Tom MacDonald (rapper) explained

Tom MacDonald
Caption:MacDonald in 2018
Birth Name:Thomas MacDonald
Birth Date:21 September 1988
Birth Place:British Columbia, Canada
Years Active:2014–present

Thomas MacDonald (born September 21, 1988)[1] is a Canadian rapper and singer. Known for his extensive tattoos and political lyrics, his rhetoric has been described as right-wing and anti-establishment, with heavy criticism of "woke" culture.[2]

He first rose to prominence with the release of his 2017 debut single "Dear Rappers". His 2021 single "Fake Woke" marked his first appearance on the Billboard Hot 100. "Facts", his 2024 single with Ben Shapiro, peaked at number 16 on the US chart, and number 42 on the Canadian Hot 100. In July 2024, 12 hours after the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, MacDonald's single "You Missed" took the top spot on US iTunes charts.

Early life

MacDonald lived in British Columbia and Alberta.[3] He later worked as a professional wrestler under the ring name Allstar.[4] MacDonald struggled with alcoholism throughout much of his life, and in 2017, had a "bad breakdown" that prompted him to begin rehabilitation.

Career

MacDonald started rapping at age 18, and first rose to fame after releasing the single "Dear Rappers" in February 2018.[3] [5] His song "Straight White Male", which was written about MacDonald's belief that straight white men are being demonized, was criticized on social media for its subject matter.[6] In September 2019, MacDonald released the single "Cloned Rappers", on which he rapped that the Illuminati are cloning rappers and disposing of the originals.[7] [8] In late 2019, MacDonald was scheduled to be a supporting act for Falling in Reverse's Episode IV Tour before it was cancelled.[9] In 2020, he released 20 singles, including "White Trash", "Sellout", "Best Rapper Ever", "Cancer", and "Angels".[10] In March 2020, MacDonald released the single "Coronavirus", which was written about the COVID-19 pandemic.[11]

In January 2021, MacDonald released the single "Fake Woke", which debuted at number 96 on the Billboard Hot 100.[12] After Eminem released a series of NFTs as part of his "Shady Con" event with Nifty Gateway, MacDonald purchased one—an Eminem-produced instrumental called "Stan's Revenge"—for $100,000.[13] [14] MacDonald used the instrumental to create his song "Dear Slim", released in May 2021. The song's accompanying music video paid homage to the music video for Eminem's 2000 song "Stan".[15] [16] In June 2021, he released "Snowflakes", which debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 71.[17] The music video featured political commentator Blaire White as a background dancer.[18] His single "Brainwashed", released in August 2021, peaked at number 89 on the Billboard Hot 100.[19]

In 2022, MacDonald collaborated with Adam Calhoun to release an album, The Brave. This album became the best-selling album of the week upon its release in March 2022, having sold 16,000 copies in the U.S. that week.[20] MacDonald collaborated with Calhoun again in 2023 to release the song "American Flags", which reached No. 2 on the Digital Songs chart in the US,[21] and No. 8 in Canada.[22] In September 2023, MacDonald and Calhoun released the album, The Brave II.[23] [24]

In January 2024, MacDonald collaborated with conservative political commentator Ben Shapiro to release the single "Facts".

Influences

MacDonald has cited the Beatles, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Joe Cocker, Janis Joplin, Marilyn Manson, Tupac, Eminem, Aerosmith, GG Allin, Kanye West, and The Offspring as musical influences.[25] [26] His music often discusses controversial social and political topics in the United States.

Public image

MacDonald has created a significant online presence among right-wingers, becoming one of the most prominent figures in the "MAGA rap" scene.[27] Writing for Vice, Drew Millard described MacDonald as "turgid", and wrote that he rose to fame by "taking the undercooked platitudes of the Intellectual Dark Web and filtering them into songs", adding that he "can feel like an unstoppable force of reactionary dumbness". Ariana Thompson of Inked described MacDonald as "one of the most divisive personas hip hop has ever seen" and wrote that his right-wing fanbase "cling[s] onto every word he utter[s]".[28] In a Rolling Stone profile, MacDonald said he wants to "show people I'm not just some brainwashed right-wing zombie."[29] For the Dallas Observer, Garrett Gravley criticized his songs as "white victim complex anthems" and wrote that they gave him "status among zoomer Trump supporters as an oracle of sorts".

