Gmac Cash | |
|---|---|
 Gmac Cash in 2022 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Gerald Allen (1993-03-12)March 12, 1993 (age 32) Detroit, Michigan, US |
| Genres | Comedy hip hop |
| Years active | 2011–present |
| Alma mater | Southeastern High School |
Gerald Allen (born March 12, 1993),[1] known professionally asGmac Cash, is an Americancomedy rapper known for his various short songs about newsworthy topics, including theDetroit Sign, theBelle Isle Park Giant Slide, theCOVID-19 pandemic, the2022 Michigan gubernatorial election, and theMontgomery Riverfront brawl. He has also written victory songs for his hometown sports teams, theDetroit Lions andDetroit Tigers.
Raised inDetroit, he was influenced by his mother's involvement in music and adopted the stage name "Gmac Cash", making music after graduating from high school in 2011. His breakthrough came with the song "First Day at Popeyes," recorded overTee Grizzley's "First Day Out." He gained further recognition during theCOVID-19 pandemic with songs like "Coronavirus" and "Big Gretch," the latter praisingGovernorGretchen Whitmer's pandemic response. He released "Giant Slide" in 2022, which was featured onJimmy Kimmel Live!, and "Montgomery Brawl" in 2023.
Gerald Allen was born on March 12, 1993, inDetroit, Michigan, and was raised by his single mother on Detroit's East Side.[2] His mother sang in her church's choir and always had music playing in their home, exposing Allen to music from a young age. He played basketball and admired playerTracy McGrady, often referred to as T-Mac, and chose hisstage name "Gmac Cash" in reference to McGrady's nickname. He attendedSoutheastern High School and graduated in 2011.[3]
After graduating from high school, he started making music and selling CDs out of his trunk for $10 each, forming the group True Rich with four of his high school friends.[4] His initial success came with the song "First Day at Popeyes," where he rapped overTee Grizzley's song "First Day Out" while driving around the city with friends. Their reactions encouraged him to record and release the song, which went viral and was reposted byWorldStarHipHop.[3]
In 2016, he was hired at aFiat Chrysler Automobiles stamping plant inSterling Heights, Michigan. During this time, he made the song "FMLA" about his reluctance to go to work the next morning after a night of partying, using theFamily and Medical Leave Act to be absent from work. He filmed the video for the song at a Chrysler plant inWarren, Michigan. In October 2018, plant officials requested him to remove the video because they felt it reflected poorly on the company. He complied with their request but was terminated from his job a week later for violating a company policy regarding the misuse of company property.[5] The following year, he released the song "On Strike" along with a music video showing his participation in theUnited Auto Workers'strike againstGeneral Motors.[6][7]
At the beginning of theCOVID-19 pandemic, Gmac Cash released the song "Coronavirus," where he rapped about self-isolating and avoiding infection by staying home. In the music video, he used a spray bottle of disinfectant like a pistol while wearing a hazmat suit, a surgical mask, and medical gloves.[8][9] The song went viral, with theLos Angeles Times noting that it "wring[s] goofy humor from the predicament of quarantine."[10]
Later on in May, he released the song "Big Gretch," in which he raps aboutMichigan GovernorGretchen Whitmer's response to theCOVID-19 pandemic in Michigan and the protests against thestay-at-home orders. The song was tweeted by rapperEminem and was featured onPitchfork's The Ones, where it was described as "serious but not solemn" political action rap song.[11] It was also noticed by Whitmer herself, who said on in a tweet she loved both the nickname and the song.[12][13] In response, Gmac Cash started aGoFundMe campaign to gift Whitmer a pair of Buffs, a nickname for buffalo horn sunglasses produced byCartier, which were referenced in the song. However, Whitmer declined the gift, citing that she couldn't accept items costing over $50, so the money raised was donated to a charity.[14][15] She later wore Buffs in a taped segment during the City of Detroit's Everybody vs. COVID-19 online music festival held at the end of the month.[16]
In August 2022, Gmac Cash released the song "Giant Slide" about theBelle Isle Park slide, which had recently been reopened.[17][18] The song was featured on a segment onJimmy Kimmel Live!, where guest hostLamorne Morris jokingly commented that it was "the jam of the summer."[19][20] He was later invited to perform the song on the show in December, where hostJimmy Kimmel wore a pair of Buffs.[21][22][23] A year later, he released the song "Montgomery Brawl," which recounted the events of theMontgomery Riverfront brawl.[24] He referenced multiple people, including a Black defender who used a folding chair as an improvised weapon.[25] Several rappers, includingBig Sean,Sexyy Red, andGLC, supported "Montgomery Brawl" by commenting on Gmac Cash'sInstagram page.[26]
In April 2024, he released the song "Detroit Sign", which humorously criticized the newDetroit Sign on theInterstate 94 and satirized the city's aesthetic choices.[27][28] He composed the song in just five minutes, aiming to differentiate himself from other artists in the city, and released a music video on April 12, 2024.[29][30] Days later, he released a sequel titled "Detroit Sign 2", in which he addressed the sign's nighttime illumination and responded to critiques of his initial song.[31]
Gmac Cash is also a well-known fan of Detroit's sports teams. In December 2021 he released a song called "Lions Won," when the team won it first game of the season after starting out 0-10-1 in their first 11 games. Two weeks later, he released "Lions Won Again." The song then became a viral hit among Lions fans.[32]
In 2024, he released a similar song with different lyrics, titled "Tigers Won Again" in honor of the Detroit Tigers, who made an improbably playoff run.[33] In 2025, the song became the official anthem that the team played after victories atComerica Park. Gmac Cash updated the song in August 2025 to coincide with the team's 2026 schedule release.[34]
Gmac Cash's interest in music began during his childhood, as he was exposed to musicians such asJill Scott andMary J. Blige when his mother played music in their home. He began listening to music on his own as a teenager and became a fan of musicians likeLil Wayne and"Weird Al" Yankovic. Yankovic's song "Trapped in the Drive-Thru," which parodiedR. Kelly's "Trapped in the Closet," influenced him, making him appreciate the art of making popular songs with a comedic twist. He also acts in film and television productions and hosts a podcast.[3]
His music has been described as "describing situations and viral moments" byBloomberg News.[4] Gmac Cash stated that he chose to be a comedy rapper in order to stand out. He takes little time to write and record his songs to capitalize on the freshness of the story, often receiving between 100 and 500 direct messages daily from fans requesting that he cover various topics.[6] He is a fan of theDetroit Lions, making multiple songs in support of the team including "Lions Win", "Lions Win Again", and "We the Lions".[2]
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