TobyMac Pens Moving Tribute Following His 21-Year-Old Son’s Death

Christian hip-hop artist TobyMac penned a moving tribute to his son Truett McKeehan, who died on Wednesday at his home in Nashville aged just 21.

A family spokesperson confirmed McKeehan’s death to various news outlets, although the cause behind his death remains unclear.

“Toby was traveling back from Canada and did not get home to be with his family until after midnight last night,” the rep said. “We just ask that everyone please be respectful of their privacy during this time and allow them to grieve their loss.”

McKeehan was the eldest of TobyMac’s five children and was himself an up and coming musician who collaborated with his father on several albums.

In a moving tribute on Instagram, TobyMac described his late son as a “joy that took the room when he entered.”

“He was a magnetic son and brother and friend. If you met him, you knew him, you remembered him. His smile, his laugh, the encouragement he offered with words or even without,” he wrote. “He had an untamable grand personality and dreams to match. And he hated being put in a box.”

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Truett Foster Mckeehan had joy that took the room when he entered. He was a magnetic son and brother and friend. If you met him, you knew him, you remembered him. His smile, his laugh, the encouragement he offered with words or even without. He had an untamable grand personality and dreams to match. And he hated being put in a box. He expressed himself through the music he made. And by made I mean, written, recorded, produced, mixed, and designed the art. All of it. A true artist. His first show was a week ago, and it was nothing short of electric. Everyone felt it, everyone knew it. He could’ve easily taken the easy route and put music out when he was 12, 14, 16, even 18, but he always said he wanted to live some life and have something to say before he did it. He didn’t want to be a child star, he wanted to be a man with scars and a story to tell. I always admired, respected and encouraged that stand. Truett always had a soft spot for God. The Bible moved him. His heart was warm to the things of his King. He was by no means a cookie cutter Christian but give me a believer who fights to keep believing. Give me a broken man who recognizes his need for a Savior every time. That’s who Truett was and how he should be remembered. My last moment with Truett in person was at his first show this past Thursday at the Factory in Franklin, Tennessee. I had to leave the next morning very early to fly and start our Canadian tour. As I stood in the audience and watched my son bring joy to a room, I was as proud as a “pop” (as tru called me) could be. It was the culminating moment of a dream that he had since he was 12. It couldn’t have been sweeter. Our music, and what we say lyrically couldn’t be more different, but the outcome was much the same… offering a room full of people a few minutes of joy in a crazy world. Our last text exchange is shared above (swipe). My wife and I would want the world to know this… We don’t follow God because we have some sort of under-the-table deal with Him, like, we’ll follow you if you bless us. We follow God because we love Him. It’s our honor. He is the God of the hills and the valleys. And He is beautiful above all things.

A post shared by TobyMac (@tobymac) on Oct 24, 2019 at 2:26pm PDT

TobyMac, whose real name is Toby McKeehan, went on to discuss his son’s musical talents and intimate relationship with God.

“He expressed himself through the music he made. And by made I mean, written, recorded, produced, mixed, and designed the art,” he wrote. “All of it. A true artist. His first show was a week ago, and it was nothing short of electric. Everyone felt it, everyone knew it.”

He continued:

He could’ve easily taken the easy route and put music out when he was 12, 14, 16, even 18, but he always said he wanted to live some life and have something to say before he did it. He didn’t want to be a child star, he wanted to be a man with scars and a story to tell. I always admired, respected and encouraged that stand.

Truett always had a soft spot for God. The Bible moved him. His heart was warm to the things of his King. He was by no means a cookie-cutter Christian but give me a believer who fights to keep believing. Give me a broken man who recognizes his need for a Savior every time. That’s who Truett was and how he should be remembered.

TobyMac is best known for his singles “Me Without You,” “Love Broke Thru,” and “I Just Need U.” He released his eighth studio album in October last year, entitled The Elements.

The 55-year-old also shared his son’s heartbreaking final text message to him, where he told his father how he made him “feel like a superhero.”

“Love you Dad. Thank you so much,” he wrote. “Always believed in me. Made me feel like a superhero.”

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