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The eldest son of Christian rapper TobyMac, Truett Foster McKeehan, died on Wednesday, Fox News has learned.
A rep for TobyMac, whose real name is Kevin McKeehan, told us that Truett died at his Nashville home. He was 21.
"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," the singer's rep said.
Truett Foster McKeehan in a music video titled "Villa Pl. Freestyle." (YouTube)
The Davidson County Medical Examiner's office said Truett died Wednesday but would not provide any further details.
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Truett was an aspiring rapper. He went by the names Truett Foster, TRU, Shiloh and truDog online and collaborated with his father on a few tracks.
In a tribute written by TobyMac, and obtained by Fox News, he said his son "had joy that took the room when he entered."
"He was a magnetic son and brother and friend. If you met him you knew him, you remembered him," TobyMac wrote. "His smile, his laugh, the encouragement he offered with words or even without. He had an untamable grand personality and dreams to match. And he hated being put in a box.
"He expressed himself through the music he made," TobyMac continued. "And by made I mean, written, recorded, produced, mixed, and designed the art. All of it. A true artist. His first show was a week ago, and it was nothing short of electric.
"Everyone felt it, everyone knew it," he recalled. "He could’ve easily taken the easy route and put music out when he was 12, 14, 16, even 18, but he always said he wanted to live some life and have something to say before he did it. He didn’t want to be a child star, he wanted to be a man with scars and a story to tell. I always admired, respected and encouraged that stand."
(TobyMac)
He added: "Truett always had a soft spot for God. The Bible moved him. His heart was warm to the things of his King. He was by no means a cookie cutter Christian but give me a believer who fights to keep believing. Give me a broken man who recognizes his need for a Savior every time. That’s who Truett was and how he should be remembered."
TobyMac went on to share his "last moment" in-person with his son, which was this past Thursday at the Factory in Franklin, Tenn.
"I had to leave the next morning very early to fly and start our Canadian tour," he said. "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."
(TobyMac)
In his tribute, TobyMac also shared the last text message exchange he had with Truett, where he told his son how proud of him he was, to which Truett responded: "love you dad. thank you so much. you have always believed in me. make me feel like a superhero."
TobyMac concluded his tribute by saying that he and his wife, Amanda -- with whom he also shares children, twins Moses and Marlee, Leo, and Judah -- "would want the world to know" the following.
"We don’t follow God because we have some sort of under the table deal with Him, like we’ll follow you if you bless us. We follow God because we love Him. It’s our honor."
"He is the God of the hills and the valleys," TobyMac said. "And He is beautiful above all things."
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