Tom MacDonald (rapper)
Canadian rapper and singer (born 1988)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tom MacDonald (born September 21, 1988) is a Canadian rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer and former professional wrestler. He is known for his right-wing lyrics and fanbase.[1] His music has been characterized as "MAGA rap", a Trumpist subgenre of political hip-hop.[2][3][4]
- Allstar
- TMax
- T Mac
- Mr. MacDonald
September 21, 1988
- Rapper
- singer-songwriter
- record producer
- professional wrestler (former)
Tom MacDonald | |
|---|---|
| Also known as |
|
| Born | Thomas MacDonald September 21, 1988 Edmonton, Alberta, Canada |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2006–present |
Partner | Nova Rockafeller (2017–present) |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| 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 | |
| |
He first rose to prominence with the release of his 2017 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, number 42 on the Canadian Hot 100, and number 21 on the Philippines Hot 100.[5]
Since 2017, MacDonald has been in a relationship with fellow Canadian rapper and frequent collaborator Nova Rockafeller. She helps him write lyrics and also directs his music videos. Additionally, the couple have a side project named GFBF.[6]
Early life and Early Career
Thomas MacDonald was born on September 21, 1988, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.[7] During his childhood he lived in Mission, British Columbia. When MacDonald was 13, he moved with his family to Alberta for his dad's construction job and would go on to spend his adolescence there.[8]
MacDonald had an exposure to politics at an early age. In an interview with PragerU, he said "My dad and my grandfather were huge into politics, primarily American politics." MacDonald added "My grandfather was a huge patriot, and I used to sit on the end of his bed, and we'd watch the news."[9]
MacDonald fell in love with Hip Hop as a child after buying a Tupac CD at a pawn shop. Years later one of his peers showed him an Eminem song while they rode the school bus together. It was MacDonald's first time listening to a white rapper and it inspired him to start writing his own rap lyrics.[9]
MacDonald briefly worked in construction before quitting to start his professional wrestling career.[9]
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.[10] Throughout the year, he would begin feuding with Bobby Sharp, after another dark match also went to a no contest.[11] The feud concluded in December, when MacDonald defeated Sharp in a triple threat match, which included Brady Roberts.[12]
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,[13] but lost to eventual winners the Dead Ringers in the semi-final.[14] MacDonald and Ozz defeated the New Stallions in a #1 contender ship match for the tag team championship,[15] but he and O'Ryan fell short to the Dead Ringers.[16] Later that year, MacDonald unsuccessfully challenged Sharp for the MPW Junior Heavyweight Championship; the first match went to a no contest,[17] 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.[18] 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.[19]
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.[20]
Career
2008-2010: Beginning of music career, Killville, Young and Crazy, Creature from the Rap Lagoon, A Glorious Future
Towards the end of his professional wrestling career, MacDonald began releasing music. In 2008, MacDonald released the Mixtape Killville, under the name "T Max".[21] It is the only body of work he has released under that name. In 2009, he started releasing music under the name "T Mac". In January of that year, he released the mixtape Young and crazy.[22] On October 27 he released the mixtape, Creature from the Rap Lagoon, 10 days before his final wrestling match.[23] In 2010, he released a collaborative EP with Aidan Synn Pringle called A Glorious Future.[24]
2011-2012: First releases as Tom MacDonald, Feet up, Infidelity in the Throne Room, All Growed up
In 2011, under the name Tom MacDonald, he released a collaborative mixtape with O.V. Charbonneau titled Feet up.[25] On December 15, 2012, he released the mixtape Infidelity in the Throne Room, under the same name.[26] That same day he also released his debut album All Growed Up, under the name Mr. MacDonald.[27] Since then, all his music has been released under the name Tom MacDonald.
