In a rapid response to a national tragedy, Canadian rapper Tom MacDonald has once again tapped into the powerful currents of America’s culture wars. His new song, “Charlie,” a tribute to the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk, has exploded onto the music charts, seizing the top spot on YouTube’s trending chart and debuting impressively on the Billboard Hot 100. The track, released just one day after Kirk was fatally shot during an event at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025, has become an instant anthem for supporters of the political commentator, amassing millions of views and streams in a matter of days.
The song’s immediate commercial success is undeniable. “Charlie” climbed to No. 1 on Billboard’s Digital Song Sales chart after selling 18,000 downloads in its first full tracking week (September 12-18). This achievement marks MacDonald’s eighth number-one single on that chart. Beyond sales, the song registered a substantial 4.7 million official streams in the United States, powering its entrance on three major Billboard charts: No. 6 on Hot Rap Songs, No. 12 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, and No. 77 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100. On the visual front, the music video quickly ascended to become the #1 trending video on YouTube, amassing over two million views within its first 19 hours of release.
A Song That “Needed to Exist”
Tom MacDonald shared the news of the song’s success with his followers on social media, accompanied by a poignant statement. “I wish I didn’t have to write this song…but it needed to exist…and #1 is its rightful place,” he wrote. He was quick to deflect praise from himself, emphasizing that the track’s significance was entirely tied to its subject. “And to be clear – it has very little to do with me. It has everything to do with Charlie Kirk and the incredible impact that he has had on generations of people.” This sentiment resonated deeply with his audience, with thousands of comments flooding in to thank him for creating a musical touchstone for their grief and anger.
Thank you for helping turn something terrible into something beautiful.
I’ll never forget Charlie…or how many lives this song touched. pic.twitter.com/94ixipKEX2
— Tom MacDonald (@IAMTOMMACDONALD) September 23, 2025
The lyrics of “Charlie” serve as a direct commentary on the event and its aftermath. The song expresses sorrow over Kirk’s death, describing him as having been gone “too soon at just 31,” and affirms that his “army of supporters” will continue his mission. It also strikes a characteristically polemical tone, with MacDonald accusing political opponents of celebrating the tragedy and alleging that a “woke coward” was responsible for the shooting.
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This approach is consistent with MacDonald’s musical trajectory; initially part of the underground hip-hop scene, he gained widespread attention after 2018 by shifting toward politically charged content that often critiques modern culture from a right-wing perspective, a style that has been labeled as “MAGA rap.”
The Unstoppable Force of Political Music
The explosive performance of “Charlie” underscores Tom MacDonald’s unique position in the current music landscape. As an independent artist on his own label, his ability to immediately respond to a major news event and achieve chart dominance demonstrates a powerful and direct connection with his fanbase. The song is his fourth chart-topper on the Digital Song Sales chart in 2024 alone, following earlier successes like “Daddy’s Home,” “Man in the Sky,” and “The Devil Is a Democrat.” This latest release proves that his formula for success—blending hip-hop with conservative commentary—remains as potent as ever.
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Ultimately, “Charlie” is more than just a song; it is a cultural artifact born from a moment of intense political division. For Tom MacDonald’s supporters, it is a heartfelt eulogy and a call to carry on Kirk’s work. For the wider public, its rapid chart ascent is a stark indicator of the potent mix of politics, tragedy, and music. As the nation continues to grapple with the discourse surrounding political violence and free speech that followed Kirk’s death, MacDonald’s tribute has already cemented itself as a controversial yet undeniable soundtrack to the conversation.
