Editorial Review:

Amazon.com:
It won't take you long after the opening strains of 'Toby's back' from the opening track of Welcome To Diverse City to realize that yes indeed, Toby Mac is back with his second solo effort and follow-up to the superb Momentum. It's apparent from the beginning of this release that the studio wizard and third member of DC Talk is back in the house with another rich blend of rap, soul, pop, and techno. All the while, this DC Talk-er is laying down the gospel of one God, one love, and one people. Leading off with the smooth rap of 'Hey Now,' Toby Mac promises us to 'set a new pace' because 'it's been a long time comin' but I'm serving up the sequel.' And serving up he does well with healthy portions of hard rock ('Slam'), funky soul with Bootsy Collins ('Welcome To Diverse City'), smooth pop ('Gone'), disco rock ('Getaway Car'), and biographical rap ('Gotta Go'). Building off his group and solo release experience (not to mention multiple production jobs for other artists), Toby Mac flows with a lyrical and stylistic consistency that holds together. Ultimately what he does so well is fly all the colors of the musical rainbow in one banner, seamlessly weaving different styles into one unmistakable flag. It's a mark all his own and worthy of merit in the Christian music world and beyond. --Michael Lyttle









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Related Items:
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Related Items:

• Portable Sounds
• Momentum
• Alive and Transported (CD/DVD)
• Made to Love
• Go
• see more

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Disc 1:

1. Hey Now
2. Catchafire (Whoopsi-Daisy)
3. The Slam
4. Poetically Correct
5. Atmosphere
6. Gone
7. TruDog: The Return
8. Diverse City
9. Stories (Down to The Bottom)
10. Getaway Car
11. Burn For You
12. Fresher Than A Night At The W
13. Ill-M-I
14. Phenomenon
15. Gotta Go
16. Atmosphere [Remix] (featuring dc talk)

Rating: - * Watered down is the trend in America... this album fits right in ... I just find it very hard to listen to so-called Christian music that could easily have been made by any feel good, positive message secular artist. I do not doubt that Toby Mac is a Christian, but his music does not effectively portray the message of the Gospel of God. I browsed through five or so of the song lyrics from this album, and I saw the word Jesus one time ("freaky Jesus stuff you do"), and it was not giving Him any glory, but more showing how secular people get annoyed by Christians preaching the good news. It seems to me that the lyrics to these songs are more aimed at promoting diversity and feeling good than anything else. The only path to true diversity and joy is salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. The best way for people to come to that faith is to "manifest His word through preaching". I would not recommend this to anyone who is seeking edifying lyrics that glorify Jesus Christ. "I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry." 2 Timothy 4:1-5 Rating: - * WELCOME TO TOBYMAC ... This album in my oponion is his best solo album. Very high in energy very fresh!! Smack the MAC is back!! I rate this CD a 9 from 1to10!! Rating: - * Great for Toby Mac ... I just got this album along with Portable Sounds because it was recommended by amazon and it had Burn For You on it. Boy, was I wrong! This album had so many happy and diverse (pardon the pun) surprises on it. To be honest, I'm not a Christian rap fan or even a Tobymac fan. Or, at least I wasn't before hearing this album. The Slam was one song I actually recognized from the Fast and the Furious Tokyo Drift trailer, I think. Gone, another popular radio hit was a pleasant surprise. I'm not sure if my parents know I got Christian rap albums or if I really am sold on it, but Tobymac really puts his heart for Jesus into his work. You know the phrase... Try it, you'll like it? Well the same thing with tobymacs music. You may like it or downright hate it, but I feel that Toby mac has the cleanest rap music and just about anything else hoppy that you'll ever hear in your life. Considering what other trash there is selling under the Christian name, its good to know there's someone out there that can spread a positive, encouraging message through a genre of music that has been so corrupted by this world. Rating: - * First CD from the artist, a let down ... I've heard Toby Mac's music on that radio station I listen to daily. The songs they played sounded cool, so I was convinved to buy this CD. After listening to the CD as a whole, it was a let down to me. A few of the tracks are upbeat and gitty, while there are a few tracks that are more a heavier tone, and some with a mellow reggae-like style. This CD seemed almost experimental; I didn't feel like I got a representation of what this artist was bringing to the table. The first few tracks were great, but the rest are majorly disappointing. This CD makes me ponder on not buying anymore CDs from this artist. If there are tracks that I do like from the artist in the future, I'll be buying those tracks individually from Amazon MP3. Rating: - * In Short ... All sixteen tracks on this album are awesome and make it nearly a greatest hits compilation, my personal favorites being Track 2: Whoopsie Daisy/Catch A Fire, Track 3:The Slam, and both Tracks 11 and 14 are excellent also, the former being Burn For You and the latter Phenomenon, although as stated earlier, the whole CD is truly excellent and worth the price. If you are struck between buying this or Momentum, I'd have to say get Welcome To Diverse City, which is three times as excellent as Momentum, although I'm not complaining about latter either. Buy them both! Other similar Christian Rock bands I recommend include: DC Talk & Skillet Keep on Rocking/Rapping, Toby!