2013-2014: Bad Dream Mad Again, Something Like the Truth, LeeAnn's Son, Bad Dream Mad Again II
In 2013, he released the mixtape Bad Dream Mad Again and a compilation album titled Something Like the Truth.[28][29] In 2014, he released the albums LeeAnn's Son, and Bad Dream Mad Again II.[30][31]
2015: MacBeth, Dream People & The Whiskey Wars, See You Tomorrow
In 2015 he released the EP MacBeth on March 22.[32] on December 21 released a collaborative mixtape with Geek no Glasses called Dream People & The Whiskey Wars. and the album See You Tomorrow.[33][34]
2017-2018: Therapy, Deathreats, Helluvit Tour, and Rise to Fame
On March 13, 2017, MacDonald released the EP Therapy.[35] After nearly a decade of releasing music with little success, MacDonald finally experienced a breakthrough in his music career, with the release of the single "Dear Rappers" the following August.[36][37] In 2018, he did a summer tour called the "Helluvit Tour" with his girlfriend Nova Rockafeller, along with other rappers.[38] In August of that year he released the Album Deathreats.[39]
2019: Ghoststories, and MacLethal feud
In May of 2019, MacDonald released the song "Straight White Male", which was written about straight white men being demonized. It was criticized on social media for its subject matter.[40]
In June following a heated exchange with rapper Mac Lethal on Twitter MacDonald released a diss track against him called "Lethal Injection".[41] Mac Lethal then responded with a diss track of his own called "Single White Female".[42] MacDonald followed up with another diss track called "Mac Lethal Sucks"[43] then Mac Lethal ended the feud with a song called "Mac Lethal Sucks Pt. 2".[44] The Feud was reignited five years later in June of 2024 after MacDonald allegedly sneak dissed Mac Lethal on one of his songs which prompted Mac Lethal to release a diss track called "Tom MacDonald is a Nazi".[45] MacDonald did not respond.
In September of 2019, MacDonald released the single "Cloned Rappers", in which he espoused the idea that the Illuminati are cloning rappers, and disposing of the originals.[46][47] In late 2019, MacDonald was scheduled to be a supporting act for Falling in Reverse's Episode IV Tour before it was cancelled.[48]
2020: Killing the Neighbors, Flowers for the Dead, Gravestones
In 2020, he released 20 singles, including "White Trash", "Sellout", "Best Rapper Ever", "Cancer", and "Angels".[49] In March 2020, MacDonald released the single "Coronavirus", which was written about the COVID-19 pandemic.[50]
2021: As Far as the Stars, No Guts No Glory, Us Against the World
In January 2021, MacDonald released the single "Fake Woke", which debuted at number 96 on the Billboard Hot 100.[51]
On March 19, 2021, MacDonald collaborated with Rockafeller and Brandon Hart to release the song "No Good Bastards" which peaked at number 15 on Billboard's digital song sales chart.[52]
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.[53][54] 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".[55][56]
In June 2021, he released "Snowflakes", which debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 71.[57] The music video featured conservative political commentator Blaire White as a background dancer.[58] His single "Brainwashed", released in August 2021, peaked at number 89 on the Billboard Hot 100.[59]
2022-2023: The Brave, The Revolution, Renegade, The Brave II
On December 23, 2022, MacDonald released the song "Ghost" in which he sings about his love for Rockafeller. The song reached the number one spot on Billboard's Pop chart in January of 2023.[60][52]
On March 4, 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.[61] 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,[62] and number eight in Canada.[63] In September 2023, MacDonald and Calhoun released the album, The Brave II.[64]
In January 2024, MacDonald collaborated with conservative political commentator Ben Shapiro to release the single "Facts".[65]
On July 14, 2024, MacDonald released the song "You Missed" which was written in response to an assassination attempt on Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania rally the day prior.[66][unreliable source?] The song reached the number 1 spot on the iTunes chart that night.[67]
On November 1, 2024, which was 4 days before the 2024 United States presidential election, MacDonald collaborated with Rockafeller to release the song "Goodbye Joe", to celebrate Joe Biden's Presidency coming to an end.[68] The song debuted at number one on Billboard's digital song sales chart, selling 12,000 downloads in the U.S. by November 7.[52]
2025: Proud to Be a Problem, No Lies, Truthurts
On January 17, 2025, MacDonald released the single "Daddy's Home", featuring comedian Roseanne Barr, to celebrate Trump's second inauguration which was set to happen in few days.[69]
On September 11, 2025, MacDonald released the single "Charlie" in honor of Charlie Kirk, an American conservative political activist who was assassinated the day prior while speaking at a TPUSA public debate event. The music video for "Charlie" reached the number-one spot on YouTube's trending music chart.[70] By September 18, "Charlie" had reached 8.2 million views on YouTube.[71] After its first week, the song reached the number one spot on Billboard's Digital Song Sales chart.[72]
On March 13, 2026, MacDonald released a compilation album called Declassified[73]
