Tom MacDonald (rapper)
{{Short description|Canadian rapper (born 1988)}}
{{redirect-multi|2|Dear Slim|Heart Emojis|the KJ-52 song|Collaborations (KJ-52 album){{!}}Collaborations (KJ-52 album)|the emojis in Unicode|Hearts in Unicode}}
{{pp-blp|small=yes}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=October 2023}}
{{use mdy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Tom MacDonald
| birth_name = Thomas MacDonald
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1988|9|21}}
| birth_place = British Columbia, Canada{{Cite web|url=https://www.inkedmag.com/original-news/tommacdonald|title=The Tom MacDonald Interview|date=March 2, 2021|first=Ariana|last=Thompson|website=Inked}}
| occupation = {{hlist|Rapper|singer-songwriter|record producer|professional wrestler (former)}}
| years_active = 2006–present
| alias = {{hlist|Allstar|TMax|T Mac|Mr. MacDonald|}}
| partner = Nova Rockafeller (2017–present)
| genre = {{hlist|Hip hop|political hip hop}}
| module = {{Infobox professional wrestler|child=yes
| names = "Allstar" Tom MacDonald
| billed = Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| height = {{height|ft=5|in=9}}
| weight = {{convert|152|lb|0|abbr=on}}
| debut = February 28, 2003
| retired = November 7, 2009
}}
| module2 = {{Infobox person|embed=yes
| signature = Tom MacDonald sig.svg
}}
}}
Thomas MacDonald (born September 21, 1988){{Cite web |title=Tom MacDonald Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/tom-macdonald-mn0003984792 |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=AllMusic |language=en}} is a Canadian rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer and former professional wrestler. He is known for his right-wing lyrics and fanbase.Sources for "right-wing fanbase":
- {{cite web |last1=Greenberg |first1=Courtney |title=Anti-woke Canadian rapper tops music charts with his controversial message |url=https://www.chathamdailynews.ca/news/anti-woke-canadian-rapper-tops-music-charts |website=The Chatham Daily News |access-date=November 24, 2024 |date=December 30, 2022 |quote=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.}}
- {{cite web |last1=Gurvis |first1=Jacob |title=Ben Shapiro raps about his 'yarmulke, homie' in new right-wing song that tops iTunes charts |url=https://www.jpost.com/omg/article-784271 |website=The Jerusalem Post |access-date=November 24, 2024 |date=January 30, 2024 |quote=Ben Shapiro makes his rap debut alongside right-wing rapper Tom MacDonald, 2024.}}
- {{cite web |title=The Tom MacDonald Interview |url=https://inkedmag.com/original-news/tommacdonald |website=Inked |access-date=November 24, 2024 |date=March 2, 2021 |quote=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.}}
- {{cite magazine |last1=Knopper |first1=Steve |title=Can Conservative Music Hit the Right Commercial Notes? |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/conservative-music-market-radio-airplay/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=November 24, 2024 |date=August 15, 2022 |quote=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.}}
- {{cite web |last1=Romano |first1=Aja |title=What's going on with these viral, right-wing country music hits? |url=https://www.vox.com/culture/23842173/oliver-anthony-rich-men-controversy-morgan-wallen-jason-aldean-small-town-political |website=Vox |access-date=24 November 2024 |date=23 August 2023 |quote=Tom MacDonald and Adam Calhoun ... seem to have tapped the same well of reactionary extremist conservative ire.}} His music has been characterized as "MAGA rap", a Trumpist subgenre of political hip hop.{{cite web |last1=Baragona |first1=Justin |title=Ben Shapiro Is a Rapper Now Because That's What 2024 Deserves |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/ben-shapiro-is-a-rapper-now-because-thats-what-2024-deserves |website=The Daily Beast |access-date=October 5, 2024 |date=January 26, 2024 |quote=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.}}{{cite web |last1=McClure |first1=Kelly |title=Ben Shapiro's new anti-woke rap single tops Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears |url=https://www.salon.com/2024/01/26/ben-shapiros-new-anti-woke-rap-tops-justin-timberlake-and-britney-spears/ |website=Salon |access-date=October 5, 2024 |date=January 27, 2024 |quote=In Shapiro's track, he teams up with MAGA rapper Tom MacDonald{{nbsp}}...}}{{cite web |last1=Skopic |first1=Alex |title=A Brief Cultural History of the White Rapper |url=https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/2023/11/a-brief-cultural-history-of-the-white-rapper |website=Current Affairs |access-date=October 5, 2024 |date=November 29, 2023 |quote=Forgiato Blow might be the first MAGA rapper{{nbsp}}... But their king is Tom MacDonald. MacDonald is by far the most popular figure in this wretched subgenre...}}
