Gmac Cash

Last updated

Gmac Cash
Gmac Cash, 2022.jpg
Gmac Cash in 2022
Background information
Birth nameGerald Allen
Born (1993-03-12) March 12, 1993 (age 31)
Detroit, Michigan, US
Genres Comedy hip hop
Years active2011–present
Alma mater Southeastern High School

Gerald Allen (born March 12, 1993), known professionally as Gmac Cash, is an American comedy rapper known for his various short songs about newsworthy topics, including the Detroit Sign, the Belle Isle Park Giant Slide, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the 2022 Michigan gubernatorial election.

Contents

Raised in Detroit, he was influenced by his mother's involvement in music and adopted the stage name "Gmac Cash", making music after graduating from high school in 2011. His breakthrough came with the song "First Day at Popeyes," recorded over Tee Grizzley's "First Day Out." He gained further recognition during the COVID-19 pandemic with songs like "Coronavirus" and "Big Gretch," the latter praising Governor Gretchen Whitmer's pandemic response. He released "Giant Slide" in 2022, which was featured on Jimmy Kimmel Live! , and "Montgomery Brawl" in 2023.

Early life and education

Gerald Allen was born on March 12, 1993, in Detroit, Michigan, and was raised by his single mother on Detroit's East Side. [1] His mother sang in her church's choir and always had music playing in their home, exposing Allen to music from a young age. He played basketball and admired player Tracy McGrady, often referred to as T-Mac, and chose his stage name "Gmac Cash" in reference to McGrady's nickname. He attended Southeastern High School and graduated in 2011. [2]

Musical career

Early career and first successes

After graduating from high school, he started making music and selling CDs out of his trunk for $10 each, forming the group True Rich with four of his high school friends. [3] His initial success came with the song "First Day at Popeyes," where he rapped over Tee Grizzley's song "First Day Out" while driving around the city with friends. Their reactions encouraged him to record and release the song, which went viral and was reposted by WorldStarHipHop. [2]

In 2016, he was hired at a Fiat Chrysler Automobiles stamping plant in Sterling Heights, Michigan. During this time, he made the song "FMLA" about his reluctance to go to work the next morning after a night of partying, using the Family and Medical Leave Act to be absent from work. He filmed the video for the song at a Chrysler plant in Warren, Michigan. In October 2018, plant officials requested him to remove the video because they felt it reflected poorly on the company. He complied with their request but was terminated from his job a week later for violating a company policy regarding the misuse of company property. [4] The following year, he released the song "On Strike" along with a music video showing his participation in the United Auto Workers' strike against General Motors. [5] [6]

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Gmac Cash released the song "Coronavirus," where he rapped about self-isolating and avoiding infection by staying home. In the music video, he used a spray bottle of disinfectant like a pistol while wearing a hazmat suit, a surgical mask, and medical gloves. [7] [8] The song went viral, with the Los Angeles Times noting that it "wring[s] goofy humor from the predicament of quarantine." [9]

"Big Gretch" and viral songs

Belle Isle Park slide.jpg
G7I9859 (53665372436) (1).jpg
Gmac Cash has made songs on various topics including the Belle Isle Park Slide and the Detroit Sign.

Later on in May, he released the song "Big Gretch," in which he raps about Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer's response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan and the protests against the stay-at-home orders. The song was tweeted by rapper Eminem and was featured on Pitchfork's The Ones, where it was described as "serious but not solemn" political action rap song. [10] It was also noticed by Whitmer herself, who said on in a tweet she loved both the nickname and the song. [11] [12] In response, Gmac Cash started a GoFundMe campaign to gift Whitmer a pair of Buffs, a nickname for buffalo horn sunglasses produced by Cartier, which were referenced in the song. However, Whitmer declined the gift, citing that she couldn't accept items costing over $50, so the money raised was donated to a charity. [13] [14] She later wore Buffs in a taped segment during the City of Detroit's Everybody vs. COVID-19 online music festival held at the end of the month. [15]

