Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial

TobyMac on ‘Life After Death,’ managing grief and collaborating with DC Talk

  • August 24, 2022
  • Religion News Service
  • Latest News
Musician TobyMac.
(Photo courtesy of Religion News Service)

TobyMac on ‘Life After Death,’ managing grief and collaborating with DC Talk

Since Truett McKeehan, an aspiring rapper, died at age 21 in 2019 after an accidental drug overdose, his father, the Grammy-winning Christian artist TobyMac (also known as Toby McKeehan), has not produced much original music, releasing a few “lost” demos and a concert recording that included “21 Years,” a song mourning the loss of Truett.

Reflecting the trajectory the songwriter has traveled in the almost three years since the death of his oldest son, a new album was released in August. The album is a collaboration with Truett’s sister, Marlee, Sheryl Crow and TobyMac’s former bandmates from DC Talk, the Christian rap trio formed at Liberty University that launched TobyMac’s career.

“Life After Death” is filled with songs of lament and sadness, as well as a mourning father’s declaration about the goodness of God.

‘God is good’

“God has been kind enough to show me that there is life after death,” TobyMac told an intimate gathering of dozens of fans, staff and donors at WGTS, a Christian music radio station in Rockville, Maryland, on the night before the album’s release. “It’s hard to even say because I almost at times don’t want life. I think I’m cheating somehow on my son. But somehow or another I’ve learned that God is good.”

TobyMac, 57, who calls himself primarily a songwriter and a follower of “my King Jesus,” spoke to Religion News Service on writing about his grief, belief and other topics:

Q: You have said you never thought you would be able to write another upbeat song after losing Truett, but the new album has more than one. How did you get to that point?

A: It was a long process. I came out of Truett’s passing and wanted to write a tribute to him so I wrote “21 Years,” a really hard and sad song. But I wanted to honor him, so I pushed through. And I didn’t write for a while. I laid it down, just too broken up.

And I thought, “My daughter always sits at the piano and plays. Maybe I’ll ask her to write a song and then try singing something together.” It ended up with a song called “Everything About You.”

I thought … it would help both of us put words to our grief. Marlee’s never recorded anything or never really written a song with me. So it was nice to do that together, and it was good for us.

And then after three, four really hard sad songs I said I’ll never write … another joyful song. And then I read a Scripture in Isaiah — and it actually mentions this in the Psalms too — where it says that God is rolling up His sleeves, and I just couldn’t get that imagery out of my mind. So I started writing this song “Help Is on the Way,” which was up-tempo, but not joyful.

Q: Years ago, you worked with Michael Tait and Kevin Max in DC Talk, and now with Sheryl Crow and your own family on this album. How have your feelings about collaboration shifted?

A: I’ve always loved collaboration. My first career — I’ve had two — the first mountain I climbed with DC Talk. We did it together, three college roommates, locking arms and climbing a mountain together. I always like to have three voices trading off on songs.

It was part of this vocal arsenal, and it makes you listen differently when a new voice comes in. I set out on this record to really collaborate … maybe subconsciously knowing I needed some of my friends to help me get through this record.

Q: Is collaborating with Michael Tait and Kevin Max likely to happen again, as DC Talk?

A: We’ve never, ever said it won’t happen. The thought of it happening would be exciting to me.

The song that we sing (on the new album) is called “Space” … about the space that comes between us in life. You are locked arm in arm, and then you look up and you don’t even mean to, but you have a family, they have a family; you have a career, they have a career. And this space has inevitably gotten between you. Many times life takes over and … what you thought was going to be an “Intermission” (DC Talk’s last record), ended up to be … this is where we are in life now.

Q: Now that you’ve resumed writing and recording, are there more songs coming?

A: I don’t have any more right now. Usually, I take a little break after I finish a record. But I sang something into my voice memo yesterday that I think will end up a song. That’s how I do it: I live life, meet people, get inspired, live through some pain, sweat a little, get hurt or get lifted up, watch humanity and write songs.


EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Adelle M. Banks and originally published by Religion News Service. 

Share with others:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • Seminaries partner to equip leaders, care for Ukrainians in crisis
    Seminaries partner to equip leaders, care for Ukrainians in crisis
    March 23, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Longtime NOBTS registrar Paul Gregoire dies
    Longtime NOBTS registrar Paul Gregoire dies
    March 23, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Endangered youth: When parents fail their children
    Endangered youth: When parents fail their children
    March 23, 2023/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

Seminaries partner to equip leaders, care for Ukrainians in crisis

Could theological education be part of the solution for trauma? Leadership at Ukrainian Baptist Theological Seminary and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary thinks so.  Sirens cut

Longtime NOBTS registrar Paul Gregoire dies

Paul Gregoire, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary registrar for 29 years, passed away March 21 after a brief battle with cancer. “Paul Gregoire was a

boy leaning on black wall

Endangered youth: When parents fail their children

Researchers today consider bad parenting one of the most important public health issues facing our society. Uninvolved, abusive, irresponsible, absent or immature parents are endangering

Former SWBTS professor of missions Samuel Shahid dies at 87

Samuel Shahid, professor of missions in the Islamic Studies program at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary from 1998–2013, died March 2. He was 87 years old.

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2023 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel