Tom MacDonald | |
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Birth name | Thomas MacDonald |
Also known as |
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Born | British Columbia, Canada [1] | September 21, 1988
Genres | |
Occupations |
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Years active | 2006–present |
Partner | Nova Rockafeller (2017–present) |
Ring name | "Allstar" Tom MacDonald |
Billed height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) |
Billed weight | 152 lb (69 kg) |
Billed from | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
Debut | February 28, 2003 |
Retired | November 7, 2009 |
Signature | |
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Thomas MacDonald (born September 21, 1988) [2] is a Canadian rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer and former professional wrestler. He is known for his right-wing lyrics and fanbase. [3] His music has been characterized as "MAGA rap", a Trumpist subgenre of political hip-hop. [4] [5] [6]
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. [7]
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. [8] Throughout the year, he would begin feuding with Bobby Sharp, after another dark match also went to a no contest. [9] The feud concluded in December, when MacDonald defeated Sharp in a triple threat match, which included Brady Roberts. [10]
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, [11] but lost to eventual winners the Dead Ringers in the semi-final. [12] MacDonald and Ozz defeated the New Stallions in a #1 contendership match for the tag team championship, [13] but he and O'Ryan fell short to the Dead Ringers. [14] Later that year, MacDonald unsuccessfully challenged Sharp for the MPW Junior Heavyweight Championship; the first match went to a no contest, [15] 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. [16] 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. [17]
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. [18]
MacDonald started rapping at age 18, but only rose to fame after releasing the single "Dear Rappers" in February 2018. [1] [19] 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. [20] In September 2019, MacDonald released the single "Cloned Rappers", in which he rapped that the Illuminati are cloning rappers and disposing of the originals. [21] [22] In late 2019, MacDonald was scheduled to be a supporting act for Falling in Reverse's Episode IV Tour before it was cancelled. [23] In 2020, he released 20 singles, including "White Trash", "Sellout", "Best Rapper Ever", "Cancer", and "Angels". [24] In March 2020, MacDonald released the single "Coronavirus", which was written about the COVID-19 pandemic. [25]
In January 2021, MacDonald released the single "Fake Woke", which debuted at number 96 on the Billboard Hot 100. [26] 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. [27] [28] 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". [29] [30] In June 2021, he released "Snowflakes", which debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 71. [31] The music video featured political commentator Blaire White as a background dancer. [32] His single "Brainwashed", released in August 2021, peaked at number 89 on the Billboard Hot 100. [33]
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. [34] 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, [35] and number eight in Canada. [36] In September 2023, MacDonald and Calhoun released the album, The Brave II. [37] In January 2024, MacDonald collaborated with conservative political commentator Ben Shapiro to release the single "Facts". [38]
On January 17, 2025, MacDonald released the single "Daddy's Home", featuring comedian Roseanne Barr. The song's title references Trump's second inauguration. [39]
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. [40] [41] His music often discusses controversial social and political topics in the United States. [1]
MacDonald has created a significant online presence among right-wingers, becoming one of the most prominent figures on the "MAGA rap" scene. [42] 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". [30] 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]". [43] In a Rolling Stone profile, MacDonald said he wants to "show people I'm not just some brainwashed right-wing zombie." [44] 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". [25]
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. [45] MacDonald struggled with alcoholism for much of his life and in 2017 had a "bad breakdown" that prompted him to begin rehabilitation. [1]
Title | Details | Peak chart positions | |
---|---|---|---|
CAN [46] | US [47] | ||
