TOBYMAC
(Released Jan. 2002)
| Momentum Reviewed by Brenton Dickieson |
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After a handful of trend-setting albums with Christian music triumvirate dc Talk, TobyMac’s solo album has been long anticipated.
Creative loops, daring samples, old-skool rap specials, and driving alterna-hop sounds make up Momentum. TobyMac alternates between laid-back hip hop hits like “Do You Know,” creative introspections like “Irene,” and rap-core crunchers like “Extreme Days.” Momentum contains six humourous interludes including “Tru-Dog,” featuring his three-year-old son Truett.
TobyMac pairs up with Gospel superstar Kirk Franklin on chart-topper “Train.” Taitband’s Pete Stewart (remember Grammatrain) adds excellent dirty guitars in speaker-crunchers “Momentum” and “Yours.”
There’s a full palette of R&B, rap, hip hop, rock and pop colours on Momentum. While TobyMac’s sound is unique, it also includes influences from the Beastie Boys, Sugar Hill, Arrested Development, and Busta Rhymes; it speaks to the world Eminem is speaking to.
The depth and maturity of this album makes me wonder if this is how dc Talk would have sounded if they hadn’t eschewed their hip hop roots. Regardless, fans of their Jesus Freak and Free at Last albums will be thrilled by Momentum.
