Christian rapper TobyMac's 21-year-old son dies unexpectedly at home

Updated

Christian rapper TobyMac is mourning the loss of his 21-year-old son, Truett Foster McKeehan.

A spokesperson for the performer (real name: Kevin Michael McKeehan) confirmed to Yahoo Entertainment that Truett died at his home in the Nashville area “sometime late Tuesday night or Wednesday morning.”

Tobymac holds the award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album for "This Is Not A Test" during the 58th Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California February 15, 2016.  REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson
TobyMac, at the 2016 Grammys, is mourning the loss of his eldest child, Truett. (Photo: REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson)

The Davidson County Medical Examiner's office told The Tennessean that the death occurred Wednesday.

The "I Just Need U” singer’s spokesperson went on to say that Truett’s cause of death “has not been determined.” The Grammy-winning artist traveled from Canada home to Franklin, Tenn., to be with his family and didn’t arrive until after midnight.

In a statement provided to Yahoo Entertainment, TobyMac said Truett “was a magnetic son and brother and friend.”

He said his last moment with his son in person was at Truett’s first show on Oct. 17 at The Factory in Franklin, Tenn., which he described as “nothing short of electric.”

“As I stood in the audience and watched my son bring joy to a room, I was as proud as a ‘pop’ (as Tru called me) could be. It was the culminating moment of a dream that he had since he was 12. It couldn’t have been sweeter. Our music, and what we say lyrically couldn’t be more different, but the outcome was much the same… offering a room full of people a few minutes of joy in a crazy world,” he wrote.

Truett Foster Mckeehan, 21, died at his home in the Nashville area “sometime late Tuesday night or Wednesday morning," a spokesperson for Christian rapper TobyMac tells Yahoo Entertainment. (Photo: TobyMac)
Truett Foster Mckeehan, 21, died at his home in the Nashville area “sometime late Tuesday night or Wednesday morning," a spokesperson for Christian rapper TobyMac tells Yahoo Entertainment. (Photo: Courtesy of TobyMac)

“We just ask that everyone please be respectful of their privacy during this time and allow them to grieve their loss,” the rep said.

TobyMac and his wife, Amanda, have five children, including adopted twins, and Truett was the oldest.

Truett is pictured on the top right:

Like his father, Truett was a performer. An aspiring rapper, he used various stage names, including TruDog, Tru and Shiloh.

 Truett Foster was an aspiring rapper who just had his first performance on Oct. 17 in Franklin, Tenn.
An aspiring rapper, Truett used various stage names, including TruDog, Tru and Shiloh. (Photo: Courtesy of TobyMac)

Here is a video he made:

Under the name TruDog, he made many appearances on his father’s albums through the years.

Last year, TobyMac talked about his song “Scars” being about his relationship with Truett. He called the song “deeply personal” explaining “it is about my son... He left home and he is doing his own thing now. It's also about watching him go through tough times and get cut and bruised. Watching people you love go through hard things is tough, and I want people to know that they are not alone.”

In a statement provided to Yahoo Entertainment, TobyMac says his "last moment with Truett in person was at his first show" on Oct. 17 at the Factory in Franklin, Tennessee.
In a statement provided to Yahoo Entertainment, TobyMac says his "last moment with Truett in person was at his first show" on Oct. 17 at the Factory in Franklin, Tennessee.

TobyMac has postponed concerts set to take place Thursday night and Friday.

Read more from Yahoo Entertainment:

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