Discography

Studio albums

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:15em;"
DetailsPeak chart positions
CAN
[30]
US
[31]
All Growed Up (as Mr. MacDonald)
  • Released: December 15, 2012
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: CD, digital
See You Tomorrow
  • Released: December 21, 2015
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download
Deathreats
  • Released: August 1, 2018
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: CD
Ghostories
  • Released: August 30, 2019
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: CD
Killing the Neighbors
(with Madchild)
  • Released: February 15, 2020
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: CD
Gravestones
  • Released: August 14, 2020
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: CD
As Far as the Stars
(with Nova Rockafeller & Brandon Hart)
  • Released: April 9, 2021
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: CD
Us Against the World
  • Released: September 3, 2021
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: CD
The Brave
(with Adam Calhoun)
  • Released: February 18, 2022
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: CD, digital
83 14
Renegade
  • Released: November 18, 2022
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: CD
The Revolution
  • Released: November 18, 2022
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: CD
The Brave 2
(with Adam Calhoun)
  • Released: September 8, 2023
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: CD, digital
62

Mixtapes

Title! scope="col" style="width:15em;"
Album details
Killville(as TMax)
  • Released: 2008
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download
Demo(as T Mac)
  • Released: 2008
  • Label - Sel-released
  • Format: Digital Download
Young and Crazy(as T Mac)
  • Released: 2009
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital Download
Creature From the Rap Lagoon(as T Mac)
  • Released: January 17, 2010
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download
A Glorious Future(as T Mac) (with Synn)
  • Released: 2010
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital Download
Feet Up(with O.V Charbonneau)
  • Released: 2011
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download
Infidelity In The Throne Room
  • Released: December 15, 2012
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: CD, digital
Bad Dream Mad Again
  • Released: June 1, 2013
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download
LeeAnn's Son
  • Released: June 1, 2014
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download
Bad Dream Mad Again II
  • Released: November 20, 2014
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download
Dream People & the Whiskey Wars
  • Released: December 21, 2015
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download
Teacups
  • Released: 2016
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download
Flowers for the Dead
  • Released: August 14, 2020
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: CD
No Guts No Glory
  • Released: September 3, 2021
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: CD

EPs

TitleAlbum details
MacBeth
  • Released: March 22, 2015
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download
Therapy
  • Released: March 13, 2017
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: CD, Digital

Compilations

TitleAlbum details
Something Like the Truth
  • Released: November 13, 2013
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download
- scope="row"All of Me
  • Released: 2015
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download