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.[74][75] His music often discusses controversial social and political topics in the United States, and around the world.[36]
Public image
MacDonald has created a significant online presence among right-wingers, becoming one of the most prominent figures on the "MAGA rap" scene.[76] 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".[56] 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]".[77] In a Rolling Stone profile, MacDonald said he wants to "show people I'm not just some brainwashed right-wing zombie."[78] 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".[50]
Personal life
After struggling with alcoholism for many years, MacDonald had what he calls a "bad breakdown" in 2017, that prompted him to spend nine months in rehabilitation. A few days after finishing rehab he received a call from his immigration lawyer to let him know that his visa had been approved, and less than week later MacDonald moved to Los Angeles County California.[8][36] After moving to Los Angeles, MacDonald reconnected with an old friend and fellow Canadian rapper, Nova Rockafeller. The two began dating and moved in together into an apartment in the Crenshaw neighborhood of south Los Angeles.[9]
Discography
Studio albums
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAN [79] |
US [80] | ||
| 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 |
|
— | — |
| Truthurts |
|
— | — |
Declunkified
Mixtapes
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Killville[81] (as TMax) |
|
| Young and Crazy[82] (as T Mac) |
|
| Creature from the Rap Lagoon[83] (as T Mac) |
|
| Feet Up[84] (with O.V Charbonneau) |
|
| Infidelity in the Throne Room[85] |
|
| Bad Dream Mad Again[86] |
|
| LeeAnn's Son[87] |
|
| Bad Dream Mad Again II[88] |
|
| Dream People & the Whiskey Wars[89] |
|
| Flowers for the Dead |
|
| No Guts No Glory |
|
| No Lies |
|
EPs
| Title | EP details |
|---|---|
| MacBeth |
|
| Therapy |
|
Compilations
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Something Like the Truth |
|
| All of Me |
|
| Declassified[b] |
|
Singles
As lead artist
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAN [90] |
HUN [91] |
NZ Hot [92] |
US [93] |
US R&B /HH [94] |
US Rock [95] |
WW [96] | |||
| "Dear Rappers"[97] | 2017 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Deathreats |
| "Castles" (featuring Sniima Beats)[98] |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Helluvit"[99] | 2018 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| "Hangman"[100] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Whiteboy"[101] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "This House"[102] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "American Dreamz"[103] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Exposure"[104] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Politically Incorrect"[105] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Everybody Hates Me"[106] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Ghostories | |
| "I Wish"[107] | 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| "Sad Rappers"[108] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Straight White Male"[109] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Lethal Injection"[110] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N/a | |
| "Mac Lethal Sucks"[111] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "If I Was Black"[112] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Ghostories | |
| "Buttholes"[113] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "I'm Sorry"[114] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Ashes"[115] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Cloned Rappers"[116] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Flowers for the Dead | |
| "Trying to Kill Me"[117] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Ghostories | |
| "Fake Fans"[118] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "I Hate Hip Hop"[119] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Gravestones | |
| "Famous"[120] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Ghostories | |
| "White Trash" (with Madchild)[121] |
2020 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Killing the Neighbors |
| "Sober" (with Madchild featuring Nova Rockafeller)[122] |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Bad News" (with Madchild featuring Nova Rockafeller)[123] |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "D.R.U.G." (with Madchild)[124] |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "I Don't Care"[125] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Flowers for the Dead | |
| "Coronavirus"[126] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Blame the Rappers" (featuring Dax)[127] |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | Gravestones | |
| "I Don't Drink"[128] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Flowers for the Dead | |
| "I Can't Sleep"[129] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "No Response"[130] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Gravestones | |
| "My Fans"[131] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Flowers for the Dead | |
| "The Music Industry"[132] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Gravestones | |
| "People So Stupid"[133] | — | — | — | —[c] | —[d] | — | — | ||