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. His 2024 single, "Facts" (featuring Ben Shapiro), debuted and peaked at number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 42 on the Canadian Hot 100.{{cite magazine | url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/ben-shapiro-tom-macdonald-facts-hot-100-first-timers-1235600864/ | title=Hot 100 First-Timers: Ben Shapiro Debuts with Tom MacDonald Team-Up 'Facts' | magazine=Billboard }}
Career
=Professional wrestling=
During his teenage years, MacDonald worked as a professional wrestler on the Canadian independent circuit, most prominently for the Edmonton-based promotion Monster Pro Wrestling (MPW). He made his debut in February 2003, in a dark triple threat match, which went to a no contest.{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=75671|title=MPW|website=cagematch.net|first=Philip|last=Kreikenbohm|access-date=June 14, 2025}} Throughout the year, he would begin feuding with Bobby Sharp, after another dark match also went to a no contest.{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=75673|title=MPW|website=cagematch.net|first=Philip|last=Kreikenbohm|access-date=June 14, 2025}} The feud concluded in December, when MacDonald defeated Sharp in a triple threat match, which included Brady Roberts.{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=75676|title=MPW|website=cagematch.net|first=Philip|last=Kreikenbohm|access-date=June 14, 2025}}
By 2005, MacDonald was a member of the Custom Made Renegades stable, led by Sharp. In a tournament for the newly created MPW Tag Team Championship, MacDonald and Sharp defeated Kris Knight and Shane O'Ryan,{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=75710|title=MPW|website=cagematch.net|first=Philip|last=Kreikenbohm|access-date=June 14, 2025}} but lost to eventual winners the Dead Ringers in the semi-final.{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=75712|title=MPW|website=cagematch.net|first=Philip|last=Kreikenbohm|access-date=June 14, 2025}} MacDonald and Ozz defeated the New Stallions in a #1 contendership match for the tag team championship,{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=75714|title=MPW|website=cagematch.net|first=Philip|last=Kreikenbohm|access-date=June 14, 2025}} but he and O'Ryan fell short to the Dead Ringers.{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=75715|title=MPW|website=cagematch.net|first=Philip|last=Kreikenbohm|access-date=June 14, 2025}} Later that year, MacDonald unsuccessfully challenged Sharp for the MPW Junior Heavyweight Championship; the first match went to a no contest,{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=75722|title=MPW Back To School Extravaganza|website=cagematch.net|first=Philip|last=Kreikenbohm|access-date=June 14, 2025}} and the second match saw him win by disqualification, but not the title, as it does not change hands in the event of a disqualification.{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=75723|title=MPW Octoberfest|website=cagematch.net|first=Philip|last=Kreikenbohm|access-date=June 14, 2025}} In a hardcore match with Sharp, MacDonald brought a 9 iron golf club which almost tore off his right earlobe by ricocheting off a turnbuckle.{{Cite web |title=Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10163287569325187&id=212732770186&set=a.10153236453745187&locale=en_GB |access-date=2025-06-16 |website=www.facebook.com}}
After sustaining a number of injuries, and with his appearances in professional wrestling dwindling, MacDonald began to focus more on his music career. His final match was at an Extreme Canadian Championship Wrestling (ECCW) show in November 2009, where he was defeated by the Divine Prophet.{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=44280|title=ECCW|website=cagematch.net|first=Philip|last=Kreikenbohm|access-date=June 14, 2025}}
=Music=
