Promised Land (TobyMac song)

"Promised Land"
Single by TobyMac
ReleasedSeptember 17, 2021 (2021-09-17)
GenreContemporary Christian music
Length3:29
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Adam Agee
  • Toby McKeehan
Producer(s)
  • Micah Kuiper
  • Toby McKeehan
TobyMac singles chronology
"Like You"
(2021) 		"Promised Land"
(2021) 		"The Goodness"
(2022)
Music videos
"Promised Land" on YouTube

"Promised Land" is a song by American Christian hip hop musician TobyMac. The song was released as a single on September 17, 2021.[1] TobyMac co-wrote the song with Adam Agee, and collaborated with Micah Kuiper in the production of the single.

"Promised Land" peaked at No. 9 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart.[2] "Promised Land" received a GMA Dove Award nomination for Short Form Video of the Year (Concept) at the 2022 GMA Dove Awards.[3]

In January 2022, TobyMac released two new versions of the song, "Promised Land (Collab New)" and "Promised Land (Collab OG)", both of which feature Sheryl Crow.[4]

Background

In June 2021, "Promised Land" was reported to be TobyMac's next single following "Help Is On the Way (Maybe Midnight)" which was released in February 2021, with TobyMac expecting its release in September or October.[5] The song was dedicated to TobyMac's grandfather,[6] a miner in West Virginia who died from black lung disease.[7]

TobyMac released "Promised Land" with its accompanying music video on September 17, 2021.[8]

Composition

"Promised Land" is composed in the key of G with a tempo of 84 beats per minute and a musical time signature of 4
4.[9]

Reception

Critical response

Jonathan Andre of 365 Days of Inspiring Media gave a positive review of the song, concluding: "Toby’s new song is one of hope and poignancy, and one that can maybe call us into action, too. As we as people living in this COVID-19 world need to ask ourselves where our promised land is, hopefully Toby can bring us into a space where we can be ok with asking the hard question of where our promised land lies, and who it lies in, and if we don’t know where, then why not, and maybe we should just start going on that journey, sooner than later."[10] In his review for Jesus Freak Hideout, Alex Caldwell wrote a favourable review of the single, concluding "With an honest, plainspoken delivery, and with only a hint of a triumphal ending, "Promised Land" flies in the face of most Prosperity Gospel-type teachings, and wisely insinuates that not every challenge or hard time down here will have a traditional happy ending. But TobyMac rightly states that "through the seasons" of life, the Lord is the sustainer, and His presence is the "promised land". The single is a new side of this music veteran and a refreshing bit of honesty in Christian music."[11]

Accolades

Awards
Year Organization Award Result Ref
2022 GMA Dove Awards Short Form Video of the Year (Concept) Nominated
[12]
Year-end lists
Publication Accolade Rank Ref.
365 Days of Inspiring Media Top 50 Songs of 2021 9
[13]

Commercial performance

"Promised Land" debuted on the Christian Airplay chart dated September 25, 2021, at No. 49.[14]

"Promised Land" debuted at No. 37 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart dated October 9, 2021,[15]

Music videos

The official music video of "Promised Land" was published on TobyMac's YouTube channel on September 19, 2021.[16] The music video was filmed at Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine in West Virginia,[5] featuring TobyMac as a miner.

On November 25, 2021, TobyMac released the official lyric video of the song.[17]

Track listing

"Promised Land"[18]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Promised Land"
  • Adam Agee
  • Toby McKeehan
3:29
"Promised Land" — Apple Music re-release bonus content[19]
No.TitleLength
2."Promised Land" (music video)3:29

Personnel

Adapted from AllMusic.[20]

  • Josh Bailey — A&R
  • Chad Chrisman — A&R
  • Chris Gehringer — mastering engineer
  • Micah Kuiper — background vocals, guitar, producer
  • Scott Mills — guitar
  • Gabe Patillo — background vocals
  • Nick Rad — mixing
  • Jon Reddick — background vocals
  • Tim Rosenau — guitar
  • Tasha Smith — background vocals
  • Aaron Sterling — drums
  • Andrew Thompson — background vocals
  • TobyMac — primary artist, background vocals, producer
  • Emoni Wilkins — background vocals

Charts

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Promised Land"
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various September 17, 2021
ForeFront Records [18]
September 20, 2021
  • Digital download
  • streaming
(Apple Music re-release) 		[19]
United States October 8, 2021 Christian radio Capitol CMG [26]

References

  1. ^ "TobyMac debuts new single & music video for 'Promised Land'". Niagara Frontier Publications. September 17, 2021. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  2. ^ a b "TobyMac Chart History (Hot Christian Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  3. ^ Longs, Herb (August 10, 2022). "Watch: Nominations For 53rd Annual GMA Dove Awards Announced - TCB". The Christian Beat. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  4. ^ Clarks, Jesse (January 1, 2022). "TobyMac & Sheryl Crow Re-Imagine "Promised Land" With New Collab". The Christian Beat. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  5. ^ a b Jenkins, Jeff (June 19, 2021). "TobyMac's next song will feature Exhibition Coal Mine - WV MetroNews". WV MetroNews. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  6. ^ Clarks, Jessie (September 17, 2021). "TobyMac Debuts New Single "Promised Land" - TCB". The Christian Beat. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  7. ^ Williams, Lindsay (September 27, 2021). "TobyMac Redefines The "Promised Land" On His New Single | Positive Encouraging K-LOVE". K-Love. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  8. ^ Young, Abby (September 17, 2021). "New Single "Promised Land" From Tobymac Out Today | Freeccm.com". Freeccm.com. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  9. ^ "Promised Land by TobyMac". MultiTracks. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  10. ^ Andre, Jonathan (September 17, 2021). "TobyMac – Promised Land – Single | 365 Days Of Inspiring Media". 365 Days of Inspiring Media. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  11. ^ Caldwell, Alex (September 22, 2021). "Jesusfreakhideout.com: TobyMac, "Promised Land - Single" Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  12. ^ "2022 Nominees | The 53rd Annual GMA Dove Awards". GMA Dove Awards. August 10, 2022. Archived from the original on August 11, 2022. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  13. ^ Andre, Joshua (January 11, 2021). "BEST OF 2021- PART 1: TOP 50 SONGS OF 2021 | 365 Days Of Inspiring Media". 365 Days Of Inspiring Media. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  14. ^ "Christian Airplay – Billboard". Billboard. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  15. ^ "Hot Christian Songs Chart | Billboard". Billboard. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  16. ^ "TobyMac - Promised Land - YouTube". YouTube. September 19, 2021. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
  17. ^ "TobyMac - Promised Land (Lyric Video) - YouTube". YouTube. November 25, 2021. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
  18. ^ a b "Promised Land - Single by TobyMac on Apple Music". United States. September 17, 2021. Retrieved December 27, 2021 – via Apple Music.
  19. ^ a b "Promised Land - Single by TobyMac on Apple Music". United States. September 20, 2021. Retrieved December 27, 2021 – via Apple Music.
  20. ^ "Promised Land - TobyMac | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
  21. ^ "TobyMac Chart History (Christian Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  22. ^ "tobyMac Chart History - Billboard". Billboard. Christian AC Airplay Chart. Billboard-Hollywood Reporter Media Group. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  23. ^ "Hot Christian Songs – Billboard". Billboard. Year-End Chart. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  24. ^ "Christian Airplay Songs – Billboard". Billboard. Year-End Chart. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  25. ^ "Christian AC Airplay Songs – Billboard". Billboard. Year-End Chart. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  26. ^ ""Promised Land" by TobyMac - 55 Promotion". 55 Promotion. Retrieved December 27, 2021.