Tom MacDonald (rapper) explained
| Tom MacDonald |
| Caption: | MacDonald in 2018 |
| Birth Name: | Thomas Cameron MacDonald |
| Birth Date: | 21 September 1988 |
| Birth Place: | British Columbia, Canada |
| Years Active: | 2003–present |
| Partner: | Nova Rockafeller (2017–present) |
Thomas MacDonald (born September 21, 1988)[1] is a Canadian rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, and former professional wrestler. He is best known for his right-wing lyrics and fanbase[2] and his music has been characterized as "MAGA rap", a Trumpist subgenre of political hip hop.[3] [4] [5]
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 political commentator Ben Shapiro, peaked at number 16 on the chart and number 42 on the Canadian Hot 100.[6]
Early and personal life
MacDonald lived in British Columbia and Alberta.[7] He later worked as a professional wrestler under the ring name Allstar.[8] MacDonald struggled with alcoholism for much of his life and in 2017 had a "bad breakdown" that prompted him to begin rehabilitation. Fellow Canadian rapper Nova Rockafeller, who frequently collaborates and films his music videos, has been his girlfriend since 2017, often collaborating under the name GFBF.[9]
Career
MacDonald started rapping at age 18, and first rose to fame after releasing the single "Dear Rappers" in February 2018.[7] [10] 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.[11] In September 2019, MacDonald released the single "Cloned Rappers", in which he rapped that the Illuminati are cloning rappers and disposing of the originals.[12] [13] In late 2019, MacDonald was scheduled to be a supporting act for Falling in Reverse's Episode IV Tour before it was cancelled.[14] In 2020, he released 20 singles, including "White Trash", "Sellout", "Best Rapper Ever", "Cancer", and "Angels".[15] In March 2020, MacDonald released the single "Coronavirus", which was written about the COVID-19 pandemic.[16]
In January 2021, MacDonald released the single "Fake Woke", which debuted at number 96 on the Billboard Hot 100.[17] 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.[18] [19] 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".[20] [21] In June 2021, he released "Snowflakes", which debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 71.[22] The music video featured political commentator Blaire White as a background dancer.[23] His single "Brainwashed", released in August 2021, peaked at number 89 on the Billboard Hot 100.[24]
In 2022, MacDonald collaborated with Adam Calhoun to release an album, The Brave. It was the best-selling album of the week in the U.S. upon its release in March 2022, having sold 16,000 copies in the U.S. that week.[25] MacDonald collaborated with Calhoun again in 2023 to release the song "American Flags", which reached number two on the Digital Songs chart in the US,[26] and number eight in Canada.[27] In September 2023, MacDonald and Calhoun released the album, The Brave II.[28] [29]
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.[30] [31] 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.[32] 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]".[33] In a Rolling Stone profile, MacDonald said he wants to "show people I'm not just some brainwashed right-wing zombie."[34] 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
Mixtapes
EPs
Compilations
Singles
As lead artist
As a featured artist
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: Tom MacDonald Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More . 2023-10-01 . AllMusic . en.
- Sources for "right-wing fanbase":
- Web site: Greenberg . Courtney . Anti-woke Canadian rapper tops music charts with his controversial message . The Chatham Daily News . November 24, 2024 . December 30, 2022 . Rapper Tom MacDonald, who grew up in Alberta and British Columbia, is known for his anti-woke, anti-government stance — and has amassed a right-wing fanbase for his bold lyrics — is rising to the top of mainstream music charts..
- Web site: Gurvis . Jacob . Ben Shapiro raps about his 'yarmulke, homie' in new right-wing song that tops iTunes charts . . November 24, 2024 . January 30, 2024 . Ben Shapiro makes his rap debut alongside right-wing rapper Tom MacDonald, 2024..
- Web site: The Tom MacDonald Interview . Inked . November 24, 2024 . March 2, 2021 . Once right-wingers caught wind of MacDonald's persona, it didn’t take long for them to cling onto every word he uttered ... We live in a world where right wing opinions are ... permeating every aspect of our lives, including the world of hip-hop..
- Web site: Knopper . Steve . Can Conservative Music Hit the Right Commercial Notes? . Billboard . November 24, 2024 . August 15, 2022 . MacDonald, 33, a California-based pro-wrestler-turned-rapper, has spent the last few years making DIY streaming hits that are popular among Fox News viewers and right-wing YouTube commenters..
- Web site: Romano . Aja . What’s going on with these viral, right-wing country music hits? . Vox . 24 November 2024 . 23 August 2023 . Tom MacDonald and Adam Calhoun ... seem to have tapped the same well of reactionary extremist conservative ire..
- Web site: Baragona . Justin . Ben Shapiro Is a Rapper Now Because That's What 2024 Deserves . The Daily Beast . October 5, 2024 . January 26, 2024 . Shapiro, the founder of right-wing media empire The Daily Wire, teamed up with MAGA rapper Tom MacDonald—yes, MAGA rap is a real genre—on the lib-owning track 'Facts,' which debuted Friday..
