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Some, if not all, of rap’s greatest names — Drake, Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, Kanye West and lots extra — are fathers. For years, although, fatherhood in Hip Hop has roughly been handled as an afterthought briefly talked about between verses or decreased to the pink carpet. Over time, we’ve seen fairly just a few artists lean into it as a theme. Fortunately, that’s given us a rising variety of rap songs that discover what it means to be a dad.
With that in thoughts, Rap-Up collected 10 songs that showcase fatherhood in all its complexity. Between deep cuts like Quando Rondo’s “Letter to My Daughter” and Aminé’s “Fetus” to extra well-known tracks, similar to West’s “Violent Crimes,” right here’s an in depth take a look at a few of our favorites.
1. She’s Mine Pt. 2 by J. Cole
J. Cole is usually tight-lipped about his private life, which is why “She’s Mine Pt. 2” seems like one of many extra private songs from 4 Your Eyez Solely, arguably his most emotionally affecting album to this point. Whereas “She’s Mine Pt. 1” seemingly captured his emotions for his spouse, half two discovered him embracing fatherhood to the fullest extent. Plus, he’s most likely one of many solely rappers who might get away with critiquing the company greed behind Christmas and Black Friday on a monitor devoted to his new child daughter.
2. On Up by Massive Sean
Higher Me Than You may be considered one of Massive Sean’s most reflective initiatives ever, with a extra mature model of him coming by way of clearly on “On Up.” Devoted to his son Noah Hasani, the Detroit rapper dishes heartfelt traces about seeing innocence in his boy’s eyes and imagining himself as a grandfather sometime. Its music video is additional particular, too — due to appearances from mommy Jhené Aiko and Massive Sean’s personal mom, Myra Anderson. To not point out, the Jodeci “Get On Up” pattern that runs by way of the monitor is one thing we fortunately have on repeat for days.
3. Violent Crimes by Kanye West
West’s “Violent Crimes” is actually a cautionary story about males failing to respect girls till they grow to be fathers themselves. “Father, forgive me, I am petrified of the karma / ‘Trigger now I see girls as somethin’ to nurture / Not somethin’ to overcome,” the Chicago lyricist admits within the monitor’s solitary verse. For such a somber, reflective monitor in his already expansive catalog, references to Nicki Minaj (“I hope she like Nicki, I make her a monster”) and that one scene from Unhealthy Boys II (“I answered the door like Will Smith and Martin”) in some way make it considered one of his most oddly self-revealing.
Does it hit the identical understanding Pardison Fontaine wrote most of it? Perhaps not fully. Nevertheless, “Violent Crimes” is definitely among the many finest songs from ye.
4. Letter to My Daughter by Quando Rondo
“Letter to My Daughter” is a becoming method to shut out QPac, serving as a form of emotional reset after all the things that got here earlier than. Whereas a lot of the album finds Rondo working by way of layers of ache and his difficult relationship with medication, the ultimate monitor seems like a lightweight breaking by way of the darkness. It’s a reminder that, above all, he’s a father — and one who clearly desires nothing greater than to present his child woman the world.
5. Like Father, Like Son by The Recreation
“My son’s ultrasound the closest I ever been to heaven / Lord forgive me for my sins, I do know it is final minute” may be the realest The Recreation has ever rapped, not less than with regards to fatherhood. On “Like Father, Like Son,” he’s overwhelmed by butterflies “like Mariah Carey” (a nod to her 1997 hit), vividly recalling the precise second he came upon he was having a boy. OG followers most likely bear in mind Harlem Taylor — named after the enduring New York neighborhood — additionally making a cameo on the duvet of The Documentary (Deluxe), which homes this deeply private minimize that includes Busta Rhymes.
6. March 14 by Drake
No, “March 14” isn’t the birthday of Drake’s son, Adonis Graham, nevertheless it’s undoubtedly a significant date. On the Scorpion monitor — his second reference to fatherhood on the album, after “Impassive” — the Canadian hitmaker opens up about how he and Sophie Brussaux ended up separated, very like his personal mother and father. “October child for irony’s sake, in fact / I bought this 11 tatted for someone, now it’s yours,” he displays on the document, which fairly satirically, is all about life’s full-circle moments.
7. Father Of 4 by Offset
“Father Of 4” is the title monitor of Offset’s debut solo album, although funnily sufficient, that title now not captures the total image for the Migos rapper. Massive Rube poetically opens the document, which sees the youthful Atlanta native digging deep into his relationships along with his then-four youngsters: Jordan, Kody, Kalea and Kulture Cephus. “I used to be seventeen years outdated once I had you / Tryna discover my soul once I had you,” he mentioned of his firstborn, Jordan.
Offset’s vulnerability shines by way of once more as he addresses his eldest daughter: “Kalea, you my first, first daughter / I missed the primary years of your life, I am sorry.” He additionally movingly compares Kulture to his late grandmother. After all, the household has grown fairly a bit since, with Offset and Cardi B welcoming two extra youngsters collectively.
8. Fetus by Aminé
Let’s handle the elephant within the room: “Fetus” is unquestionably one method to title a music. However earlier than you decide, realize it’s probably the most considerate — and slept-on — moments from Aminé’s Limbo. “It’s about, mainly, my future little one and desirous to carry them right into a world that I really feel is wholesome and proper, and once I’m prepared,” he instructed Genius.
9. DadBod by Logic
All these followers begging for the return of the “outdated Logic” bought met with the YSIV rapper hilariously flipping them off on “DadBod.” As he spat, “Goddamn, already had a tough life as soon as / Am I speculated to recreate it each album for you cunts?” Satirically sufficient, it may be considered one of Logic’s most genuinely relatable songs ever, contemplating he is simply rapping about working to Goal for his spouse, shopping for new underwear and caring for child Little Bobby.
10. Shoot Up Your Block by DDG
If the web is able to slide for Halo, you higher consider his dad is just too. On “Shoot Up Your Block,” DDG lets listeners know precisely how far he’s prepared to go to guard his household, notably his son. “My son match greater than a grown man / And he bought extra followers, and all he do is present fingers, okay,” the rapper and streamer spat over Money Cobain’s manufacturing. Halo makes a cameo within the music’s accompanying visible, so bonus factors for the father-son second.