| "I'm Corny"[136] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Gravestones"[137] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Cancer"[138] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "No Lives Matter"[139] | — | — | — | —[e] | —[f] | — | — | Us Against the World | |
| "Sellout"[142] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Gravestones | |
| "Best Rapper Ever"[143] | — | — | — | —[g] | —[h] | — | — | Us Against the World | |
| "Angels"[146] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | No Guts No Glory | |
| "Fake Woke" | 2021 | — | — | — | 96 | 35 | — | — | Us Against the World |
| "Cancelled"[147] | — | — | — | —[i] | —[j] | — | — | No Guts No Glory | |
| "Clown World" | — | 27 | — | —[k] | 48 | — | — | ||
| "No Good Bastards" (with Nova Rockafeller and Brandon Hart) |
— | — | — | —[l] | —[m] | 20 | — | As Far as the Stars | |
| "Church" (with Brandon Hart featuring Nova Rockafeller) |
— | — | — | —[n] | —[o] | 29 | — | ||
| "Heart Emojis" (with Brandon Hart featuring Nova Rockafeller) |
— | — | — | — | —[p] | 45 | — | ||
| "Dear Slim" | — | 15 | — | —[q] | —[r] | — | — | Us Against the World | |
| "Snowflakes" | — | — | — | 71 | 31 | — | 197 | ||
| "Don't Look Down" | — | 39 | — | — | —[s] | — | — | No Guts No Glory | |
| "Withdrawals" | — | — | — | — | —[t] | — | — | ||
| "Brainwashed" | — | — | — | 89 | 31 | 11 | — | ||
| "Dummies" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Us Against the World | |
| "America" | — | — | — | —[u] | —[v] | — | — | ||
| "Balloons" | — | — | — | —[w] | —[x] | — | — | ||
| "Naked" | — | — | — | —[y] | —[z] | — | — | The Revolution | |
| "New World Order" (with Adam Calhoun) |
2022 | — | — | — | —[aa] | —[ab] | — | — | 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" | — | — | — | —[ac] | —[ad] | — | — | Renegade | |
| "Scars" | — | — | — | —[ae] | —[af] | — | — | The Revolution | |
| "Names" | — | — | — | —[ag] | —[ah] | — | — | ||
| "Riot" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Renegade | |
| "Sheeple" | — | — | — | — | — | 33 | — | ||
| "Fighter" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Ghost" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | The Revolution | |
| "End of the World" (with John Rich)[174] |
2023 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N/a[ai] |
| "American Flags" (with Adam Calhoun)[176] |
— | — | — | —[aj] | 43 | — | — | The Brave 2 | |
| "Your America" (with Adam Calhoun) |
— | — | — | —[ak] | —[al] | — | — | ||
| "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" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | No Lies | |
| "Facts" (featuring Ben Shapiro) |
2024 | 42 | — | — | 16 | 8 | — | 30 | Truthurts |
| "The Machine" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Renegade | |
| "God Mode" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | No Lies | |
| "Me Vs. You" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Heroes" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Us Against the World | |
| "You Missed" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Thruthurts | |
| "Everybody Needs Me" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | No Lies | |
| "We Ain't Cowboys" (with Nova Rockafeller) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Wild Ones | |
| "Danger" (with Nova Rockafeller) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Goodbye Joe"[180] (with Nova Rockafeller) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | Proud to Be a Problem | |
| "Wild Horses" (with Nova Rockafeller) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Wild Ones | |
| "Daddy's Home" (featuring Roseanne Barr) |
2025 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Thruthurts |
| "Man In The Sky" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Proud To Be A Problem | |
| "Can't Cancel All Of Us" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Proud To Be A Problem" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Whiteboy Sh*t" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | No Lies | |
| "The Devil Is A Democrat" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Truthurts | |
| "Charlie" | — | — | 29 | 77 | 12 | — | — | ||
| "Woke World" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "All My Haters" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Pray For The Left" | 2026 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N/a |
| "Anti" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Declassified | |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||||
As a featured artist
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| US R&B/HH Dig. [181] | |||
| "Dark Side of the Moon"[182] (Rp Matt Brevner featuring Tom MacDonald) |
2014 | — | N/a |
| "Pillz"[183] (Rp Jesus featuring GFBF, Nova Rockafeller and Tom MacDonald) |
2017 | — | |
| "WxWxw"[184] (Fleshxfur featuring Tom MacDonald and Illvibe) |
2018 | — | |
| "Travelers"[185] (Ryan Upchurch featuring Tom MacDonald and Struggle Jennings) |
2019 | — | |
| "Gang Gang"[186] (Nova Rockafeller featuring Tom MacDonald) |
2021 | — | Scared of Heights |
| "Propaganda"[187] (Dax featuring Tom MacDonald) |
2021 | 15 | Pain Paints Paintings |
| "Space Trash" (Brandon Hart and Tom MacDonald) |
2023 | — |
Notes
- Possibly never released
- Compilation except for single 'Anti'
- "Clown World" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100 chart, but peaked at number 11 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.[150]
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