PHOTOSChristian Rapper TobyMac’s Oldest Child Truett Foster McKeehan Dies Suddenly At Home
Oct. 24 2019, Updated 4:00 p.m. ET
Christian rapper TobyMac’s first-born child Truett Foster McKeehan died suddenly at his home. The 21-year-old was an aspiring rapper himself and released music under the pseudonyms truDog, TRU and Shiloh.
"Truett did pass away at home in the Nashville area sometime Tuesday night or Wednesday morning," a rep told USA Today in a statement.
"Cause of death has not been determined,” the Davidson County Medical Examiner’s office said. “Toby was traveling back from Canada and did not get home to be with his family until after midnight last night so there is no statement. We just ask that everyone please be respectful of their privacy during this time and allow them to grieve their loss.”
TobyMac was on tour in Canada at the time of his son’s death. His concerts on October 24 and 25 have been canceled.
TobyMac, 55, released a song in 2018, which discussed his changing relationship with Truett after he moved out to live in Los Angeles for his career. “Now you won’t take my phone calls, You won’t text me back at all, I just wanna see you, I can’t stand to see you gone," he rapped in the song “Scars.”
TobyMac and his wife Amanda are also parents to Judah, Leo, and twins Marlee, and Moses. Truett and his siblings appear to have last been reunited in Tennessee in April for the Easter holiday.
“To see my children go out there and do this real world it’s painful,” TobyMac told an outlet in October 2018 about the inspiration for the song “Scars.” He added, “I wrote this one for my boy. I wanted to let him know that I’m here for him and God is there for him. So lift your head my son to where your help comes from.”
He also echoed the sentiments about Truett in an interview with The Tennessean. “He moved to L.A. and he's making music, and he's doing his thing. But to watch him go through that, and watch him get bruised, it's not easy,” TobyMac said. “So that's one of the ways life has changed. In that song, I just want him to know he's not alone.”
The Christian rapper released the song in September 2018 shortly after his son’s 20th birthday. TobyMac gushed about his son on Instagram and wrote, “Happy birthday first son, big brother, young man, gifted artist, lover of God, life of the party, friend to all, creative soul, apple of my eye.”
