Toby Michael McKeehan (TobyMac) met Michael DeWayne Tait at Liberty University, a private Baptist college in Lynchburg, Virginia.  Tait had been performing R&B style  solo music, and was interested in performing with McKeehan.  They recorded a song called Heavenbound, written by McKeehan

DC Talk

It's in no way, shape, or form really typical. We're basically taking a lot of different styles of music, but we're trying to stay away from mainstream, really popular music and do something new.

Something New

Toby Michael McKeehan (TobyMac) met Michael DeWayne Tait at Liberty University, a private Baptist college in Lynchburg, Virginia.  Tait had been performing R&B style  solo music, and was interested in performing with McKeehan.  They recorded a song called Heavenbound, written by McKeehan, and performed it before about 8,000 Liberty students.  They sold out of the 3,000 copies of their demo tape, Christian Rhymes to Rhythm.

In 1988, they signed a contract with Forefront Records.  Kevin Max Smith, then a member of a Christian rock band on campus, joined McKeehan and Tait, and they became DC Talk and the One Way Crew, which they later simplified to DC Talk.  Soon after signing with Forefront, they released their debut album, DC Talk.  It became the best selling Christian album of all time.

Spreading the Word with Music

In 1990, DC Talk released their second album, Nu Thang, which offered rock and rap music with Christian themes, as well as addressing social issues in some of the songs.  Their audience was grew, due to their hip hop and rock stylings, and the album eventually certified gold, which is rare for a Christian band.  They toured with Michael W. Smith that year as his opening band, and appeared on The Arsenio Hall Show.

In 1992, DC Talk's album, Free at Last, broke even more barriers.  One of the best rap albums of all time for Christian and secular music alike, the album sold over a million copies, certifying it platinum.  Six singles were released that became Christian radio hits, including Lean on Me, Jesus is Just Alright, and I Don't Want It.  The band launched a tour supporting the album, which is chronicled in the dvd, Free At Last The Movie.

Breaking Records

Jesus Freak, the band's 1995 release, sold more albums in the first week than any Christian album in history.  It peaked at #16 on the Billboard Top 200 chart. More pop rock than rap, the album was certified gold in the first week, and ultimately went double platinum.  The single, Between You and Me, hit #12 on Casey's Top 40, and the video ran on MTV and VH1.  They toured the United States, Canada, and Europe, titling the tour the Freakshow.  

Their final studio album, Supernatural, released in 1988, surpassed Jesus Freak in first week sales, debuting at #4 on the Billboard Top 200, an incredible feat for a Christian album.  The Supernatural Experience, their 60-city tour, was presented in documentary form with concert footage and interviews in a live video called Welcome to the Freakshow.  The group has been on hiatus since this tour, occasional reunion concerts.  Fans continue to visit their website and music sites to download their music and view their videos.

Did you know . . .

1. DC Talk has won four Grammy Awards and eighteen Gospel Music Association Dove Awards.

2. The band has co-authored a series of books, including DC Talk and Promises for a Jesus Freak.

3. In 2002, the band reunited to release the single, Let's Roll in response to the attacks of September 11, 2001.  

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