The Christian Underground Encyclopedia

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====== DC Talk ======

Lynchburg, Virginia, USA\\
Rap / Rock / Pop / Alternative Rock / Grunge

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. In 2002, the //Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music// called dc Talk "the most popular overtly Christian act of all time."

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. He also performed solo, what McKeehan later described as a "kind of an R&B/church-oriented music."

The two joined forces to record a song that McKeehan had written, "Heavenbound." They performed the song before an audience of 8,000 Liberty students with McKeehan rapping and Tait singing the chorus. The song was well received, selling out the approximately 3,000 copies 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.

Kevin Max Smith came from a campus rock band to join the group. 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.

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.

The success of the group's demo tape eventually led to a recording contract with Forefront Records in January 1989. Shortly after the signing of the recording contract the trio moved to Nashville, Tennessee, and called themselves "DC Talk and the One Way Crew." 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.

They released five major studio albums together: //DC Talk// (1989), //Nu Thang// (1990), //Free at Last// (1992), //Jesus Freak// (1995), and //Supernatural// (1998). 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. 

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 and 2010s, although the group never officially reunited or disbanded. They are still 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.


===== Discography =====

| 1987 | Christian Rhymes to a Rhythm |
| 1988 | DC Talk And The One Way Crew |
| 1989 | DC Talk | [[ForeFront Records]] |
| 1990 | Nu Thang | [[ForeFront Records]] |
| 1992 | Free at Last | [[ForeFront Records]] |
| 1994 | Free at Last Extended Play Remixes | [[ForeFront Records]] |
| 1995 | Jesus Freak | [[ForeFront Records]] |
| 1997 | Welcome to the Freak Show | [[ForeFront Records]] |
| 1998 | Supernatural | [[ForeFront Records]] |
| 2000 | Intermission: The Greatest Hits | [[ForeFront Records]] |

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==== Christian Rhymes to a Rhythm ====

1987 Independent

Toby McKeehan\\
Michael Tait

  - Heavenbound
  - Always Leaning

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==== DC Talk and the One Way Crew ====

1988 Independent

Toby McKeehan - Rap\\
Michael Tait - Vocals\\
Kevin Smith - Vocals

  - Heavenbound
  - Spinnin' Round
  - He Loves Me
  - Gah ta Be
  - The Answer
  - Final Days
  - Voices Praise Him
  - The King (Allelujah)
  - Always Leanin'
  - Time ta Jam

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==== DC Talk ====

1989 [[ForeFront Records]] (CD02543)

Toby McKeehan - Rap\\
Michael Tait - Vocals\\
Kevin Smith - Vocals

  - Heavenbound
  - Gah ta Be
  - Final Days
  - The King (Allelujah)
  - Spinnin' Round
  - Voices Praise Him
  - Time ta Jam
  - He Loves Me

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==== Nu Thang ====

1990 [[ForeFront Records]] (CD02682)

Toby McKeehan - Rap, drum programming, backing vocals\\
Michael Tait - Vocals, backing vocals\\
Kevin "Max" Smith - Vocals, keyboards, backing vocals


Chris Rodriguez - Guitar, backing vocals\\
Greg Redding - Guitar\\
Jerry McPherson - Guitar\\
[[Steve Taylor]] - Guitar\\
Mark Heimermann - Keyboards, backing vocals\\
Tony Thomas - Keyboards\\
Jackie Street - Bass\\
Gary Lunn - Drum programming\\
Joe Hogue - Drum programming\\
Joel Dobbins - Drum programming\\
Tom Lonardo - Drum programming\\
2 The "T", True M.C. - Samples, scratches\\
Chris Harris - Backing vocals\\
Chris Hogue - Backing vocals\\
Joe Hogue - Backing vocals\\
Lisa Rodriguez - Backing vocals\\
Todd Collins - Backing vocals\\
Vicki Hampton - Backing vocals

  - When DC Talks (2:28)
  - He Works (3:59)
  - I Luv Rap Music (3:50)
  - No More (3:37)
  - Nu Thang (4:13)
  - Things of This World (5:12)
  - Walls (4:11)
  - Talk It Out	3:59)
  - Take It to the Lord (4:20)
  - Children Can Live (Without It) (3:57)
  - Can I Get a Witness (4:25)

