Today BreatheCast is taking a look back at one of the greatest and most important Christian albums and groups of all time, DC Talk's Jesus Freak.

The year was 1995, and DC Talk was at the top of the Christian music food chain with the release of their legendary and groundbreaking pop/rock anthem, "Jesus Freak." This album not only started a movement and rally cry for Christian music fans, but it broke down walls into the mainstream world as well.

At the time the album achieved the highest first week sales in Christian music history, and reached the top 16 on the Billboard 200 according to Billboard. Within 30 days Jesus Freak became a Gold record and as of now stands at Double Platinum.

The group, TobyMac, Kevin Max, and Michael Tait, took home their second Grammy Award and saw a few of the songs find success on MTV.

The music of the album was a shock to the system for die hard DC Talk fans. Their first two releases were hip-hop gospel albums. Jesus Freak's predecessor, Free At Last, started the experimentation with elements of hip-hop, rock, pop, and dance music. Jesus Freak however took a complete turn away from rap except for a few verses, and hit grunge music, alternative, and pop rock. The song "Jesus Freak" is also thought of the first link between grunge and rap.

The album spawned four music videos: "Colored People," "Jesus Freak," Day by Day," and "Between You and Me."

Track Listing:
1. So Help Me God
2. Colored People
3. Jesus Freak
4. What If I Stumble
5. Day by Day
6. Mrs. Morgan (Skit)
7. Between You and Me
8. Like It, Love It, Need It
9. Jesus Freak (Skit)
10. In the Light
11. What Have We Become
12. Mind's Eye
13. Alas, My Love

The biggest takeaway from this album is the significance of the song, "Jesus Freak." It was a rallying cry for people to stand up for their belief in Jesus Christ.

The chorus:

"What will people think/
When they hear that I'm a Jesus freak/
What will people do when they find that it's true/
I don't really care if they label me a Jesus freak/
There ain't no disguising the truth"

In other words, what the song was saying is, 'If you call me a freak because I believe in Jesus, then so be it.' Jesus Freak became a term of endearment and power for a Christian who is unashamed to proclaim the gospel. The song took the negative and made it positive.

Jesus Freak will forever live on as a turning point in Christian music. These days, TobyMac is still rocking on stages solo. Tait is the lead singer of the Newsboys, and Max is in the new Audio Adrenaline. However, supposedly next year there is going to be a three group tour where the trio will be united to perform a few DC Talk songs each night.

"It's gonna happen. Eventually, TobyMac, Newsboys, Audio Adrenaline, DC Talk set will happen." Tait said in a recent interview with JesusFreakHideout "It'll be a pricey ticket, for sure, but I think it's going to happen. I'm working that end. I have some magical powers with Toby and Kevin."