• September 21, 1988
• Tom MacDonald is a Canadian rapper and songwriter. He is primarily known for his hard-hitting rap style and lyrics that tackle social and political issues from a conservative perspective.
• MacDonald began his rap career in his late teens, rapping about cars, drugs, girls and guns. "I didn't know much about [hip-hop], but that's what my favorite rappers were rapping about so that's what I did," he told Inked magazine.
• Before focusing on music full time, he pursued a career in professional wrestling under the ring name Allstar.
• After a lengthy battle with alcoholism, MacDonald had a bad breakdown. During the rehabilitation process, he cleaned himself up and figured out what was important to him and what he wanted to talk about. "It was the worst thing that ever happened to me, but also the best thing that ever happened. It taught me who I was, essentially," he said.
• He first rose to fame with the February 2018 single "Dear Rappers," a diss track aimed at the mainstream rap scene. His 2021 song "Fake Woke" became his first to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #96.
• MacDonald often collaborates with his wife, Nova Rockafeller, who is also a musician and filmmaker.

Comments

More Songfacts:

Go Away Little GirlDonny Osmond

Originally a chart-topper for Steve Lawrence in 1962, "Go Away Little Girl" became the first song of the rock era to hit #1 for two different artists when Donny Osmond's cover version also reached the summit in 1971.

Don't Worry Be HappyBobby McFerrin

The song "Don't Worry Be Happy" doesn't use any instruments - it's all Bobby McFerrin using various parts of his body to make the sounds.

Lady MarmaladeLabelle

The chorus of "Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir" in "Lady Marmalade" is French for "Do you want to sleep with me tonight?" When Labelle performed it on television, they had to change it to "Voulez-vous danser avec moi ce soir" (Do you want to dance with me tonight?).

Theme From Mission: ImpossibleLalo Schifrin

The Mission: Impossible theme is in 5/4 time. Composer Lalo Schifrin joked that he did it so 5-legged aliens could dance to it.

TeardropMassive Attack

"Teardrop" by Massive Attack has vocals by Elizabeth Fraser of The Cocteau Twins, who wrote the lyric after learning that Jeff Buckley had died.

Dark HorseKaty Perry

Katy Perry's "Dark Horse" was co-written by Sarah Hudson, who was a member of the pop group Ultraviolet Sound. Though Sarah isn't related to Katy (whose real name is Katy Hudson), she is the first cousin of another famous person with the same name, the actress Kate Hudson.

Editor's Picks

Andy McClusky of OMDSongwriter Interviews

Known in America for the hit "If You Leave," OMD is a huge influence on modern electronic music.

Does Jimmy Page Worship The Devil? A Look at Satanism in RockSong Writing

We ring the Hell's Bells to see what songs and rockers are sincere in their Satanism, and how much of it is an act.

Wherefore Art Thou Romeo LyricMusic Quiz

In this quiz, spot the artist who put Romeo into a song lyric.

Sending Out An SOS - Distress Signals In SongsSong Writing

Songs where something goes horribly wrong (literally or metaphorically), and help is needed right away.

Ben Kowalewicz of Billy TalentSongwriter Interviews

The frontman for one of Canada's most well-known punk rock bands talks about his Eddie Vedder encounter, Billy Talent's new album, and the importance of rock and roll.

Rufus WainwrightSongwriter Interviews

Rufus Wainwright on "Hallelujah," his album Unfollow The Rules, and getting into his "lyric trance" on 12-hour walks.