All Growed Up (as Mr. MacDonald) |
| — | — |
See You Tomorrow |
| — | — |
Deathreats |
| — | — |
Ghostories |
| — | — |
Killing the Neighbors (with Madchild) |
| — | — |
Gravestones |
| — | — |
As Far as the Stars (with Nova Rockafeller and Brandon Hart) |
| — | — |
Us Against the World |
| — | — |
The Brave (with Adam Calhoun) |
| 83 | 14 |
Renegade |
| — | — |
The Revolution |
| — | — |
The Brave 2 (with Adam Calhoun) |
| — | 62 |
Yesterday (with Nova Rockafeller) |
| — | — |
Wild Ones (with Nova Rockafeller) |
| — | — |
Proud To Be A Problem |
| — | — |
Title | Album details |
---|---|
Killville [48] (as TMax) |
|
Young and Crazy [49] (as T Mac) |
|
Creature From the Rap Lagoon [50] (as T Mac) |
|
Feet Up [51] (with O.V Charbonneau) |
|
Infidelity In The Throne Room [52] |
|
Bad Dream Mad Again [53] |
|
LeeAnn's Son [54] |
|
Bad Dream Mad Again II [55] |
|
Dream People & the Whiskey Wars [56] |
|
Flowers for the Dead |
|
No Guts No Glory |
|
Title | Album details |
---|---|
MacBeth |
|
Therapy |
|
Title | Album details |
---|---|
Something Like the Truth |
|
All of Me |
|
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CAN [57] | HUN [58] | US [59] | US R&B /HH [60] | US Rock [61] | WW [62] | |||
"Dear Rappers" [63] | 2017 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Deathreats |
"Castles" (featuring Sniima Beats) [64] | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"Helluvit" [65] | 2018 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
"Hangman" [66] | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"Whiteboy" [67] | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"This House" [68] | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"American Dreamz" [69] | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"Exposure" [70] | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"Politically Incorrect" [71] | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"Everybody Hates Me" [72] | — | — | — | — | — | — | Ghostories | |
"I Wish" [73] | 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
"Sad Rappers" [74] | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"Straight White Male" [75] | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"Lethal Injection" [76] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
"Mac Lethal Sucks" [77] | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"If I Was Black" [78] | — | — | — | — | — | — | Ghostories | |
"Buttholes" [79] | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"I'm Sorry" [80] | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"Ashes" [81] | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"Cloned Rappers" [82] | — | — | — | — | — | — | Flowers for the Dead | |
"Trying to Kill Me" [83] | — | — | — | — | — | — | Ghostories | |
"Fake Fans" [84] | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"I Hate Hip Hop" [85] | — | — | — | — | — | — | Gravestones | |
"Famous" [86] | — | — | — | — | — | — | Ghostories | |
"White Trash" (with Madchild) [87] | 2020 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Killing the Neighbors |
"Sober" (with Madchild featuring Nova Rockafeller) [88] | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"Bad News" (with Madchild featuring Nova Rockafeller) [89] | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"D.R.U.G." (with Madchild) [90] | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"I Don't Care" [91] | — | — | — | — | — | — | Flowers for the Dead | |
"Coronavirus" [92] | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"Blame the Rappers" (featuring Dax) [93] | — | — | — | — | — | — | Gravestones | |
"I Don't Drink" [94] | — | — | — | — | — | — | Flowers for the Dead | |
"I Can't Sleep" [95] | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"No Response" [96] | — | — | — | — | — | — | Gravestones | |
"My Fans" [97] | — | — | — | — | — | — | Flowers for the Dead | |
"The Music Industry" [98] | — | — | — | — | — | — | Gravestones | |
"People So Stupid" [99] | — | — | — [b] | — [c] | — | — | ||
"I'm Corny" [102] | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"Gravestones" [103] | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"Cancer" [104] | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"No Lives Matter" [105] | — | — | — [d] | — [e] | — | — | Us Against the World | |
"Sellout" [108] | — | — | — | — | — | — | Gravestones | |
"Best Rapper Ever" [109] | — | — | — [f] | — [g] | — | — | Us Against the World | |
"Angels" [112] | — | — | — | — | — | — | No Guts No Glory | |
"Fake Woke" | 2021 | — | — | 96 | 35 | — | — | Us Against the World |
"Cancelled" [113] | — | — | — [h] | — [i] | — | — | No Guts No Glory | |
"Clown World" | — | 27 | — [j] | 48 | — | — | ||
