Tom MacDonald, the Canadian rapper known for his conservative political commentary, is back with another track, and this time he’s brought along a surprising collaborator: Roseanne Barr. Their new song, “Daddy’s Home,” is ostensibly about the potential re-election of Donald Trump, but it mostly serves as another platform for MacDonald’s familiar MAGA messaging and Barr’s… well, it’s hard to say what Barr brings to the table besides notoriety. In the ever-evolving landscape of New Rap Songs, “Daddy’s Home” unfortunately feels like a step backward.
While Roseanne Barr’s impact on comedy in the late 80s and 90s is undeniable, her contribution to “Daddy’s Home” is, to put it mildly, underwhelming. Barr’s verse lacks any semblance of rhythm or lyrical dexterity. Her attempt at humor falls flat, exemplified by the awkward line referencing her old sitcom: “Why they trying to turn Becky into Dan?!” This clunky attempt at an anti-trans joke feels both dated and out of place, highlighting a disconnect between Barr’s comedic past and the current rap landscape.
It’s clear the songwriting process aimed for some kind of shock value or unexpected pairing, but the execution is clumsy. The reference to The Conners, the show born from the ashes of the Roseanne reboot after her racist remarks, further muddies the waters. The attempt to connect her sitcom world to a political rap song feels forced and nonsensical. While The Conners did feature a trans character, Alexandra Billings, her storyline had no relation to the main cast’s identities, making Barr’s lyric even more baffling and irrelevant.
Barr’s bizarre shout-out to Eminem – “Screw Eminem! I’m Roseanne!” – is perhaps the most perplexing moment in the song. It’s unclear what the purpose of this line is. Is it a diss? A desperate attempt at relevance? Whatever the intention, it comes across as nonsensical and misplaced within the context of the song. Eminem, a rap icon with a long and storied career, is unlikely to be losing sleep over a washed-up comedian’s fleeting mention in a politically charged rap track. One can only dream of a response track, perhaps titled “Barr None,” where Eminem could truly dissect this collaboration.
Adding to the overall bizarre aesthetic, MacDonald inexplicably styles Barr in blonde braids, seemingly to mirror his own signature look. This visual choice only amplifies the song’s awkwardness, begging the question: is this an attempt at parody, or simply a misguided fashion decision?
Lyrically, “Daddy’s Home” revolves around the idea of celebrating Trump’s potential re-election and taunting “woke” Americans who voted for Kamala Harris. MacDonald and Barr attempt to paint a picture of enraged liberals supposedly unable to cope with the election results. However, this narrative feels detached from reality. There has been no widespread “show of force” from anti-Trump voters in recent times. Ironically, the song’s aggressive posture could be more accurately directed at the MAGA community itself, given the events of January 6th, 2021, when Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol in protest of election results.
Musically, “Daddy’s Home” is equally uninspired. The beat is generic and forgettable, and MacDonald relies heavily on lyrical repetition to stretch the song to its brief 2:12 runtime. Barr’s lyrical contributions consist mainly of rehashing her grievances about being labeled “racist” and her stance against the COVID-19 vaccine – topics that feel increasingly stale and predictable.
In conclusion, “Daddy’s Home” is a disappointing addition to the realm of new rap songs. It’s a politically charged track that ultimately lacks substance, originality, and musical merit. While the collaboration between Tom MacDonald and Roseanne Barr might have been intended to generate buzz, the final product is an unremarkable and ultimately skippable song. Instead of exploring this track, listeners seeking fresh and compelling new rap songs would be better served looking elsewhere.