Singles

As lead artist

TitleYearPeak chart positionsAlbum
CAN
[32]
HUN
[33]
US
[34]
US
R&B<br>/HH
[35]
US
Rock
[36]
WW
[37]
"Dear Rappers"[38] 2017Deathreats
"Castles"
[39]
"Helluvit"[40] 2018
"Hangman"[41]
"Whiteboy"[42]
"This House"[43]
"American Dreamz"[44]
"Exposure"[45]
"Politically Incorrect"[46]
"Everybody Hates Me"[47] Ghostories
"I Wish"[48] 2019
"Sad Rappers"[49]
"Straight White Male"[50]
"Lethal Injection"[51] rowspan="2"
"Mac Lethal Sucks"[52]
"If I Was Black"[53] Ghostories
"Buttholes"[54]
"I'm Sorry"[55]
"Ashes"[56]
"Cloned Rappers"[57] Flowers for the Dead
"Trying to Kill Me"[58] Ghostories
"Fake Fans"[59]
"I Hate Hip Hop"[60] Gravestones
"Famous"[61] Ghostories
"White Trash"
[62]
2020Killing the Neighbors
"Sober"
[63]
"Bad News"
[64]
"D.R.U.G."
[65]
"I Don't Care"[66] Flowers for the Dead
"Coronavirus"[67]
"Blame the Rappers"
[68]
Gravestones
"I Don't Drink"[69] Flowers for the Dead
"I Can't Sleep"[70]
"No Response"[71] Gravestones
"My Fans"[72] Flowers for the Dead
"The Music Industry"[73] Gravestones
"People So Stupid"[74]
"I'm Corny"[75]
"Gravestones"[76]
"Cancer"[77]
"No Lives Matter"[78] Us Against the World
"Sellout"[79] Gravestones
"Best Rapper Ever"[80] Us Against the World
"Angels"[81] No Guts No Glory
"Fake Woke"202196 35 Us Against the World
"Cancelled"[82] No Guts No Glory
"Clown World"27 48
"No Good Bastards"
20 As Far as the Stars
"Church"
29
"Heart Emojis"
45
"Dear Slim"15 Us Against the World
"Snowflakes"71 31 197
"Don't Look Down"39 No Guts No Glory
"Withdrawals"
"Brainwashed"89 31 11
"Dummies"Us Against the World
"America"
"Balloons"
"Naked"The Revolution
"New World Order"
2022The Brave
"Whiteboyz"
"In God We Trust"
"Fire Emojis"
"The System"Renegade
"Scars" The Revolution
"Names"
"Riot"
Renegade
"Sheeple"
33
"Fighter"
"Ghost"
The Revolution
"End of the World"
[83]
2023
"American Flags"
[84]
43 The Brave 2
"Your America"
"Black and White"
"Race War"
"Chrome"
"Superman" rowspan="3"
"Stronger Version"
"Facts"
202442 16 8 30
"The Machine"Renegade
"God Mode"rowspan="4"
"Me Vs. You"
"Heroes"
"You Missed"
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

As a featured artist

TitleYearUS
R&B/HH
Album
"Dark Side Of The Moon"[85]
2014rowspan="4"
"Pillz"[86]
2017
"WxWxw"[87]
2018
"Travelers"[88]
2019
"Gang Gang"[89]
2021Scared of Heights
"Propaganda"[90]
2021Pain Paints Paintings
"Space Trash"
2023

