tobyMac has continued to thrill fan's with hit after hit.  Set to release Portable Sounds on Feb. 20th, 2007, he takes a few minutes out of his schedule to talk to CMSpin's Nappy.  As usual, Nappy ask's a series of hard hitting and completely off the wall questions.  Toby was up to the task and didn't miss a beat.  Nappy even asked him the 'DC Talk' question and Toby was a good sport about it.  Enjoy!

tobyMac Interview

NAPPY:  I have heard from Mark Stuart of Audio Adrenaline that you’re a pretty good basketball player. 

TOBY:  (laughter) well one time we were playing against Audio Adrenaline.  And Mark had some of his crew on his team; there were some pretty good players.  So it was Diverse City VS Audio Adrenaline.  From what I understand he offered the guys on his crew double per diem if I didn’t score.  I found that somewhat offensive, but I guess its compliment.

By no means am I great, but I can get my jumper going.  I’m more of a point guard, getting the ball to my big guys.

NAPPY:  I remember seeing you in concert for the Free At Last Tour, Supernatural Tour, and a year or so ago at your Winter Slam Tour.  Why aren’t you in the Winter Slam Tour this year?

TOBY:  I played two years in a row and this year they’re committed to switching the lineup, other than Newsong, cause it’s their tour, they’re committed to always making it different, which I think is cool.

NAPPY:  In 2004, Nashville Lifestyles listed you in the top 25 most beautiful people.  Is that a standard that’s hard to keep? 

TOBY:  Oh man, well I know they’re talking about the heart (laughter).  It was nice to be recognized but definitely don’t try to bask in that stuff.  Nashville’s a small town, its not like they did that in New York City.  (laugh)

NAPPY:  Keeping the ego in check.

TOBY:   Are you kidding me, I have people around me that would put me in check right if I got out of check real quickly.  Starting with my wife!

NAPPY:  If you were to be in a movie, what type of role would you like to play?

TOBY:  I think it would be hot to play (pause for thinking) … the President of the United States.  A dude that’s bumbling, stumbling, trying to figure it out.

NAPPY:  A Tom Clancy type of President.

TOBY:  Something is going on in the down low!

NAPPY:  Who do you think will be in the Superbowl?

TOBY:  Colts and hopefully the Saints.  Unfortunately I think the Colts are going to win it.

NAPPY:  Ping-pong or foosball?

TOBY:  Ping Pong!  I feel I have more control of what’s going on.  Foosball there is a lot of luck going on, at least the type of foosball I play.

NAPPY:  Looking back, what do you think has been the one favorite song you have ever done?  Maybe the one that has meant the most to your life?

TOBY:  Without a doubt Jesus Freak is one my favorites I’ve ever done.  It was a song a whole generation got behind.  It was passionate and real.  It shook things up for a minute.  Of my newer songs I would say with out a doubt the song Burn For You on my last CD Diverse City.  It was a song of true to the core of who I am.  A Honest song talking about a desire, going from a state of mediocrity to desire to burn as long and as hard as you can for Christ.

NAPPY:  As a leader in the Christian music world, do you see any good or maybe even disturbing trends in Christian music as we go into the next couple years?

TOBY:  I’ve seen a disturbing trend for a long time, a lack of urban music, rap music, hip hop music.  We’re missing a group of people that would love to enjoy what is as known as Christian music.

NAPPY:  I downloaded your new song off of ITunes last night, Made To Love.  Great song!  Portable Sounds hits the streets Feb. 20th.  How will Portable Sounds compare to your first two solo albums?

TOBY:  I think Portable Sounds is in the same state as the first two records but maybe not the same city.  It’s more organic.  It has more real instruments.  I have a lot horns on the record a lot of strings on the record.  When I looked to make beats I relied on a live drummer.  I listened to more mo-town and old R&B and funk, listened to less modern hip-hop.  But I am rhyming on a lot of these tracks.  It’s more melodic than the last couple records.  I would say the lyrics are a little deeper.  I had a passion to ignite the party when I did my first solo record.  DC talk was getting so heavy lyrically I just wanted to step out and write some hip hop chants and make everyone go WOO HOO.   I think my journey has been slowly dropping more depth into my solo records and not just wanting to ignite the party, also give people food for thought.  To give people a reason for discussion on how they relate to God, and how God relates to them, how they relate to each other. 

NAPPY:  Do you have plans for a remix of Portable Sounds like Diverse City and
Momentum?

TOBY:  Not any immediate plans, although I love doing that, I sorta get out of the kitchen and let some other cooks take over.  I have done my best effort on songs with my co-producer Chris Stevens.  And to give him just the melodies and the vocals and say “do with it whatever you want.”  It’s always nice having somebody take it somewhere different.  Somewhere I would have never have seen taking it.

We don’t have anyone directing the plan right now, but we have talked about a live record, because my band, Diverse City Band is so phenomenal I just want capture their sound.  So maybe for this one we’ll just do a live one instead.

NAPPY:  What do you think is the biggest misconception about you?  What do you wish people knew about you?

TOBY:  People probably think I’m this really loud intense dude running around the place, like I am on stage, but really I’m really pretty laid back.  If you get me in a competitive game of any kind I’m intensely into it.  I’m a competitive little dude!  When it comes to just hanging out, eating dinner with someone, sitting around the studio, I’m a pretty laid back guy.  And I think most people perceive me as an intensely energetic guy.  If music moves me I’m going to move.  If sports move me I’m going to move.  And I’m going to for it, other than that, I’m pretty laid back.

NAPPY:  I have to ask this, it's what so many people want to know ... when is DC Talk doing another CD?

TOBY:  We’re not sure.  We’re talking about some kind of a reunion tour at some point.  It will look more like a reunion than the next record.  Right now I’m enjoying climbing this solo mountain with my band Diverse City.  It’s been a great experience and I’m very passionate about it.  I will continue on this journey until its complete.  Then I will call my friends Michael and Kevin and talk about what a reunion looks like.

Toby’s Favorites

Color:      Green
Superhero:    Green Lantern or Aquaman
Movie:   I’m going old school, All the Presidents Men
TV Show:    The Jamie Foxx Show, is that name of the show?  He’s funny man.
Ice Cream:   Peanut Butter Cup from Ben and Jerry’s
Breakfast Cereal:   Cinnamon Life
Food while watching Favorite TV Show:  Popcorn
Favorite chair while eating your favorite food while watching your favorite TV show:    Ha!  The big leather one that two of my kids can fit in their with me.

Time for a game, we’re running out of time, but we’re going to play a quick game.  There are no right or wrong answers, just the first thoughts that come into your head.   Just like an Ink-blot thing, but since we’re over the phone, we’ll use words.

Word Association:

NAPPY:  MySpace
TOBY:  Chaos
NAPPY:  Jack Bauer
TOBY:  Man he’s old school brat pack
NAPPY:  Truthiness 
TOBY:  Truthiness?
NAPPY:  From the Colbert Report on Comedy Central.
TOBY:  Am I missing something
NAPPY:  You’re missing out, in my opinion.
TOBY:  Oh man, I’m missing out for sure.
NAPPY:  Tilt
TOBY:  I often got that in pinball, I lean into the machine too much
NAPPY:  Love
TOBY:  Something I was made to do

NAPPY:  Anything else you would like to share?
TOBY:  No man, I think its great.  I like your questions
NAPPY:  Thanks man!  Thanks for your time!
TOBY:  Have a good one brother!