The final in the three installments from the separate brains and brawn of dc Talk releases November 2001. Fans are anticipating tobyMac's new solo album Momentum to possibly be the best offering out of the trio. And from the opening riffs of "Get This Party Started," you may have your answer sooner than you thought.

Momentum does in fact live up to its title. "Get This Party Started" comes at you head-on like a freight train that has no intentions of stopping. Much like toby's popular single "Extreme Days," the song is layered with loud powerful guitars, raps with attitude, and a sound so energetic that if you play it too loud, you're liable to wake Elvis from his grave to perform some of his trademark hip-swinging (say what?!). "What's Goin' Down" performs as "Somebody's Watching Me" does, using a classic song most people would recognize (here, the "Stop children, what's that sound? Everybody look what's going 'round"). I used to find the original version of this song to be pretty irritating, but toby is able to utilize it here and use it in a fresh new way. The topics get heavy on "Irene," a hip hop song encouraging girls who have been abused in one way or another that God is always there for them and will hear their prayers.

"J Train" features Gospel icon Kirk Franklin offering his aid to tobyMac's efforts. Can anyone tell me what Franklin does beside make comments during his songs? He doesn't really seem to add to "J Train," but he also doesn't subtract either. Regardless of Franklin's ambiguous contributions in his music, Toby dominates the track for a pleasant upbeat, infectious hip-hop tune. "Tru-Dog" is one of the six interludes on the record, this one featuring toby's young song Truett, affectionately known here as "Tru-Dog." This is a cute track which sets up as if young Truett was playing with toby's equipment, recording his own track. The title track follows, one of two consecutive slammers, the other being "Yours," which easily serve as album highlights. "Yours" is a worshipful rocker crying out to God "I'm Yours/ Take Me as I am/ I'm Yours/ So take this space between us and fill it up!"

"Wonderin' Why" answers the big question, "Why did toby go back to rap and put out a solo album?" The hit single "Somebody's Watching Me" takes its seat next. "Love is in the House" is a funky r&b flavored pro-love tune reminiscent of the dc Talk's early days. The hit theme for the movie by the same name, "Extreme Days" rocks the scene after "Love," before the album ends on a serious yet fun note with "In the Air." "In the Air" is a fun up-beat song about the rapture, but also about the fears of not seeing certain friends and loved ones with us in that moment. Although a happy song musically, the reality of it may hit you hard if you have a burden on your heart for someone like that.

Momentum is the latest and most powerful project from one-third of one of the most popular acts in Christian music today. tobyMac's Momentum has just that, slamming the listener with truthful lyrics, an honest message, and infectious rhythms and rhymes.

- Review date: 10/27/01, written by John DiBiase of Jesusfreakhideout.com