For Tmcthedon, “Hellcat” Is Just the Beginning of His Race

Story originally published on The Demo Tape on September 2, 2020

One would imagine, in a world without a COVID-19 pandemic on our hands, that this summer would be one for the books in Baltimore. From parties, to shows, and other local events, summers in Baltimore are always ones to remember. The city’s music scene especially benefits from these months, as it always appears that a new artist is able to rise to the forefront and generate a buzz behind one of their songs that the city sings along with as the latest and greatest hometown hymn.

Baltimore songs of the year are made in the summer. Anthems like Tate Kobang’s “Bank Rolls” and Lor Scoota’s “Bird Flu” live forever because they were able to secure that “Song of the Summer” title, and thus live immortally in the hearts of Baltimoreans. Summertime in Baltimore has proven to be the truest test of the gravity a song can possess. An artist’s ability to capture an audience and keep their attention throughout the hottest months of the year, while so many others simultaneously battle for that same pole position, is what turns a viral moment into local folklore.

Tmcthedon is coming off of a 2019 campaign in which his song “Hellcat” was able to make a convincing case for that title — if it didn’t come away victorious. “Since I was yea high, I always liked cars with some muscle,” he says, explaining the reason for the song’s name. “I like how [Hellcats] start up. I like the reactions outta people. And I need something with some oomph on the dash.”

Though many in Baltimore would label the Honda Accord coupe as the city’s favorite, Tmcthedon’s melodic ode to the super-charged Dodge Charger received a video treatment last July that propelled it through the speakers of every car within the city, to local radio, before eventually eclipsing the 1-million view mark on YouTube — a feat that few have accomplished where he’s from. Recently, the video doubled that milestone. However, the YouTube views are just the start for a man who has quickly become a household name in his hometown.

“I ain’t even put too much thought into after five minutes,” he says of the accolade. “At first, I was like ‘damn, I hit 1 million views.’ But then I looked at it like ‘I ain’t even get shit.’ It’s just another number — I gotta keep working. I’m cool with this, but now what’s next. I wasn’t really satisfied.”

He’s made do on his word thus far in 2020, following up 2019’s Sincerely The Don with For The Fans and Art of a Don. Both projects feature him refining and perfecting his melodic style, tight-roping between a mixture of singing and rapping that has seen success in the mainstream, yet places him within a select class in Baltimore. “I took my own direction and Baltimore is behind it,” he thanks his hometown.

This year, he was also able to collaborate with another hometown favorite in YG Teck for their standout track “No Other” from Teck’s Eyes Won’t Close 2 mixtape.

“Growing up, when you see famous people and they come on stage, and you see all the people, you get that chill in your body. So when you in that same predicament, and you’re the person in those shoes, you take it all in.” — Tmcthedon on performing “Hellcat”

Though his rise in popularity has been swift, Tmcthedon says he is doing well with the adjustment — outside of time management. “That’s the one thing I gotta get better at,” he laughs. For now, he says he’s taking everything in day by day.