- Web site: McClure . Kelly . Ben Shapiro's new anti-woke rap single tops Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears . . October 5, 2024 . January 27, 2024 . In Shapiro's track, he teams up with MAGA rapper Tom MacDonald....
- Web site: Skopic . Alex . A Brief Cultural History of the White Rapper . . October 5, 2024 . November 29, 2023 . Forgiato Blow might be the first MAGA rapper... But their king is Tom MacDonald. MacDonald is by far the most popular figure in this wretched subgenre....
- https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/ben-shapiro-tom-macdonald-facts-hot-100-first-timers-1235600864/amp/
- Web site: The Tom MacDonald Interview. March 2, 2021. Ariana. Thompson. Inked.
- Web site: Strong sentiments against the man: Nova Palohek and Tom MacDonald [GFBF]]. Ian. Romaker. December 28, 2018.
- Web site: Nyanchama . Venic . 24 June 2020 . Tom MacDonald: Bio and net worth in 2020 . Tuko.co.ke – Kenya news..
- Web site: The tensions behind Facebook's 'caption rappers'. April 1, 2019. Honi Soit.
- 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.
- Web site: Eminem 'was replaced by clone in 2006' . . February 11, 2021 . en . October 21, 2019.
- Web site: A History of Hip-Hop's Obsession with Clone Conspiracies. July 10, 2019 .
- Web site: Trapp . Philip . Falling in Reverse Cancel Tour Due to Family Health Issues . . July 19, 2021 . en . November 5, 2019.
- Web site: Tom MacDonald - Angels Video h. . February 11, 2021 . en . December 28, 2020.
- Web site: Rapper Tom MacDonald's Song 'Coronavirus' Might Be Worse Than the Actual Coronavirus . Garrett . Gravley . March 20, 2020. Dallas Observer.
- Eggertsen . Chris . Publishing Briefs: Sony Snaps Up 'Savage' Writer & Swedish Pop Star Zara Larsson . . July 19, 2021 . en . March 11, 2021.
- Web site: Aubrey . Elizabeth . Eminem fan spends £71,000 on 'Stan's Revenge' NFT . . July 19, 2021 . en . May 17, 2021.
- Web site: Blake . Cole . Eminem Fan, Tom MacDonald, Drops $100,000 On "Stan's Revenge" NFT . HotNewHipHop . July 19, 2021 . en . May 15, 2021.
- Web site: Lifelong Eminem Stan Purchases Shady's NFT Beat For $100K . . July 19, 2021 . en . May 15, 2021.
- Web site: Millard . Drew . Welcome to the New Roaring 20s . . July 19, 2021 . en . June 23, 2021.
- Web site: "Snowflakes" Debuts At #71 On Billboard Hot 100, Becoming Tom MacDonald's Highest-Ranking Hit. June 14, 2021. Headline Planet.
- Ready To Break The Internet Again, Tom MacDonald Trolls "Snowflakes" With Controversial New Single & Music Video. Tom. MacDonald. www.prnewswire.com.
- Rutherford . Kevin . Sueco, Tom MacDonald & Chris Stapleton Crown Rock Sales Charts . Billboard . October 9, 2021 . en . August 26, 2021.
- Tom MacDonald & Adam Calhoun's 'The Brave' Bows at No. 1 on Billboard's Top Album Sales Chart . Keith . Caulfield . March 14, 2022. Billboard.
- Digital Songs Sales . Billboard .
- Canadian Digital Song Sales . Billboard.
- Web site: The Brave 2 is now on ALL DIGITAL PLATFORMS! . Twitter. 22 September 2023. 25 September 2023.
- Web site: The Brave II. Spotify. 22 September 2023. 25 September 2023.
- Web site: Baboukis. Denise. May 3, 2019. Tom MacDonald | Artist Interview.
- Web site: Tom MacDonald Addresses Hate Over Possibly Owning An Eminem Beat. May 8, 2021. HipHop24x7.
- How to Become a MAGA Rap Kingpin (Without Believing What You're Saying) . . April 26, 2022 .
- Web site: Thompson . Ariana . 2021-03-02 . The Tom MacDonald Interview . 2023-08-23 . InkedMag . en-US.
- 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.
- Billboard Canadian Albums: Week of March 19, 2022 . . March 15, 2022.
- Peaks on the Billboard 200:
- Billboard Canadian Hot 100: Week of February 10, 2024. Billboard. February 6, 2024.
- Peak positions in Hungary:
- Peak positions in the Billboard Hot 100 chart:
- "Fake Woke": The Hot 100 Chart: Week of February 13, 2021. Billboard . February 9, 2021 . February 13, 2021.
- "Snowflakes": The Hot 100 Chart: Week of June 19, 2021. Billboard . June 15, 2021 . June 15, 2021.
- "Brainwashed": The Hot 100 Chart: Week of August 28, 2021. Billboard . August 24, 2021 . August 28, 2021.
- "Facts": billboardcharts. 1754635974930256207. @IAMTOMMACDONALD & @benshapiro's "Facts" debuts at No. 16 on this week's #Hot100.. February 5, 2024. February 6, 2024.