In August 2022, Gmac Cash released the song "Giant Slide" about the Belle Isle Park slide, which had recently been reopened. [16] [17] The song was featured on a segment on Jimmy Kimmel Live! , where guest host Lamorne Morris jokingly commented that it was "the jam of the summer." [18] [19] He was later invited to perform the song on the show in December, where host Jimmy Kimmel wore a pair of Buffs. [20] [21] [22] A year later, he released the song "Montgomery Brawl," which recounted the events of the Montgomery Riverfront brawl. [23] He referenced multiple people, including a Black defender who used a folding chair as an improvised weapon. [24] Several rappers, including Big Sean, Sexyy Red, and GLC, supported "Montgomery Brawl" by commenting on Gmac Cash's Instagram page. [25]

In April 2024, he released the song "Detroit Sign", which humorously criticized the new Detroit Sign on the Interstate 94 and satirized the city's aesthetic choices. [26] [27] He composed the song in just five minutes, aiming to differentiate himself from other artists in the city, and released a music video on April 12, 2024. [28] [29] Days later, he released a sequel titled "Detroit Sign 2", in which he addressed the sign's nighttime illumination and responded to critiques of his initial song. [30]

Personal life and artistry

Gmac Cash's interest in music began during his childhood, as he was exposed to musicians such as Jill Scott and Mary J. Blige when his mother played music in their home. He began listening to music on his own as a teenager and became a fan of musicians like Lil Wayne and "Weird Al" Yankovic. Yankovic's song "Trapped in the Drive-Thru," which parodied R. Kelly's "Trapped in the Closet," influenced him, making him appreciate the art of making popular songs with a comedic twist. He also acts in film and television productions and hosts a podcast. [2]

His music has been described as "describing situations and viral moments" by Bloomberg News . [3] Gmac Cash stated that he chose to be a comedy rapper in order to stand out. He takes little time to write and record his songs to capitalize on the freshness of the story, often receiving between 100 to 500 direct messages daily from fans requesting that he cover various topics. [5] He is a fan of the Detroit Lions, making multiple songs in support of the team including "Lions Win", "Lions Win Again", and "We the Lions". [1]

Discography

Studio albums

Related Research Articles

<i>Jimmy Kimmel Live!</i> American late-night talk show

Jimmy Kimmel Live!, sometimes shortened to JKL, is an American late-night political satire talk show, created and hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, and broadcast on ABC. The nightly hour-long show is held at Hollywood Masonic Temple in Hollywood, California. It debuted on January 26, 2003 as part of ABC's lead-out programming for Super Bowl XXXVII. For its first ten years, Jimmy Kimmel Live! aired at either the midnight or 12:05 a.m. ET/PT before moving to 11:35 p.m. on January 8, 2013. Despite its name, the show has not regularly aired live since 2004, when censors were unable to properly bleep censor a barrage of swearing from actor Thomas Jane.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royce da 5′9″</span> American rapper

Ryan Daniel Montgomery, known professionally as Royce da 5'9", is an American rapper. Best known for his association with fellow Detroit rapper Eminem, they became acquainted in 1997 and formed the hip hop duo, Bad Meets Evil the following year. Their 2011 single, "Lighters" peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 and preceded the release of their debut extended play (EP), Hell: The Sequel (2011). The song and its parent EP, which debuted atop the Billboard 200, have yielded Montgomery's furthest commercial success.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eminem</span> American rapper (born 1972)

Marshall Bruce Mathers III, known professionally as Eminem, is an American rapper. He is credited with popularizing hip hop in Middle America and is regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time. His global success is considered to have broken racial barriers to the acceptance of white rappers in popular music. While much of his transgressive work during the late 1990s and early 2000s made him a controversial figure, he came to be a representation of popular angst of the American underclass and has been cited as influencing many musical artists. His songs include "My Name Is", "The Real Slim Shady", "The Way I Am", "Stan", "Without Me", "Lose Yourself", "Mockingbird", "Not Afraid", and "Love the Way You Lie".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gretchen Whitmer</span> Governor of Michigan since 2019

