• 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:

My WayFrank Sinatra

According to Frank Sinatra's daughter, he hated "My Way," but had to sing it at every show when it became his signature song.

Love Is A BattlefieldPat Benatar

"Love Is A Battlefield" was written as a ballad, but Pat Benatar's guitarist/husband turned it into an uptempo song.

Zoot Suit RiotCherry Poppin' Daddies

"Zoot Suit Riot" isn't just a Cherry Poppin' Daddies song - the Zoot Suit Riots were real riots in Los Angeles that took place in 1943 and inspired the song's lyrics.

1234Feist

Feist's "1234" is "about lost love, and the hope to recapture what you once had," but it's best known for the Sesame Street version about counting to four.

Freedom Of ChoiceDevo

The Devo song "Freedom Of Choice" is about mindless consumerism - how people like to make frivolous choices, but otherwise want to be told what to do.

GypsyFleetwood Mac

Fleetwood Mac's "Gypsy" is about Stevie Nicks' best friend, who died of leukemia.

Editor's Picks

Joe Elliott of Def LeppardSongwriter Interviews

The Def Leppard frontman talks about their "lamentable" hit he never thought of as a single, and why he's juiced by his Mott The Hoople cover band.

Artis the SpoonmanSong Writing

Even before Soundgarden wrote a song about him, Artis was the most famous spoon player of all time. So why has he always been broke?

Elton JohnFact or Fiction

Does he have beef with Gaga? Is he Sean Lennon's godfather? See if you can tell fact from fiction in the Elton John edition.

Loudon Wainwright IIISongwriter Interviews

"Dead Skunk" became a stinker for Loudon when he felt pressure to make another hit - his latest songs deal with mortality, his son Rufus, and picking up poop.

Booker T. JonesSongwriter Interviews

The Stax legend on how he cooked up "Green Onions," the first time he and Otis Redding saw hippies, and if he'll ever play a digital organ.

Bill WithersSongwriter Interviews

Soul music legend Bill Withers on how life experience and the company you keep leads to classic songs like "Lean On Me."