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.

1987 Independent

Toby McKeehan
Michael Tait

1. Heavenbound
2. Always Leaning

1988 Independent

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

1. Heavenbound
2. Spinnin' Round
3. He Loves Me
4. Gah ta Be
5. The Answer
6. Final Days
7. Voices Praise Him
8. The King (Allelujah)
9. Always Leanin'
10. Time ta Jam

1989 ForeFront Records (CD02543)

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

1. Heavenbound
2. Gah ta Be
3. Final Days
4. The King (Allelujah)
5. Spinnin' Round
6. Voices Praise Him
7. Time ta Jam
8. He Loves Me

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

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

(…to be continued…)