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==== Free at Last ====

1992 [[ForeFront Records]] (FFD3002)

  - Luv is a Verb (4:16)
  - That Kinda Girl (4:12)
  - Greer (0:21)
  - Jesus is Just Alright (4:37)
  - Say the Words (4:59)
  - WDCT (0:45)
  - Socially Acceptable (4:56)
  - Free at Last (4:56)
  - Time Is... (4:10)
  - The Hardway (5:18)
  - 2 Honks & a Negro (0:18)
  - Lean On Me (4:59)
  - Testimony (0:47)
  - I Don't Want It (4:09)
  - Will Power (0:14)
  - Word 2 the Father (4:02)
  - Jesus is Just Alright (reprise) (0:59)

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==== Free at Last Extended Play Remixes ====

1994 [[ForeFront Records]] (FFD3017)

  - Jesus is Just Alright (Techno Mix) (5:24)
  - Jesus is Just Alright (Retro Mix) (6:32)
  - Luv is a Verb (Gotee Mix) (4:28)
  - The Hardway (Video Mix) (5:28)

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==== Jesus Freak ====

1995 [[ForeFront Records]] (FFD5140)

  - So Help Me God (4:39)
  - Colored People (4:26)
  - Jesus Freak (4:50)
  - What If I Stumble? (5:06)
  - Day by Day (4:30)
  - Mrs. Morgan (0:57)
  - Between You and Me (4:59)
  - Like It, Love It, Need It (5:24)
  - Jesus Freak (reprise) (1:17)
  - In the Light (5:06)
  - What Have We Become? (6:10)
  - Mind's Eye (5:16)
  - Alas, My Love (5:16)

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==== Welcome to the Freak Show ====

1997 [[ForeFront Records]] (FFD5184)

  - Help (1:02)
  - So Help Me God (4:27)
  - Luv is a Verb (4:54)
  - Like It, Love It, Need It (7:58)
  - Colored People (4:47)
  - Jesus is Just Alright (5:58)
  - What If I Stumble (6:12)
  - In the Light (5:02)
  - Mind's Eye (6:04)
  - It's the End of the World As We Know It (7:18)
  - Day by Day (4:34)
  - Walls (2:16)
  - Time Is (3:51)
  - Alas My Love (2:12)
  - The Hardway (5:43)
  - Jesus Freak (6:03)

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==== Supernatural ====

1998 [[ForeFront Records]] (FFD5195)

  - Intro (0:24)
  - It's Killing Me (3:55)
  - Dive (4:21)
  - Consume Me (4:51)
  - My Friend (So Long) (4:10)
  - Fearless (5:07)
  - Godsend (4:13)
  - Wanna Be Loved (4:15)
  - The Truth (4:25)
  - Since I Met You (5:00)
  - Into Jesus (4:19)
  - Supernatural (3:59)
  - Red Letters (6:06)
  - There is a Treason at Sea (1:39)

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==== Intermission: The Greatest Hits ====

2000 [[ForeFront Records]] (FFD5274)

  - Say The Words (Now) (remix) (4:41)
  - Colored People (4:25)
  - Jesus is Just Alright (4:20)
  - Between You and Me (5:01)
  - Mind's Eye (5:08)
  - Consume Me (4:53)
  - My Will (5:25)
  - In the Light (4:55)
  - Mr. Morgan (Act I) (1:17)
  - Socially Acceptable (4:48)
  - Luv is a Verb (3:55)
  - Supernatural (3:59)
  - Jesus Freak (4:48)
  - Hardway (remix) (5:01)
  - What If I Stumble (4:56)
  - I Wish We'd All Been Ready (3:42)
  - Chance (3:59)
  - SugarCoat It (3:46)
  - Mrs. Morgan (Act II) (0:52)

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==== Compilation Appearances ====

//**Yo! Ho Ho**// (1990 [[ForeFront Records]])\\
01) Yo! Ho Ho!\\
07) Reason for the Season

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