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tom MacDonald Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More . 2023-10-01 . AllMusic . en.
  2. Web site: January 29, 2024 . After Claiming Rap Isn't Music, Ben Shapiro Raps in Worst Song Ever Created . 2024-03-03 . www.themarysue.com. "MacDonald is a rapper who rose to fame not for his musical talents but because his songs constantly regurgitate right-wing rhetoric."
  3. Web site: The Tom MacDonald Interview. March 2, 2021. Ariana. Thompson. Inked.
  4. Web site: Strong sentiments against the man: Nova Palohek and Tom MacDonald [GFBF]]. Ian. Romaker. December 28, 2018.
  5. Web site: The tensions behind Facebook's 'caption rappers'. April 1, 2019. Honi Soit.
  6. Web site: Gremore . Graham . Straight white rapper releases song about how oppressed he is on the eve of Pride month . . February 10, 2021 . en . May 29, 2019.
  7. Web site: Eminem 'was replaced by clone in 2006' . . February 11, 2021 . en . October 21, 2019.
  8. Web site: A History of Hip-Hop's Obsession with Clone Conspiracies. July 10, 2019 .
  9. Web site: Trapp . Philip . Falling in Reverse Cancel Tour Due to Family Health Issues . . July 19, 2021 . en . November 5, 2019.
  10. Web site: Tom MacDonald - Angels Video h. . February 11, 2021 . en . December 28, 2020.
  11. Web site: Rapper Tom MacDonald's Song 'Coronavirus' Might Be Worse Than the Actual Coronavirus . Garrett . Gravley . March 20, 2020. Dallas Observer.
  12. Eggertsen . Chris . Publishing Briefs: Sony Snaps Up 'Savage' Writer & Swedish Pop Star Zara Larsson . . July 19, 2021 . en . March 11, 2021.
  13. Web site: Aubrey . Elizabeth . Eminem fan spends £71,000 on 'Stan's Revenge' NFT . . July 19, 2021 . en . May 17, 2021.
  14. Web site: Blake . Cole . Eminem Fan, Tom MacDonald, Drops $100,000 On "Stan's Revenge" NFT . HotNewHipHop . July 19, 2021 . en . May 15, 2021.
  15. Web site: Lifelong Eminem Stan Purchases Shady's NFT Beat For $100K . . July 19, 2021 . en . May 15, 2021.
  16. Web site: Millard . Drew . Welcome to the New Roaring 20s . . July 19, 2021 . en . June 23, 2021.
  17. Web site: "Snowflakes" Debuts At #71 On Billboard Hot 100, Becoming Tom MacDonald's Highest-Ranking Hit. June 14, 2021. Headline Planet.
  18. Ready To Break The Internet Again, Tom MacDonald Trolls "Snowflakes" With Controversial New Single & Music Video. Tom. MacDonald. www.prnewswire.com.
  19. Rutherford . Kevin . Sueco, Tom MacDonald & Chris Stapleton Crown Rock Sales Charts . Billboard . October 9, 2021 . en . August 26, 2021.
  20. Tom MacDonald & Adam Calhoun's 'The Brave' Bows at No. 1 on Billboard's Top Album Sales Chart . Keith . Caulfield . March 14, 2022. Billboard.
  21. Digital Songs Sales . Billboard .
  22. Canadian Digital Song Sales . Billboard.
  23. Web site: The Brave 2 is now on ALL DIGITAL PLATFORMS! . Twitter. 22 September 2023. 25 September 2023.
  24. Web site: The Brave II. Spotify. 22 September 2023. 25 September 2023.
  25. Web site: Baboukis. Denise. May 3, 2019. Tom MacDonald | Artist Interview.
  26. Web site: Tom MacDonald Addresses Hate Over Possibly Owning An Eminem Beat. May 8, 2021. HipHop24x7.
  27. How to Become a MAGA Rap Kingpin (Without Believing What You're Saying) . . April 26, 2022 .
  28. Web site: Thompson . Ariana . 2021-03-02 . The Tom MacDonald Interview . 2023-08-23 . InkedMag . en-US.
  29. Hines . Alice . 2022-04-26 . How to Become a MAGA Rap Kingpin (Without Believing What You're Saying) . 2023-08-23 . Rolling Stone . en-US.
  30. Billboard Canadian Albums: Week of March 19, 2022 . . March 15, 2022.
  31. Peaks on the Billboard 200:
  32. Billboard Canadian Hot 100: Week of February 10, 2024. Billboard. February 6, 2024.
  33. Peak positions in Hungary:
  34. Peak positions in the Billboard Hot 100 chart:
  35. Peak chart positions for songs in the United States:
  36. Peak positions on the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart:
  37. Peak positions in Billboard Global 200 chart:
    • "Snowflakes": 2021-06-19. Billboard. June 15, 2021.
    • "Facts": 2024-02-10. Billboard. January 6, 2024.
  38. Web site: Dear Rappers - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 11 August 2017 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
  39. Web site: Castles (feat. SNIIMA BEATS) - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 4 December 2017 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
  40. Web site: Helluvit - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 9 January 2018 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
  41. Web site: Hangman - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 9 January 2018 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
  42. Web site: Whiteboy - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 10 February 2018 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
  43. Web site: This House - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 19 March 2018 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
  44. Web site: American Dreamz - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 31 March 2018 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
  45. Web site: Exposure - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 9 May 2018 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
  46. Web site: Politically Incorrect - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 29 June 2018 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
  47. Web site: Everybody Hates Me - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 10 November 2018 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
  48. Web site: I Wish - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 2 February 2019 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
  49. Web site: Sad Rappers - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . March 2019 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