MacDonald started rapping at age 18, but only rose to fame after releasing the single "Dear Rappers" in February 2018.{{cite web|url=https://honisoit.com/2019/04/the-tensions-behind-facebooks-caption-rappers/|title=The tensions behind Facebook's 'caption rappers'|date=April 1, 2019|website=Honi Soit}} 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.{{cite web |last1=Gremore |first1=Graham |title=Straight white rapper releases song about how oppressed he is on the eve of Pride month |url=https://www.queerty.com/straight-white-rapper-releases-song-oppressed-eve-pride-month-20190529 |website=Queerty |access-date=February 10, 2021 |language=en |date=May 29, 2019}} In September 2019, MacDonald released the single "Cloned Rappers", in which he rapped that the Illuminati are cloning rappers and disposing of the originals.{{cite web |title=Eminem 'was replaced by clone in 2006' |url=https://www.theweek.co.uk/odd-news/103864/eminem-was-replaced-by-clone-in-2006 |website=The Week |access-date=February 11, 2021 |language=en |date=October 21, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.xxlmag.com/history-hip-hop-obsession-clone-consipracies/|title = A History of Hip-Hop's Obsession with Clone Conspiracies| date=July 10, 2019 }} In late 2019, MacDonald was scheduled to be a supporting act for Falling in Reverse's Episode IV Tour before it was cancelled.{{cite web |last1=Trapp |first1=Philip |title=Falling in Reverse Cancel Tour Due to Family Health Issues |url=https://loudwire.com/falling-in-reverse-cancel-fall-2019-tour/ |website=Loudwire |access-date=July 19, 2021 |language=en |date=November 5, 2019}} In 2020, he released 20 singles, including "White Trash", "Sellout", "Best Rapper Ever", "Cancer", and "Angels".{{cite web |title=Tom MacDonald - Angels Video h|url=https://www.contactmusic.com/video/tom-macdonald-angels-video |website=Contactmusic.com |access-date=February 11, 2021 |language=en |date=December 28, 2020}} In March 2020, MacDonald released the single "Coronavirus", which was written about the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dallasobserver.com/music/cover-your-ears-because-theres-an-awful-rap-song-called-coronavirus-11891400|title=Rapper Tom MacDonald's Song 'Coronavirus' Might Be Worse Than the Actual Coronavirus | first=Garrett |last=Gravley | date=March 20, 2020|website=Dallas Observer}}
In January 2021, MacDonald released the single "Fake Woke", which debuted at number 96 on the Billboard Hot 100.{{cite magazine |last1=Eggertsen |first1=Chris |title=Publishing Briefs: Sony Snaps Up 'Savage' Writer & Swedish Pop Star Zara Larsson |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/publishing/9538296/briefs-sony-savage-writer-producer-zara-larsson |magazine=Billboard |access-date=July 19, 2021 |language=en |date=March 11, 2021}} 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.{{cite web |last1=Aubrey |first1=Elizabeth |title=Eminem fan spends £71,000 on 'Stan's Revenge' NFT |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/eminem-fan-spends-71000-on-stans-revenge-nft-2942468 |website=NME |access-date=July 19, 2021 |language=en |date=May 17, 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Blake |first1=Cole |title=Eminem Fan, Tom MacDonald, Drops $100,000 On "Stan's Revenge" NFT |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/347297-eminem-fan-tom-macdonald-drops-s100-000-on-stans-revenge-nft-news |website=HotNewHipHop |access-date=June 18, 2025 |language=en |date=May 15, 2021}} 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".{{cite web |title=Lifelong Eminem Stan Purchases Shady's NFT Beat For $100K |url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.62144/title.lifelong-eminem-stan-purchases-shadys-nft-beat-for-100k#comment-widget |website=HipHopDX |access-date=July 19, 2021 |language=en |date=May 15, 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Millard |first1=Drew |title=Welcome to the New Roaring 20s |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/welcome-to-the-new-roaring-20s/ |website=Vice |access-date=July 19, 2021 |language=en |date=June 23, 2021}} In June 2021, he released "Snowflakes", which debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 71.{{Cite web|url=https://headlineplanet.com/home/2021/06/14/snowflakes-debuts-at-71-on-billboard-hot-100-becoming-tom-macdonalds-highest-ranking-hit/|title="Snowflakes" Debuts At #71 On Billboard Hot 100, Becoming Tom MacDonald's Highest-Ranking Hit|date=June 14, 2021|website=Headline Planet}} The music video featured political commentator Blaire White as a background dancer.{{Cite press release|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ready-to-break-the-internet-again-tom-macdonald-trolls-snowflakes-with-controversial-new-single--music-video-301305903.html|title=Ready To Break The Internet Again, Tom MacDonald Trolls "Snowflakes" With Controversial New Single & Music Video|first=Tom|last=MacDonald|website=www.prnewswire.com}} His single "Brainwashed", released in August 2021, peaked at number 89 on the Billboard Hot 100.{{cite magazine |last1=Rutherford |first1=Kevin |title=Sueco, Tom MacDonald & Chris Stapleton Crown Rock Sales Charts |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/9620688/sueco-tom-macdonald-chris-stapleton-rock-sales-charts |magazine=Billboard |access-date=October 9, 2021 |language=en |date=August 26, 2021}}