Gretchen Esther Whitmer is an American lawyer and politician serving as the 49th governor of Michigan since 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, she served in the Michigan House of Representatives from 2001 to 2006 and in the Michigan Senate from 2006 to 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chocolate Rain</span> Song by Tay Zonday

"Chocolate Rain" is a song by American singer Tay Zonday. It quickly became popular after the music video for the song was uploaded to YouTube on April 22, 2007, and has since been viewed more than 138 million times. "Chocolate Rain" was ranked as the hottest viral video of summer 2007 by CTV and was awarded the 2008 YouTube Award in the category "Music". Lyrically, the song is a metaphor for racism against African Americans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Sean</span> American rapper (born 1988)

Sean Michael Leonard Anderson, known professionally as Big Sean, is an American rapper from Detroit, Michigan. He met Kanye West as a teenager, and signed with his record label GOOD Music, an imprint of Def Jam Recordings in 2007. He gained popularity following the release of his third mixtape, Finally Famous Vol. 3: Big (2010). His debut studio album, Finally Famous (2011) peaked at number three on the Billboard 200 and spawned the Billboard Hot 100-top 40 singles "My Last", "Marvin & Chardonnay", and "Dance (Ass)". His second album, Hall of Fame (2013) was supported by the top 40 single "Beware", and likewise peaked at number three on the Billboard 200.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joji (musician)</span> Japanese-Australian entertainer (born 1993)

George Kusunoki Miller, known professionally as Joji and formerly as Filthy Frank and Pink Guy, is a Japanese-Australian singer-songwriter, rapper, and record producer. Miller's music has been described as a mix between R&B, lo-fi, and trip hop.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tee Grizzley</span> American rapper (born 1994)

Terry Sanchez Wallace Jr., known professionally as Tee Grizzley, is an American rapper. He first began posting music online in 2011; following a two year prison sentence, he released the song "First Day Out" in 2017. It quickly gained viral status—earning two million views on YouTube in under three weeks—due to a social media challenge enacted by basketball player LeBron James, after which the song peaked within the top 50 of the Billboard Hot 100 and led him to sign with 300 Entertainment. Its release preceded his debut mixtape My Moment (2017), and was followed by the single "From the D to the A", which received double platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). His collaborative mixtape with Lil Durk, Bloodas (2018), was followed by his debut studio album, Activated (2018).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Garlin Gilchrist</span> Lieutenant governor of Michigan

Garlin Gilchrist II is an American politician and engineer serving as the 64th lieutenant governor of Michigan since 2019. He is a member of the Democratic Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lil Pump</span> American rapper (born 2000)

Gazzy Garcia, known professionally as Lil Pump, is an American rapper. He rose to prominence as part of the SoundCloud rap scene in the late 2010s, gaining distinction for his minimalist music and rambunctious public persona. Born and raised in Miami, Florida, he gained mainstream attention following the release of his 2017 single "Gucci Gang", which peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and preceded his self-titled debut studio album in October of that year.

"Respect My Cryppin'" is a song by American rapper Blueface. It was released on May 26, 2018 as the second single from his debut mixtape Famous Cryp (2018). In October 2018, the song went viral after its music video was released, leading to Blueface's rise to fame.

The first confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. state of Michigan were discovered on March 10, 2020, one day before the outbreak of the disease was officially declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization. As of December 20, 2022, 2,977,727 cases have been identified, causing 40,657 deaths.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toosie Slide</span> 2020 single by Drake

"Toosie Slide" is a song by Canadian rapper Drake from his commercial mixtape Dark Lane Demo Tapes (2020). Written alongside producer OZ, it was released as the lead single on April 3, 2020, through Republic and OVO. The song is titled after social media influencer, Toosii, who had previously helped the song go viral. A video was released alongside the song, showing Drake quarantined, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He also demonstrates the Toosie Slide dance in his Toronto mansion. The song debuted at number eighteen on the US Bubbling Under Hot 100 before debuting at number one on the main Billboard Hot 100 chart the next week, making Drake the first male artist to accomplish three number-one debuts.

