You’ve seen the face tattoos. You’ve seen the braids. And if you’ve spent more than five minutes on the internet in the last few years, you’ve definitely seen the name Tom MacDonald sparking a firestorm in a comment section. He’s the Canadian rapper who somehow became the face of American "MAGA rap," a guy who sells a staggering amount of physical CDs in an age where nobody owns a disc player. But the big question that follows him like a shadow—the one that drives millions of searches—is simple: Is Tom MacDonald racist?
It’s not a "yes" or "no" thing for most people. It's a "it depends on which song you just heard" thing.
To some, he’s a fearless truth-teller sticking it to "woke" culture. To others, he’s a grifter using racial tension to line his pockets. Honestly, the reality is a lot more nuanced and, frankly, weirder than a Twitter headline. If you actually look at the lyrics, the statistics he cites, and the way he builds his brand, you see a guy who knows exactly where the "line" is—and he spends his whole career dancing right on the edge of it.
The Lyrics That Started the Fire
Let’s talk about "Whiteboy." That was the big one. Released in 2018, it was basically Tom’s thesis statement. He raps about being blamed for things his ancestors did and feeling like a target because of his skin color. One of the most famous lines is: "I'm not the white devil, neo-Nazi, cop tryna pull the trigger / You can call me what you want but I'd still never say..." and then he trails off, implying the N-word.
Critics say this is "white grievance" culture in a nutshell. They argue that by framing himself as a victim of "reverse racism," he’s ignoring the actual systemic issues that Black people face. It’s a common critique of his work. People like music critic Christiaan have pointed out that MacDonald often creates "strawman" arguments—fighting against things that aren't actually happening to the degree he claims—just to make himself look like a rebel.
Then you have "Fake Woke." This song hit #1 on iTunes, beating out actual superstars. In it, he goes after Black Lives Matter, saying the name is "stupid" because all lives should matter.
"If every Caucasian's a bigot, I guess every Muslim's a terrorist, every liberal is right."
This is his go-to move. He uses a logical fallacy called "false equivalency" to compare being called a bigot to being called a terrorist. Is it racist? Or is it just a very aggressive, conservative viewpoint? That’s where the divide usually sits.
The "Grifter" vs. "Truth-Teller" Debate
Tom MacDonald is independent. He’s not signed to a major label. He and his partner, Nova Rockafeller, run the whole show from their house. This gives him a lot of "street cred" with his fans because he isn't being "censored" by corporate executives.
But there’s a financial side to this that people often overlook.
Tom found a niche. He realized that if he raps about things that make liberals angry and conservatives feel seen, he gets views. A lot of them. We're talking hundreds of millions. In 2024, his song "Facts" featuring Ben Shapiro actually hit the Billboard Hot 100. Think about that for a second. A political commentator and a Canadian rapper with face tattoos outperformed mainstream pop stars by leaning into the "anti-woke" brand.
Some folks in the hip-hop community, especially on Reddit's r/hiphop101, argue he’s a "culture vulture." Basically, they think he’s using a Black art form (rap) to disparage the very people who created it. He’s been criticized for blaming hip-hop for drug use and violence, while simultaneously using the genre's aesthetic to get rich.
Does He Actually Hate Other Races?
If you ask Tom, he'll tell you he loves everyone. He frequently features Black creators in his videos and has done collaborations with rappers like Adam Calhoun. He often says his goal is "unity" and that the "elites" are the ones trying to start a "Race War" (the title of another one of his songs).
In "Race War," he says:
"I'm a black man and I stand behind these guys 100%," is a comment you'll actually see pinned on his YouTube videos. He has a significant number of minority fans who feel that he’s saying the things they are afraid to say.
However, there's a flip side. Experts who study radicalization and online rhetoric, like those mentioned in discussions about AI-driven "Grokipedia" or Southern Poverty Law Center reports on similar ideologies, note that "colorblindness" (the "I don't see race" argument) can often be a shield. By saying "I don't see race," you can effectively ignore the ways race actually impacts people's lives.
The Canadian Factor
Here’s the part that always makes me laugh: Tom MacDonald isn't even American. He’s from British Columbia, Canada.
He moved to the U.S. to pursue wrestling and then music. There is something undeniably strange about a Canadian guy becoming the primary songwriter for American conservative frustration. He wraps himself in the American flag—literally, he did a video called "American Flags" where he posed with a tank—but he doesn't have the same historical context that an American might.
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This leads to a lot of what people call "surface-level" politics. He mentions "pronouns," "BLM," and "Snowflakes" like he's reading a list of trending topics on X (formerly Twitter). It’s highly effective for SEO and social media algorithms, but is it "racist"? Or is it just a very smart businessman who knows his audience?
Breaking Down the "Facts"
Let's look at some specific instances where people claim he crosses the line:
- The "If I Was Black" Song: In this track, he tries to imagine what his life would be like if he were Black, claiming he wouldn't "complain" and would just work hard. Critics find this incredibly condescending, as it suggests Black people who speak out about racism are just "whining."
- The Lizzo Comment: In "Facts," Ben Shapiro (prompted by Tom's beat) raps about his "money like Lizzo, my pockets are fat." While not explicitly racist, many saw this as a mean-spirited jab at a Black woman’s body for no reason other than to "own the libs."
- The "No Lives Matter" Artwork: He used a rainbow-colored, "drippy" font for the title, which many took as a direct insult to both the Black Lives Matter movement and the LGBTQ+ community.
Why He Still Wins
Regardless of where you stand, Tom MacDonald is winning the numbers game. He doesn't need radio. He doesn't need Spotify playlists (though he gets on them). He has built a "tribe."
His fans don't see him as racist; they see him as a martyr. Every time a news outlet calls him a bigot, his sales go up. It’s a feedback loop. He makes a song, the "mainstream" gets offended, he makes another song about how the mainstream is offended, and his fans buy more "HOG" (Hang Over Gang) merchandise.
It's a business model built on friction.
Final Thoughts: What Do You Do With This?
So, is Tom MacDonald racist?
If your definition of racism is "explicitly saying one race is superior to another," you won't find that in his lyrics. He’s too smart for that. He knows the TOS (Terms of Service) of YouTube and Spotify like the back of his hand.
However, if your definition of racism includes "minimizing the experiences of marginalized groups," "using racial stereotypes for profit," or "promoting a narrative of white victimhood," then it’s easy to see why so many people apply the label to him.
Actionable Next Steps for the Curious:
- Listen to a full album: Don't just watch the 30-second clips on TikTok. Listen to an entire project like The Brave or Ghostories. You'll notice how often he repeats the same three or four themes.
- Check the sources: When he cites "facts" or "stats" in songs like "Facts," actually look them up. Often, the numbers are technically real but stripped of the context that makes them meaningful.
- Watch the reactions: Look at "First Time Reaction" videos from people of different backgrounds. It's fascinating to see a Black creator and a white creator react to the same "Whiteboy" lyrics. The disconnect is usually where the truth lies.
- Decide for yourself: Music is subjective, but intent is often visible if you look closely enough at the branding. Ask yourself: Is he trying to start a conversation, or is he trying to start a fight? Usually, the latter is more profitable.
Tom MacDonald isn't going anywhere. As long as there is a "culture war," he’ll be there with a new beat and a fresh set of face tattoos to narrate it. Whether he's a villain or a hero depends entirely on which side of the line you're standing on.