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.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/tom-macdonald-adam-calhouns-the-brave-top-album-sales-1235043616/ |title=Tom MacDonald & Adam Calhoun's 'The Brave' Bows at No. 1 on Billboard's Top Album Sales Chart |first= Keith |last=Caulfield |date=March 14, 2022|magazine=Billboard}} 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,{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/digital-song-sales/ |title=Digital Songs Sales |magazine=Billboard }} and number eight in Canada.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-canada-digital-song-sales/ |title=Canadian Digital Song Sales |magazine=Billboard}} In September 2023, MacDonald and Calhoun released the album, The Brave II.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-brave-ii-mw0004106881|title=The Brave II Review by TiVo Staff|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=January 19, 2025}} In January 2024, MacDonald collaborated with conservative political commentator Ben Shapiro to release the single "Facts".{{Citation |title="Facts" - Tom MacDonald (feat. Ben Shapiro) | date=January 26, 2024 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kGpohEpuTE |via=YouTube |access-date=2024-01-29 |language=en}}
On July 14, 2024, he released his single "You Missed". The song is about the attempted assassination of former president of the United States and presumptive Republican nominee of the 2024 U.S. presidential election, Donald Trump, which occurred the previous day. Released less than 24 hours after the incident, the song's title references the fact that Trump survived.
On January 17, 2025, MacDonald released the single "Daddy's Home", featuring comedian Roseanne Barr. The song's title references Trump's second inauguration.{{cite magazine|last=McIntyre|first=Hugh|date=January 18, 2025|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2025/01/18/roseanne-barr-sparks-outrage-with-controversial-lyrics-in-tom-macdonalds-daddys-home/|title=Roseanne Barr Sparks Outrage With Controversial Lyrics In Tom MacDonald's 'Daddy's Home'|magazine=Forbes|access-date=January 19, 2025}}
Influences
MacDonald has cited the Beatles, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Joe Cocker, Janis Joplin, Marilyn Manson, Tupac Shakur, Eminem, Aerosmith, GG Allin, Kanye West, and the Offspring as musical influences.{{Cite web|last=Baboukis|first=Denise|date=May 3, 2019|title=Tom MacDonald | Artist Interview|url=https://www.samash.com/spotlight/tom-macdonald-artist-interview/}}{{cite web|url=https://hiphop24x7.com/news/tom-macdonald-addresses-hate-over-possibly-owning-an-eminem-beat/|title=Tom MacDonald Addresses Hate Over Possibly Owning An Eminem Beat|date=May 8, 2021|website=HipHop24x7}} 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 on the "MAGA rap" scene.{{cite magazine | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/the-right-wing-troll-rappers-are-coming-1341251/ | title=How to Become a MAGA Rap Kingpin (Without Believing What You're Saying) | magazine=Rolling Stone | date=April 26, 2022 }} 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]".{{Cite web |last=Thompson |first=Ariana |date=2021-03-02 |title=The Tom MacDonald Interview |url=https://inkedmag.com/original-news/tommacdonald/ |access-date=2023-08-23 |website=InkedMag |language=en-US}} In a Rolling Stone profile, MacDonald said he wants to "show people I'm not just some brainwashed right-wing zombie."{{Cite magazine |last=Hines |first=Alice |date=2022-04-26 |title=How to Become a MAGA Rap Kingpin (Without Believing What You're Saying) |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/the-right-wing-troll-rappers-are-coming-1341251/ |access-date=2023-08-23 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}} 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".
