Life After Death is the ninth studio album by Christian hip hop artist TobyMac. It was released on August 19, 2022. It is his sixth album to top the Billboard Christian Albums chart. The album's third single, "Help Is On the Way (Maybe Midnight)", peaked at No. 3 on the Hot Christian Songs chart.

Background TobyMac claimed that this was his most emotional album that he ever recorded. In October 2019, his eldest son Truett died after an accidental drug overdose. TobyMac said, "I immediately went to write, because that's what I know to do when I'm in so much pain. You go to [write] what you know, what you love and what brings you peace. I immediately started writing – and I wrote '21 Years'. Then I wrote a song called 'Faithfully', and I wrote 'Everything About You' in the first few months after Truett passed."

Singles "21 Years" was released on January 10, 2020, and is about TobyMac's son Truett Foster, who died a couple months prior, at the age of 21. The song peaked at No. 3 on the US Hot Christian Songs Chart.

"I'm Sorry (A Lament)" was released on October 2, 2020. The song peaked at No. 25 on the US Hot Christian Songs Chart.

"Help Is On the Way (Maybe Midnight)" was released on February 19, 2021. The song peaked at No. 3 on the US Hot Christian Songs Chart.

"Promised Land" was released on September 17, 2021. The song peaked at No. 9 on the US Hot Christian Songs Chart. The song featured pop rock artist Sheryl Crow on the OG Collab version.

"The Goodness" was released on June 2, 2022. The song featured new artist Blessing Offor, and peaked at No. 1 on the US Hot Christian Songs Chart. This song was then performed at the 53rd GMA Dove Awards.

"Cornerstone" was released on February 17, 2023. The song features CCM artist Zach Williams.

"Faithfully" was released on September 29, 2023.

Critical reception

Life After Death received mostly positive ratings from critics. Jesus Freak Hideout said of the album, "With a lyrical cohesion and an almost theatrical community feel throughout, Life After Death is a tough album (if you understand the sad context of it) that nevertheless gives hope...is well worth your time, and shows that in Christ, believers 'do not weep as those who have no hope.' Tragedy is not the end of the story." Giving the album a perfect 5, 365 Days of Inspiring Media said that the album was “very powerful, heartfelt, compelling, and challenging, while also laced in the joyfulness colliding with lament and sorrow that comes after a death of a loved one. It's knowing the promise of God while still reconciling how it looks like, this side of eternity. And that is what is seen all through Toby's album, and it's been a blast to listen to it." AllMusic's Marcy Donelson rated the album 4 out of 5, stating that "[TobyMac's] eventual ninth album, Life After Death, finds the genre-blurring Christian artist navigating the aftermath [of his son's death] alongside a slew of guests with a poignant mix of warm appreciations and invigorated motivational song." JubileeCast gave 4 out of 5 and said, "Though not perfect, the album does have many powerful moments. Most importantly, this is an honest set of songs. TobyMac doesn't give us recycled answers to the problem of suffering. Rather, using the space of 15 songs, he works with us through these issues. Reflective of life, there are some downers as well as some sparks of joy and hope." New Release Today's Average NRTeam rating was 2 out of 5.

Accolades + Awards Year Organization Award Result 2023 Grammy Awards Best Contemporary Christian Music Album

+ Year-end lists Publication Accolade Rank 2022 Staff Picks: Christopher Smith's Album Picks 5 2022 Staff Picks: Alex Caldwell's Album Picks 4

Commercial performance The album peaked at No. 34 on the US Billboard 200 and No. 1 on the Top Christian Albums chart with 16,000 album-equivalent units.

Track listing

Personnel Credits adapted from liner notes.

TobyMac — songwriting, vocals, producer Bryan Fowler — producer on tracks 2, 6, 7, 9, 11, & 13, engineering, guitar, bass, background vocals on tracks 2, 6, 7, 9, & 11 Dave Lubben — producer on tracks 10, 12 & 15, percussion, guitar, engineering, keyboards, strings, acoustic guitar, background vocals on tracks 10 & 12 Jon Reddick — producer on track 4, guest vocals on track 4, background vocals on tracks 1, 4 & 5, keyboards Micah Kuiper — producer on tracks 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, & 11, engineering, programming, guitar, bass, keyboards, drums, background vocals on tracks 1, 7, 9, & 11 Tommee Profitt — producer on track 14, instrumentation Kyle Williams — producer on tracks 2, 6, & 8, background vocals on tracks 2, 6 & 8, guitar Cole Walowac — producer on track 7 Serban Ghenea — mixing Nick Rad — mixing Bob Boyd — mastering Doug Sarrett — mastering, engineering Chris Gehringer — mastering Reske — co-producer on track 7 Zach Williams — guest vocals on track 9 Blessing Offor — guest vocals on track 2, background vocals on track 4 Gabe Real — guest vocals on track 15, background vocals on tracks 1, 2, 4 & 5 Terrian — guest vocals on tracks 10 & 15 Anike — guest vocals on track 10 Marlee McKeehan — guest vocals on track 6 Tauren Wells — guest vocals on track 3 Sarah Reeves — guest vocals on track 7 Sheryl Crow — guest vocals on track 5 Michael Tait — guest vocals on track 12 Kevin Max — guest vocals on track 12 Cory Asbury — guest vocals on track 11 Lydi Lynn — piano, background vocals on track 10 Tony Lucido — bass Sterloid — drums Terence F. Clark — drums Aaron Sterling — drums Paul Mabury — drums Tim Rosenau — guitar Scott Mills — guitar Tyler Summers — baritone saxophone, tenor saxophone Jeff Bailey — trumpet Keith Everette Smith — trumpet, string arrangement, horn arrangement, brass arrangement Steve Patrick — trumpet Barry Green — trombone Bob McChesney — trombone Raymond Mason — trombone Anna Spina — French horn Jennifer Kummer — French horn David Gerald Sutton — strings Betsy Lamb — viola Kristin Wilkinson — viola Carolyn Bailey — violin David Angell — violin David Davidson — violin Janet Darnall — violin Jenny Bifano — violin Karen Winklemann — violin Anthony LaMarchina — cello Sari Reist — cello Janice Gaines — background vocals on track 4 Andrew Thompson — background vocals on track 5 Tasha Smith — background vocals on track 5 Debi Selby — choir on track 14 Emoni Wilkins — background vocals on track 5, choir on track 14 Jason Eskridge — choir on track 14 Moiba Mustapha — choir on track 14 Nickie Conley — choir on track 14 Travis Cottrell — choir on track 14 Ryan Stevenson — background vocals on track 2 Michael Cochren — background vocals on track 1

Charts

Weekly charts + Weekly chart performance for Life After Death Chart (2022) Peakposition

Year-end charts + Year-end chart performance for Life After Death Chart (2022) Position US Christian Albums (Billboard) 44 Chart (2023) Position US Christian Albums (Billboard) 16

References