with whom he founded the group DC Talk in 1987. The trio quickly established a singular sound at the crossroads of rap, rock, and pop, in a Christian music scene still deeply shaped by ballads and classic worship.
DC Talk released one landmark album after another, from Nu Thang in 1989 to Free at Last in 1992, before reaching its peak with Jesus Freak in 1995, certified double platinum and considered one of the albums that brought Christian music into the American mainstream. Supernatural, released in 1998, confirmed that success before the group put its activities on pause around 2000, with each member heading off to explore a solo career.
What makes TobyMac unique?
As early as 1994, TobyMac co-founded Gotee Records, one of the first labels dedicated to Christian hip hop, before launching his own solo career in 2001 with the album Momentum. There he refined an instantly recognizable musical identity: hip hop beats, rock guitars, and pop hooks, carried by a stage energy that made him one of the most sought after touring Christian artists in the United States. His uniqueness also lies in his ability to move through changing trends without ever abandoning his roots as a committed believer.
In October 2019, the accidental death of his son Truett, at age 21, marked a turning point. TobyMac put his tour on hold, released the tribute song 21 Years, then returned to the stage with music where pain and hope mix without holding back. His latest album, Heaven On My Mind, released in 2025, continues this search for a joy that does not erase hardship but carries you through it.
Where should you start with TobyMac?
Heaven On My Mind, the song that gives its name to his latest album, is a good entry point into his current style, more measured but still rhythmic. For the energy that built his reputation, Lord It Feels Good, a duet with gio., and Campfire (That Very Love), with his former Third Day bandmates, show the full range of his sound, from upbeat pop to communal ballad.
songs
Heaven On My Mind
the title track of his album released in 2025, blending upbeat pop with openly displayed trust.
Lord It Feels Good
a duet with the artist gio., a song of gratitude carried by an infectious chorus.
Campfire (That Very Love)
a collaboration with the band Third Day, a warm song made to be sung together.
Discography
- 2025Heaven on My Mind
- 2022Life After Death
- 2018The Elements
- 2015This Is Not a Test
- 2012Eye on It
- 2010Tonight
- 2007Portable Sounds
- 2004Welcome to Diverse City
- 2001Momentum
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Frequently asked questions
Who is TobyMac?
TobyMac, born Kevin Michael McKeehan, is an American Christian singer, rapper, and producer born in 1964 in Virginia. Co-founder of the group DC Talk in the 1980s, he has led a successful solo career since 2001 blending hip hop, pop, and rock, earning seven Grammy Awards.
Is TobyMac a Christian?
Yes. TobyMac has openly professed his evangelical Christian faith since his early days with DC Talk in the late 1980s, and his entire solo career belongs to American contemporary Christian music.
What is TobyMac's best known song?
Among his most popular songs are Made to Love, City on Our Knees, and Speak Life, but his latest hit, Heaven On My Mind, released in 2025, has given his popularity fresh momentum.
What happened to TobyMac's son?
His son Truett Foster McKeehan died accidentally in October 2019, at the age of 21. TobyMac paid tribute to his memory with the song 21 Years before returning to his career.
Was TobyMac part of a band before his solo career?
Yes, TobyMac co-founded the group DC Talk in 1987 with Michael Tait and Kevin Max. The trio left its mark on 1990s Christian music, notably with the album Jesus Freak, before putting its activities on pause around 2000.
Where can you listen to TobyMac?
TobyMac's entire discography, along with that of DC Talk, is available on streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Deezer, as well as on his official YouTube channel and his website tobymac.com.