DC Talk
DC Talk (stylized as dc Talk) is a Christian rap and rock trio. The group was formed at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia in 1987 by Toby McKeehan, Michael Tait, and Kevin Max Smith. They released five major studio albums together: dc Talk (1989), Nu Thang (1990), Free at Last (1992), Jesus Freak (1995), and Supernatural (1998). In 2002, the Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music called dc Talk "the most popular overtly Christian act of all time."[1]
For the album, see DC Talk (album).
dc Talk
In 2001, the group released an EP, Solo, which contained two solo songs from each member. Since that time, DC Talk has been on an indefinite hiatus, and the three band members all have led solo careers and two have joined other groups. They performed and recorded individual songs together several times during the 2000s, although the group never officially reunited or disbanded.
The group's musical style evolved significantly throughout its career. Its first two releases, DC Talk and Nu Thang, were predominantly hip hop. Their third album, Free at Last, also mainly took influence from hip hop while the group's music began to incorporate rock and other influences. The trio's last two albums, Jesus Freak and Supernatural, were predominantly pop rock. They are currently on hiatus and no announcements of new albums have been made. In 2017, the band reunited for a cruise, and did so again in 2019.
History[edit]
Formation[edit]
While attending Liberty University, Toby McKeehan met Michael Tait, and the two began to perform together. Tait had previously been featured on Jerry Falwell's The Old Time Gospel Hour and with the Falwell Singers.[2] He also performed solo, what McKeehan later described as a "kind of an R&B/church-oriented music".[3]
The two joined forces to record a song that McKeehan had written, "Heavenbound".[2] They performed the song before an audience of 8,000 Liberty students with McKeehan rapping and Tait singing the chorus.[2] The song was well received, selling out the approximately 3,000 copies[2] of their demo tape, Christian Rhymes to a Rhythm. The tape included "Heavenbound" and was distributed by the group in the Washington D.C. area.[4]
Kevin Max Smith came from a campus rock band to join the group.[3] Max was approached by Tait after performing The Imperials's "Lord of the Harvest" during a chapel session. The two became friends and Max was introduced to McKeehan. All three moved off campus to live together.[5]
In 1988, the group independently released their self titled album, a cassette only release. This album would be re-released by Forefront the following year.[6]
The success of the group's demo tape eventually led to a recording contract with Forefront Records in January 1989.[2][5] Shortly after the signing of the recording contract the trio moved to Nashville, Tennessee,[5] and called themselves "DC Talk and the One Way Crew".[4] The name was later simplified to "DC Talk", which came to stand for "decent Christian talk", though originally "DC" was taken from Washington, D.C., where Toby McKeehan had formerly been rapping.[4]
DC Talk (1989)[edit]
After signing the recording contract with ForeFront, the trio released their self-titled debut album, DC Talk, in 1989 with Mike Valliere and Vic Mignogna. The music video for their first single, "Heavenbound", received airplay on the BET network.[7]
Nu Thang (1990–1992)[edit]
Their follow-up full-length release, Nu Thang, and a Christmas three-song EP titled Yo! Ho! Ho!, were both released in 1990. Nu Thang had two successful singles: "I Luv Rap Music" and "Can I Get a Witness".[8] Apart from dealing strictly with Christian themes, the band incorporated songs addressing social issues, such as racism in the song "Walls" and abortion in "Children Can Live Without It".[7] The hip hop/pop styling of the album earned the band attention, expanding the group's audience, and by 1991, Nu Thang had sold 200,000 copies.[4] The band became an opening act for Michael W. Smith and received a Dove Award.[4][9] The release of their Rap, Rock, n' Soul video garnered a wider audience for the group, being certified gold for long form video.[1][9]
In 1992, a year after its release, Nu Thang sold more than 300,000 copies and gave the trio two more Dove Awards.[4] In addition to the increasing attention that the group began to receive, DC Talk appeared on The Arsenio Hall Show that same year.[4] "Nu Thang" was eventually certified gold, selling over 500,000 copies, an impressive feat for a Christian artist at that time.[1]
Free at Last (1992–1994)[edit]
In November 1992, the group released their third album, Free at Last, which was eventually certified platinum by the RIAA in 1995.[10] In 2001, CCM ranked "Free at Last" as the ninth best album in Christian music.[11] The album included a cover version of the Bill Withers song "Lean on Me" and a remake of "Jesus Is Just Alright", originally recorded by the Art Reynolds Singers.[8] Free at Last stayed at the No. 1 spot on the Billboard CCM sales chart for 34 weeks and was the band's first album to top the Christian Albums chart.[8][9][12] DC Talk became one of the first contemporary Christian groups to perform on late-night television when, on November 12, 1993, the band performed "Jesus Is Just Alright" on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.[13] Free at Last also garnered the group's first Grammy Award for Best Rock Gospel Album in 1994.[1][8] The success of the album is attributed to the group moving away from a strictly rap sound to a blend of hip hop and pop.[9] The album also prompted the filming of a documentary film with the same name. In 1994, the band released a Christmas single, "We Three Kings", on the album "Joyful Christmas".