Events from the year 2020 in Michigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gretchen Whitmer kidnapping plot</span> Kidnapping plot in 2020

On October 8, 2020, the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced the arrests of 13 men suspected of orchestrating a domestic terror plot to kidnap American politician Gretchen Whitmer, the Governor of Michigan, and otherwise using violence to overthrow the state government. Some have labeled the attempt as an example of stochastic terrorism, where violent rhetoric by prominent figures inspired the plot.

Casada Aaron Sorrell, known professionally as Sada Baby, is an American rapper and singer. He initially gained recognition in 2018 when the music video for his song "Bloxk Party" went viral, leading to him signing to Asylum Records. A prominent figure of the emerging Detroit rap scene of the mid-to-late 2010s, Sada Baby has become one of the most prolific rappers of the generation. His debut studio album Skuba Sada 2 (2020), a sequel to his 2017 debut mixtape Skuba Sada, peaked at number 125 on the US Billboard 200. In 2020, his song "Whole Lotta Choppas" went viral on TikTok, later receiving a remix featuring Nicki Minaj and peaking at number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Linda Lindas</span> American rock band from Los Angeles

The Linda Lindas are an American rock band from Los Angeles. The all-female group comprises Bela Salazar, Eloise Wong, and sisters Lucia and Mila de la Garza.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Montgomery Riverfront brawl</span> 2023 American brawl with racial undertones

On August 5, 2023, a large-scale altercation took place at the riverfront dock in downtown Montgomery, Alabama. The incident gained significant media attention due to its violent nature, the racial undertones, and Montgomery's racially charged history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Montgomery Brawl</span> 2023 hip hop song

"Montgomery Brawl" is a single by Detroit-based comedy rapper Gmac Cash. The song is a humorous recount of the events of the Montgomery Riverfront brawl and celebrates the defenders in the event. "Montgomery Brawl" went viral and was generally well received by critics for its humor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Detroit Sign</span> Landmark in Detroit, Michigan

The Detroit Sign is a landmark in Detroit, Michigan, U.S. Constructed in preparation for the 2024 NFL draft hosted in the city, the structure is located near Interstate 94 to welcome visitors arriving from the Detroit Metropolitan Airport. The sign, built by the Fairmont Sign Company, spells out the word "Detroit" in eight-foot-tall (2.4 m) and five-foot-wide (1.5 m) mint green uppercase letters. The letters stand on two-foot-tall (0.61 m) concrete bases and light up at night. It is one of six signs commissioned by the city as part of its beautification efforts for the draft.