- Peak chart positions for songs in the United States:
- "Cancelled": Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart . Billboard . February 9, 2021 . February 13, 2021.
- "Clown World": Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart . Billboard . March 10, 2021 . en . March 13, 2021.
- "Snowflakes": Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart . Billboard . June 15, 2021 . en . June 19, 2021.
- "Brainwashed": Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart . Billboard . August 24, 2021 . en . August 28, 2021.
- "American Flags": Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart . Billboard . August 8, 2023 . en . August 12, 2023.
- "Facts": Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart . Billboard . February 6, 2024 . en . February 10, 2024.
- Peak positions on the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart:
- Peak positions in Billboard Global 200 chart:
- "Snowflakes": 2021-06-19. Billboard. June 15, 2021.
- "Facts": 2024-02-10. Billboard. January 6, 2024.
- Web site: Dear Rappers - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 11 August 2017 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
- Web site: Castles (feat. SNIIMA BEATS) - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 4 December 2017 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
- Web site: Helluvit - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 9 January 2018 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
- Web site: Hangman - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 9 January 2018 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
- Web site: Whiteboy - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 10 February 2018 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
- Web site: This House - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 19 March 2018 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
- Web site: American Dreamz - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 31 March 2018 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
- Web site: Exposure - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 9 May 2018 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
- Web site: Politically Incorrect - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 29 June 2018 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
- Web site: Everybody Hates Me - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 10 November 2018 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
- Web site: I Wish - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 2 February 2019 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
- Web site: Sad Rappers - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . March 2019 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
- Web site: Straight White Male - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 24 May 2019 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
- Web site: Lethal Injection - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . July 2019 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
- Web site: Mac Lethal Sucks - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . July 2019 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
- Web site: If I Was Black - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 19 July 2019 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
- Web site: Buttholes - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 9 August 2019 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
- Web site: I'm Sorry - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 24 August 2019 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
- Web site: Ashes - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 6 September 2019 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
- Web site: Cloned Rappers - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 27 September 2019 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
- Web site: Trying to Kill Me - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 25 October 2019 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
- Web site: Fake Fans - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 22 November 2019 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
- Web site: I Hate Hip-Hop - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 13 December 2019 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
- Web site: Famous - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 20 December 2019 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
- Web site: White Trash - Single by Tom MacDonald & Madchild . Apple Music . 17 January 2020 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
- Web site: Sober - Single by Tom MacDonald, Madchild & Nova Rockafeller . Apple Music . 24 January 2020 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
- Web site: Bad News - Single by Tom MacDonald, Madchild & Nova Rockafeller . Apple Music . 31 January 2020 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
- Web site: D.R.U.G. - Single by Tom MacDonald & Madchild . Apple Music . 7 February 2020 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
- Web site: I Don't Care - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 13 March 2020 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
- Web site: Coronavirus - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 17 March 2020 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
- Web site: Blame the Rappers (feat. Dax) - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 10 April 2020 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
- Web site: I Don't Drink - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 24 April 2020 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
- Web site: I Can't Sleep - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . May 2020 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
- Web site: No Response - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 29 May 2020 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
- Web site: My Fans - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 26 June 2020 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
- Web site: The Music Industry - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 31 July 2020 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
- Web site: People So Stupid - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 21 August 2020 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
- Web site: I'm Corny - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 11 September 2020 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
- Web site: Gravestones - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 25 September 2020 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
- Web site: Cancer - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 16 October 2020 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
- Web site: No Lives Matter - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 6 November 2020 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
- Web site: Sellout - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 20 November 2020 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
- Web site: Best Rapper Ever - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 18 December 2020 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
- Web site: Angels - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 25 December 2020 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
- Web site: Cancelled - Single by Tom MacDonald . Apple Music . 5 February 2021 . February 9, 2021 . en-us.
- Web site: John Rich teams with Tom MacDonald for 'End of the World' . March 17, 2023 .
- Web site: Tom MacDonald & Adam Calhoun – "American Flags" . . July 30, 2023 .
- Web site: Goodbye Joe - Single . . November 1, 2024.
- Web site: Dark Side Of the Moon (feat. Tom Macdonald) - Single by Matt Brevner . YouTube . 3 July 2014 . July 3, 2014 . en-us.
- Web site: Pillz (feat. GFBF, Nova Rockafeller & Tom Macdonald) - Single by Rp Jesus . Apple Music . 12 June 2017 . February 17, 2021 . en-us.
- Web site: WxWxw (feat. Tom MacDonald & Illvibe) - Single by Fleshxfur . Apple Music . 13 March 2018 . February 17, 2021 . en-us.
- Web site: Travelers (feat. Tom MacDonald & Struggle Jennings) - Single by Ryan Upchurch . YouTube . April 22, 2021 . en-us.
- Web site: Gang Gang (feat. Tom MacDonald) - Single by Nova Rockafeller . Apple Music . 12 February 2021 . February 17, 2021 . en-us.
- Web site: Propaganda - Single by Dax & Tom MacDonald on Apple Music. 17 September 2021. Apple Music. September 17, 2021.