  50. Web site: Straight White Male - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 24 May 2019 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
  51. Web site: Lethal Injection - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . July 2019 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
  52. Web site: Mac Lethal Sucks - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . July 2019 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
  53. Web site: If I Was Black - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 19 July 2019 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
  54. Web site: Buttholes - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 9 August 2019 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
  55. Web site: I'm Sorry - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 24 August 2019 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
  56. Web site: Ashes - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 6 September 2019 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
  57. Web site: Cloned Rappers - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 27 September 2019 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
  58. Web site: Trying to Kill Me - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 25 October 2019 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
  59. Web site: Fake Fans - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 22 November 2019 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
  60. Web site: I Hate Hip-Hop - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 13 December 2019 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
  61. Web site: Famous - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 20 December 2019 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
  62. Web site: White Trash - Single by Tom MacDonald & Madchild . Apple Music . 17 January 2020 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
  63. Web site: Sober - Single by Tom MacDonald, Madchild & Nova Rockafeller . Apple Music . 24 January 2020 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
  64. Web site: Bad News - Single by Tom MacDonald, Madchild & Nova Rockafeller . Apple Music . 31 January 2020 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
  65. Web site: D.R.U.G. - Single by Tom MacDonald & Madchild . Apple Music . 7 February 2020 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
  66. Web site: I Don't Care - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 13 March 2020 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
  67. Web site: Coronavirus - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 17 March 2020 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
  68. Web site: Blame the Rappers (feat. Dax) - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 10 April 2020 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
  69. Web site: I Don't Drink - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 24 April 2020 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
  70. Web site: I Can't Sleep - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . May 2020 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
  71. Web site: No Response - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 29 May 2020 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
  72. Web site: My Fans - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 26 June 2020 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
  73. Web site: The Music Industry - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 31 July 2020 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
  74. Web site: People So Stupid - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 21 August 2020 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
  75. Web site: I'm Corny - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 11 September 2020 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
  76. Web site: Gravestones - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 25 September 2020 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
  77. Web site: Cancer - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 16 October 2020 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
  78. Web site: No Lives Matter - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 6 November 2020 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
  79. Web site: Sellout - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 20 November 2020 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
  80. Web site: Best Rapper Ever - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 18 December 2020 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
  81. Web site: Angels - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 25 December 2020 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
  82. Web site: Cancelled - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 5 February 2021 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
  83. Web site: John Rich teams with Tom MacDonald for 'End of the World' . March 17, 2023 .
  84. Web site: Tom MacDonald & Adam Calhoun – "American Flags" . . July 30, 2023 .
  85. Web site: Dark Side Of the Moon (feat. Tom Macdonald) - Single by Matt Brevner . YouTube . 3 July 2014 . July 3, 2014 . en-us.
  86. Web site: Pillz (feat. GFBF, Nova Rockafeller & Tom Macdonald) - Single by Rp Jesus . Apple Music . 12 June 2017 . February 17, 2021 . en-us.
  87. Web site: WxWxw (feat. Tom MacDonald & Illvibe) - Single by Fleshxfur . Apple Music . 13 March 2018 . February 17, 2021 . en-us.
  88. Web site: Travelers (feat. Tom MacDonald & Struggle Jennings) - Single by Ryan Upchurch . YouTube . April 22, 2021 . en-us.
  89. Web site: Gang Gang (feat. Tom MacDonald) - Single by Nova Rockafeller . Apple Music . 12 February 2021 . February 17, 2021 . en-us.
  90. Web site: Propaganda - Single by Dax & Tom MacDonald on Apple Music. 17 September 2021. Apple Music. September 17, 2021.