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Life After Death (TobyMac album)

Life After Death is the ninth studio album by American singer TobyMac, released on August 19, 2022, on ForeFront Records. It is his sixth album to top the Billboard Christian Albums chart.[1] The album's third single, "Help Is On the Way (Maybe Midnight)", peaked at number three on the Hot Christian Songs chart.[2] It is his last album to feature his live musician and background singer Gabe Real before Real's death on April 12th, 2024, from cancer.[3]

Life After Death

August 19, 2022 (2022-08-19)

2019–2022

51:02

Background[edit]

TobyMac claimed that this was his most emotional album that he ever recorded. In October 2019, his eldest son Truett died after an accidental drug overdose. TobyMac said, "I immediately went to write, because that's what I know to do when I'm in so much pain. You go to [write] what you know, what you love and what brings you peace. I immediately started writing – and I wrote '21 Years'. Then I wrote a song called 'Faithfully', and I wrote 'Everything About You' in the first few months after Truett passed."[4]

Singles[edit]

"21 Years" was released on January 9, 2020, and is about TobyMac's son Truett Foster, who died a couple months prior, at the age of 21. The song peaked at number three on the US Hot Christian Songs Chart.[5]


"I'm Sorry (A Lament)" was released on March 10, 2020. The song peaked at number 25 on the US Hot Christian Songs Chart.[6]


"Help Is On the Way (Maybe Midnight)" was released on February 19, 2021. The song peaked at number three on the US Hot Christian Songs Chart.[7]


"Promised Land" was released on September 17, 2021. The song peaked at number nine on the US Hot Christian Songs Chart. The song featured pop rock artist Sheryl Crow on the OG Collab version.[8][9][10]


"The Goodness" was released on June 2, 2022. The song featured new artist Blessing Offor, and peaked at number one on the US Hot Christian Songs Chart. This song was then performed at the 53rd GMA Dove Awards.[11][12]


"Cornerstone" was released on February 17, 2023. The song features CCM artist Zach Williams.[13]


"Faithfully" was released on September 29, 2023.

Commercial performance[edit]

The album peaked at number 34 on the US Billboard 200 and number 1 on the Top Christian Albums chart with 16,000 album-equivalent units.[21][22]

- songwriting, vocals, production

TobyMac

Bryan Fowler - production on tracks 2, 6, 7, 9, 11, & 13, engineering, guitar, bass, background vocals on tracks 2, 6, 7, 9, & 11

Dave Lubben - production on tracks 10, 12 & 15, percussion, guitar, engineering, keyboards, strings, acoustic guitar, background vocals on tracks 10 & 12

Jon Reddick - production on track 4, guest vocals on track 4, background vocals on tracks 1, 4 & 5, keyboards

Micah Kuiper - production on tracks 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, & 11, engineering, programming, guitar, bass, keyboards, drums, background vocals on tracks 1, 7, 9, & 11

Tommee Profitt - production on track 14, instrumentation

Kyle Williams - production on tracks 2, 6, & 8, background vocals on tracks 2, 6 & 8, guitar

Cole Walowac - production on track 7

Serban Ghenea - mixing

Nick Rad - mixing

Bob Boyd - mastering

Doug Sarrett - mastering, engineering

Chris Gehringer - mastering

Reske - co-production on track 7

- guest vocals on track 9

Zach Williams

Blessing Offor - guest vocals on track 2, background vocals on track 4

Gabe Real - guest vocals on track 15, background vocals on tracks 1, 2, 4 & 5

- guest vocals on tracks 10 & 15

Terrian

- guest vocals on track 10

Wande

Marlee McKeehan - guest vocals on track 6

- guest vocals on track 3

Tauren Wells

- guest vocals on track 7

Sarah Reeves

- guest vocals on track 5

Sheryl Crow

- guest vocals on track 12

Michael Tait

- guest vocals on track 12

Kevin Max

- guest vocals on track 11

Cory Asbury

Lydi Lynn - piano, background vocals on track 10

Tony Lucido - bass

Sterloid - drums

Terence F. Clark - drums

Aaron Sterling - drums

Paul Mabury - drums

Tim Rosenau - guitar

Scott Mills - guitar

Tyler Summers - baritone saxophone, tenor saxophone

Jeff Bailey - trumpet

Keith Everette Smith - trumpet, string arrangement, horn arrangement, brass arrangement

Steve Patrick - trumpet

Barry Green - trombone

Bob McChesney - trombone

Raymond Mason - trombone

Anna Spina - French horn

Jennifer Kummer - French horn

David Gerald Sutton - strings

Betsy Lamb - viola

Kristin Wilkinson - viola

Carolyn Bailey - violin

David Angell - violin

David Davidson - violin

Janet Darnall - violin

Jenny Bifano - violin

Karen Winklemann - violin

Anthony LaMarchina - cello

Sari Reist - cello

Janice Gaines - background vocals on track 4

Andrew Thompson - background vocals on track 5

Tasha Smith - background vocals on track 5

Debi Selby - choir on track 14

Emoni Wilkins - background vocals on track 5, choir on track 14

Jason Eskridge - choir on track 14

Moiba Mustapha - choir on track 14

Nickie Conley - choir on track 14

Travis Cottrell - choir on track 14

Ryan Stevenson - background vocals on track 2

Michael Cochren - background vocals on track 1

Credits adapted from liner notes.[23]