References

  1. 1 2 Graham, Adam (January 19, 2024). "When the Lions win, Detroit rapper Gmac Cash provides the soundtrack". The Detroit News .
  2. 1 2 3 Graham, Adam (December 26, 2022). "For Detroit rapper Gmac Cash, the next hit is just a news cycle away". The Detroit News .
  3. 1 2 Carman, Ashley (August 10, 2023). "The Montgomery Brawl Song Captures the Music Industry's Angst". Bloomberg News .
  4. ↑ Hunter, Branden (April 4, 2019). "How the King of Comedy Rap laughed his way to success". Michigan Chronicle .
  5. 1 2 Jordan, Jerilyn (May 13, 2020). "How prolific Detroit rapper GMac Cash has turned going viral into an art form". Metro Times .
  6. ↑ Thibodeau, Ian (September 19, 2019). "GM strike becomes the soundtrack of a hip-hop video". The Detroit News .
  7. ↑ Graham, Adam (March 20, 2020). "Detroit rapper Gmac Cash on viral 'Coronavirus' hit: 'It's amazing'". The Detroit News .
  8. ↑ Barshad, Amos (April 1, 2020). ""I'm Gonna Do It Properly": Musicians on Making Songs in the Age of Coronavirus...About Coronavirus". GQ .
  9. ↑ Rosen, Judy (March 20, 2020). "Pandemic pop: At home and around the world, dark-humored new songs about coronavirus go viral". Los Angeles Times .
  10. ↑ Pearce, Sheldon (May 14, 2020). "The Ones: Gmac Cash's "Big Gretch"". Pitchfork .
  11. ↑ "Whitmer approves new track and nickname from local rapper: 'Big Gretch says stay home and stay safe'". The Hill . May 4, 2020.
  12. ↑ Bevos, Edward (May 4, 2020). "Detroit rapper's 'Big Gretch' song gets some love from Gov. Whitmer". MLive .
  13. ↑ Jordan, Jerilyn (May 4, 2020). "There's now a GoFundMe to get a pair of Buffs for Gov. 'Big Gretch' Whitmer". Metro Times .
  14. ↑ Lofton, Justine (May 6, 2020). "Detroit rapper donates 'Big Gretch' Buffs funds after Whitmer says she can't accept them". MLive .
  15. ↑ McCollum, Brian (May 29, 2020). "Gov. Gretchen Whitmer at last dons pair of Cartier 'Buffs' sunglasses in Detroit salute". Detroit Free Press .
  16. ↑ Lukpat, Alyssa (August 25, 2022). "The Giant Slide in Detroit Sends Riders Flying, Inspiring Jokes, a Rap Song and a How-To Video". The Wall Street Journal .
  17. ↑ Mark, Julian (August 27, 2022). "A giant slide unexpectedly sent kids flying – and inspired a viral rap". The Washington Post .
  18. ↑ Robinson, Samuel (August 26, 2022). "Gmac Cash's Giant Slide anthem goes viral". Axios .
  19. ↑ Hinds, Julie (August 23, 2022). "Belle Isle Giant Slide's wild rides featured on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live,' in new song". Detroit Free Press .
  20. ↑ Stein, Emma (December 15, 2022). "Jimmy Kimmel dons 'Buffs' after Detroit rapper Gmac Cash performs 'Giant Slide'". Detroit Free Press .
  21. ↑ Graham, Adam (December 15, 2022). "Detroit rapper Gmac Cash performs Belle Isle slide tribute on 'Kimmel'". The Detroit News .
  22. ↑ Squires, Bethy (December 14, 2022). "Who Won Jimmy Kimmel Live's Clip of the Year?". Vulture .
  23. ↑ Darville, Jordan (August 8, 2023). "Song You Need: Gmac Cash's "Montgomery Brawl" recaps the feel-good fight video of the year". The Fader . Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  24. ↑ Barmore, Jasmin (August 8, 2023). "Detroit rapper writes song about Montgomery riverfront brawl, goes viral". Detroit Free Press .
  25. ↑ Cummings-Grady, Mackenzie (August 8, 2023). "Detroit Rapper Gmac Cash Turns Alabama Brawl Into Hilarious Rap Song". HipHopDX . Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  26. ↑ Breihan, Tom (April 12, 2024). "Gmac Cash's Diss Track About The New Detroit Sign Is Pretty Funny". Stereogum .
  27. ↑ Graham, Adam (April 10, 2024). "Gmac Cash on Detroit's new 'Hollywood' sign: 'You can take it back'". The Detroit News .
  28. ↑ Pandya, Hershal (April 12, 2024). "The Year's Most Scathing Diss Track Is About Architecture". Vulture .
  29. ↑ Elibert, Mark (April 12, 2024). "Michigan Rapper Gmac Cash Flames City's New Landmark on "Detroit Sign" Diss Track: 'You Can Take It Back'". Complex .
  30. ↑ Graham, Adam (April 16, 2024). "Gmac Cash back with 'Detroit Sign 2,' is still not impressed with city's 'Hollywood' sign". The Detroit News .
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.