"No Good Bastards" (with Nova Rockafeller and Brandon Hart) | — | — | — [k] | — [l] | 20 | — | As Far as the Stars | |
"Church" (with Brandon Hart featuring Nova Rockafeller) | — | — | — [m] | — [n] | 29 | — | ||
"Heart Emojis" (with Brandon Hart featuring Nova Rockafeller) | — | — | — | — [o] | 45 | — | ||
"Dear Slim" | — | 15 | — [p] | — [q] | — | — | Us Against the World | |
"Snowflakes" | — | — | 71 | 31 | — | 197 | ||
"Don't Look Down" | — | 39 | — | — [r] | — | — | No Guts No Glory | |
"Withdrawals" | — | — | — | — [s] | — | — | ||
"Brainwashed" | — | — | 89 | 31 | 11 | — | ||
"Dummies" | — | — | — | — | — | — | Us Against the World | |
"America" | — | — | — [t] | — [u] | — | — | ||
"Balloons" | — | — | — [v] | — [w] | — | — | ||
"Naked" | — | — | — [x] | — [y] | — | — | The Revolution | |
"New World Order" (with Adam Calhoun) | 2022 | — | — | — [z] | — [aa] | — | — | The Brave |
"Whiteboyz" (with Adam Calhoun) | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"In God We Trust" (with Adam Calhoun, Struggle Jennings and Nova Rockafeller) | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"Fire Emojis" (with Adam Calhoun and Madchild) | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"The System" | — | — | — [ab] | — [ac] | — | — | Renegade | |
"Scars" | — | — | — [ad] | — [ae] | — | — | The Revolution | |
"Names" | — | — | — [af] | — [ag] | — | — | ||
"Riot" | — | — | — | — | — | — | Renegade | |
"Sheeple" | — | — | — | — | 33 | — | ||
"Fighter" | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"Ghost" | — | — | — | — | — | — | The Revolution | |
"End of the World" (with John Rich) [140] | 2023 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — [ah] |
"American Flags" (with Adam Calhoun) [142] | — | — | — [ai] | 43 | — | — | The Brave 2 | |
"Your America" (with Adam Calhoun) | — | — | — [aj] | — [ak] | — | — | ||
"Black and White" (with Adam Calhoun and Dax) | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"Race War" (with Adam Calhoun) | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"Chrome" (with Adam Calhoun and Nova Rockafeller) | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"Superman" | — | — | — | — | — | — | Proud To Be A Problem | |
"Stronger Version" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
"Facts" (featuring Ben Shapiro) | 2024 | 42 | — | 16 | 8 | — | 30 | |
"The Machine" | — | — | — | — | — | — | Renegade | |
"God Mode" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
"Me Vs. You" | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"Heroes" | — | — | — | — | — | — | Us Against The World | |
"You Missed" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
"Everybody Needs Me" | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"We Ain't Cowboys" (with Nova Rockafeller) | — | — | — | — | — | — | Wild Ones | |
"Danger" (with Nova Rockafeller) | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"Goodbye Joe" [146] (with Nova Rockafeller) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
"Wild Horses" (with Nova Rockafeller) | — | — | — | — | — | — | Wild Ones | |
"Daddy's Home" (featuring Roseanne Barr) | 2025 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
"Man In The Sky" | — | — | — | — | — | — | Proud To Be A Problem | |
"Can't Cancel All Of Us" | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"Proud To Be A Problem" | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"Whiteboy Sh*t" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
Title | Year | US R&B/HH | Album |
---|---|---|---|
"Dark Side Of The Moon" [147] (Rp Matt Brevner featuring Tom MacDonald) | 2014 | — | — |
"Pillz" [148] (Rp Jesus featuring GFBF, Nova Rockafeller and Tom MacDonald) | 2017 | — | |
"WxWxw" [149] (Fleshxfur featuring Tom MacDonald and Illvibe) | 2018 | — | |
"Travelers" [150] (Ryan Upchurch featuring Tom MacDonald and Struggle Jennings) | 2019 | — | |
"Gang Gang" [151] (Nova Rockafeller featuring Tom MacDonald) | 2021 | — | Scared of Heights |
"Propaganda" [152] (Dax featuring Tom MacDonald) | 2021 | — [al] | Pain Paints Paintings |
"Space Trash" (Brandon Hart and Tom MacDonald) | 2023 | — | |
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.
Ben Shapiro makes his rap debut alongside right-wing rapper Tom MacDonald, 2024.
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.
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.
Tom MacDonald and Adam Calhoun ... seem to have tapped the same well of reactionary extremist conservative ire.
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.
In Shapiro's track, he teams up with MAGA rapper Tom MacDonald ...
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...