Portable Sounds
Studio album by
ReleasedFebruary 20, 2007 (2007-02-20)
Recorded2006–2007
Genre
Length48:28
LabelForeFront
ProducerToby McKeehan, Christopher Stevens, David Wyatt
TobyMac chronology
Renovating Diverse City
(2005)
Portable Sounds
(2007)
Alive and Transported
(2008)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Christianity Today[2]
Cross Rhythms[3]
Jesus Freak Hideout[4]

Portable Sounds, stylized as (portable sounds), is the third full-length studio album from Christian hip hop artist tobyMac. Released on February 20, 2007, the album serves as a follow-up to his 2004 album, Welcome to Diverse City. The album debuted at No. 10 on the Billboard 200. The album includes the singles "Lose My Soul", "Made to Love", "Boomin'", "I'm for You", and "One World (featuring Siti Monroe)". Portable Sounds took a slightly different direction than tobyMac's previous hip hop efforts, having more of a pop sound. When it was released on iTunes, users were able to download a behind-the-scenes making of the album video, a digital booklet, and an acoustic version of "Made to Love". "Ignition" was selected as the theme song to the WWE pay-per-view Elimination Chamber 2011.

Release

Portable Sounds was released on February 20, 2007, through ForeFront Records.[5] It debuted at No. 10 on the Billboard 200, tobyMac's highest chart position as a solo artist, selling 51,000 copies in its first week.[6] In its second week on the Billboard 200, Portable Sounds fell to No. 38, in its third week to No. 47, and in its fourth week it fell to No. 63.

A deluxe edition was released on October 23, 2007, added a DVD containing all five music videos, behind-the-scenes footage, and remixes of "Ignition" and "Boomin'". On November 14, 2008, the album was certified Gold by the RIAA.[7]

After the album was put out Toby went on tour. He did the tour with Thousand Foot Krutch and BarlowGirl. On their show in Cypress, Texas, they recorded their Grammy Award winning album, Alive and Transported.

Singles

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."One World" (featuring Siti Monroe)Toby McKeehan, Cary Barlowe, Christopher StevensChristopher Stevens, Toby McKeehan3:50
2."Made to Love"McKeehan, Barlowe, Jamie Moore, Aaron RiceStevens, McKeehan3:50
3."Boomin'/Opera Trip Interlude" (Opera Trip performed by Mandisa)McKeehan, StevensStevens, McKeehan4:02
4."I'm for You"McKeehan, Barlowe, RiceStevens, McKeehan3:47
5."Face of the Earth/Chuck @ Artist Development Interlude"McKeehan, Joe Weber, StevensStevens, McKeehan4:38
6."No Ordinary Love" (featuring Nirva Dorsaint)Randy Crawford, McKeehan, Dave WyattDave Wyatt, McKeehan3:16
7."Ignition"McKeehan, Trevor McNevan, StevensStevens, McKeehan3:53
8."Hype Man (truDog '07)" (featuring Truett McKeehan)McKeehanStevens, McKeehan1:41
9."Suddenly"McKeehan, Weber, StevensStevens, McKeehan3:40
10."All In (Letting Go)/Mr. Talkbox Interlude"McKeehan, StevensStevens, McKeehan4:33
11."Feelin' So Fly"Crawford, McKeehan, StevensStevens, McKeehan3:49
12."No Signal"McKeehanStevens, McKeehan1:11
13."Lose My Soul" (featuring Kirk Franklin & Mandisa)McKeehan, Michael Ripoll, StevensStevens, McKeehan6:17
Total length:48:28
Digital bonus remixes[10]
No.TitleLength
14."Boomin' (Bonus remix)" (featuring Shonlock)3:36
15."Ignition (Bonus remix)"3:57

History

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Portable Sounds was tobyMac's first top 10 on the Billboard 200 (debuting at No. 10), and is his third longest studio album, by track listing and duration.

Personnel

Music videos

Year Title
2007 "Boomin"
2008 "Feelin' So Fly"
2009 "Lose My Soul"

Charts

Singles

Song Chart Peak Position
"Made to Love" Billboard Hot Christian Songs 1
"Boomin'"
"I'm For You" 2
"One World"
(featuring Siti Monroe)
10
"Lose My Soul"
(featuring Kirk Franklin and Mandisa)
2

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[19] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Accolades

In 2008, the album won a Dove Award for Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year at the 39th GMA Dove Awards.[20]

References

  1. ^ Allmusic review
  2. ^ "Christianity Today review". Christianitytoday.com. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
  3. ^ "Cross Rhythms review". Crossrhythms.co.uk. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
  4. ^ "Jesus Freak Hideout review". Jesusfreakhideout.com. February 20, 2007. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
  5. ^ "Tobymac – Portable Sounds". Amazon. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
  6. ^ Katie Hasty, "Norah Stays Tight At No. 1 Amidst Slow Sales Week", Billboard.com, February 28, 2007.
  7. ^ Gold; Billboard Magazine on-line; accessed .
  8. ^ a b 2007 Year End Charts/Top Christian CHR songs Archived May 25, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, R&R magazine, Retrieved January 6, 2008
  9. ^ 2008 Year End Charts/Top Christian CHR songs Archived May 25, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, R&R magazine, Retrieved January 15, 2009
  10. ^ "iTunes (U.S.) – Music – TobyMac- Portable Sounds (With Bonus Remixes)". iTunes (U.S.). February 20, 2007. Retrieved June 14, 2015.
  11. ^ "tobyMac Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
  12. ^ "tobyMac Chart History (Top Catalog Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
  13. ^ "tobyMac Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
  14. ^ "tobyMac Chart History (Digital Albums)".[dead link] Billboard. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
  15. ^ "tobyMac Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
  16. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2007". Billboard. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  17. ^ "Top Christian Albums – Year-End 2007". Billboard. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  18. ^ "Top Christian Albums – Year-End 2008". Billboard. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  19. ^ "American album certifications – TobyMac – Portable Sounds". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  20. ^ Nominations Announced for 39th GMA Dove Awards on CBN.com (February 14, 2008)