Personal life
Since 2017, MacDonald has been in a relationship with fellow Canadian rapper and frequent collaborator Nova Rockafeller, who has also directed his music videos. Additionally, the couple have a side project named GFBF.{{cite web|url=https://lemonwire.com/2018/12/28/strong-sentiments-against-the-man-nova-palohek-and-tom-macdonald-gfbf/|title=Strong sentiments against the man: Nova Palohek and Tom MacDonald [GFBF]|first=Ian|last=Romaker|date=December 28, 2018}} MacDonald struggled with alcoholism for much of his life and in 2017 had a "bad breakdown" that prompted him to begin rehabilitation.
Discography
=Studio albums=
class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of studio albums with details ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:10em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:15em;"| Details ! scope="col" colspan="2"| Peak chart positions |
scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| CAN {{cite magazine |title=Billboard Canadian Albums: Week of March 19, 2022 |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/canadian-albums/2022-03-19/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=March 15, 2022}} ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| US
|
---|
scope="row"| All Growed Up (as Mr. MacDonald) |
| — || — |
scope="row"| See You Tomorrow
|
| — || — |
scope="row"| Deathreats
|
| — || — |
scope="row"| Ghostories
|
| — || — |
scope="row"| Killing the Neighbors (with Madchild) |
| — || — |
scope="row"| Gravestones
|
| — || — |
scope="row"| As Far as the Stars (with Nova Rockafeller and Brandon Hart) |
| — || — |
scope="row"| Us Against the World
|
| — || — |
scope="row"| The Brave (with Adam Calhoun) |
| 83 || 14 |
scope="row"| Renegade
|
| — || — |
scope="row"| The Revolution
|
| — || — |
scope="row"| The Brave 2 (with Adam Calhoun) |
| — || 62 |
scope="row"| Yesterday (with Nova Rockafeller) |
| — || — |
scope="row"| Wild Ones (with Nova Rockafeller) |
| — || — |
scope="row"| Proud To Be A Problem
|
| — || — |
=Mixtapes=
=EPs=
class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col" style="width:10em;"| Title ! scope="col" style="width:15em;"| Album details |
scope="row"| MacBeth
|
|
---|
scope="row"| Therapy
|
|
=Compilations=
class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col" style="width:10em;"| Title ! scope="col" style="width:15em;"| Album details |
scope="row"| Something Like the Truth
|
|
---|
- scope="row"| All of Me
|
|
=Singles=
==As lead artist==
==As a featured artist==
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website}}
- [https://www.youtube.com/TomMacdonaldOfficial Official YouTube channel]
- {{allMusic}}
- {{IMDb name|7229450}}
- {{Professional wrestling profiles|cagematch=13800|wrestlingdata=14018}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Portal bar|Biography|Music|Canada}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:MacDonald, Tom}}
Category:21st-century Canadian male rappers
Category:Musicians from British Columbia
Category:YouTube channels launched in 2014
Category:21st-century Canadian rappers
Category:Conservative media in Canada
Category:Alternative hip-hop musicians
Category:Canadian hip-hop record producers
Category:YouTubers from British Columbia
Category:YouTubers from Alberta
Category:YouTubers from Los Angeles
Category:Canadian male singer-songwriters
Category:21st-century Canadian singer-songwriters