Daily Wire Editor Emeritus Ben Shapiro dropped a rap music video on Friday morning, a joint effort with Canadian wrestler-turned-rapper Tom MacDonald.
Yes, you read that right — but it bears repeating: Ben Shapiro released a rap video with Tom MacDonald. The song, called “Facts,” goes after the establishment and mainstream media “sacred cows,” which get taken down by Shapiro and MacDonald in a “quotable verbal crossfire,” according to a press release from MacDonald.
“As a longtime devotee of rap, becoming a rapper was the natural next step in my career trajectory,” Shapiro said. “So, when Tom asked if I wanted to collaborate on a song, I leapt at the chance. This was the moment I spent 20 years of classical violin training preparing for. For those who don’t appreciate my artistic stylings, all I can say is that they didn’t appreciate Bach properly in his own time, either.”
Shortly after its release, the Shapiro/MacDonald song was charting at #5 overall, above hits from top artists such as Taylor Swift and Dua Lipa.
.@TomMacDonald has now brought the magic of my flow to the world. And the iTunes store now properly has us charting above Taylor Swift and Dua Lipa. pic.twitter.com/GLCEamHanf
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) January 26, 2024
“Facts” also reached #2 on the iTunes rap chart ahead of Nikki Minaj and Doja Cat. “Hey, @NICKIMINAJ, it’s great to join you atop the iTunes rap charts,” Shapiro posted. “Sorry, correction, you’re a few slots lower.”
Hey, @NICKIMINAJ, it's great to join you atop the iTunes rap charts. Sorry, correction, you're a few slots lower. pic.twitter.com/6XXou5Znge
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) January 26, 2024
“I like to do things nobody else can do,” MacDonald said after releasing “Facts.” “Not everybody can get Ben Shapiro on a track. For someone who had never recorded a rap song before, he got in the studio and nailed it. We’ve both criticized the status quo of hip-hop, so it made sense. There is a good intention at the heart of ‘Facts.’ There is light.”
MacDonald teased the unlikely pairing in a video posted to X on Wednesday, captioning the brief video, “Who’s ready for something absolutely INSANE?! Friday 9 AM! Let’s go!”
Who’s ready for something absolutely INSANE?! Friday 9 AM! Lets go! pic.twitter.com/5zES9s7LQe
— Tom MacDonald (@IAMTOMMACDONALD) January 24, 2024
While a number accused MacDonald of “selling out” in the comments, some joked about how Shapiro’s notoriously fast style of speaking would actually work in his favor in the rap genre.
“Can you imagine Ben Shapiro pulling a Rap God? He could probably spit 200 bars in 12 seconds,” one joked.
Lots of people seem to be REALLY mad that I’m dropping a song with Ben Shapiro on Friday.
To those who I’ve upset, I’d just like to say…
There isn’t a metric small enough to measure how little I care ❤️
To the folks who are excited…2 sleeps till Friday!!
— Tom MacDonald (@IAMTOMMACDONALD) January 25, 2024
MacDonald followed the initial announcement with a nod to the haters, saying, “Lots of people seem to be REALLY mad that I’m dropping a song with Ben Shapiro on Friday. To those who I’ve upset, I’d just like to say … There isn’t a metric small enough to measure how little I care. To the folks who are excited … 2 sleeps till Friday!!”
Lots of people seem to be REALLY mad that I’m dropping a song with Ben Shapiro on Friday.
To those who I’ve upset, I’d just like to say…
There isn’t a metric small enough to measure how little I care ❤️
To the folks who are excited…2 sleeps till Friday!!
— Tom MacDonald (@IAMTOMMACDONALD) January 25, 2024
For good measure, MacDonald added a promotional graphic. “Tomorrow at 9 AM! Who’s ready for a crazy music video?!”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP
Tomorrow at 9 AM! Who’s ready for a crazy music video?! 👀 pic.twitter.com/eWpap4Zs5b
— Tom MacDonald (@IAMTOMMACDONALD) January 25, 2024
The collaborative effort came as a shock to many who had just watched Shapiro’s recent interview with podcaster Lex Fridman, during which he argued that rap was not really music — but that he could potentially be convinced otherwise.
WATCH:
.@lexfridman asks @benshapiro and @TheOmniLiberal if rap music is bad
Ben: Absolutely. pic.twitter.com/n22FbYiT8I
— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) January 23, 2024
Shapiro’s argument was that music — at least, classically speaking — has three key components: rhythm, melody, and harmony. And by his assessment, rap typically only had maybe one of the three.