Here's a bitter pill for all the dads out there, hip-hop is far less kind to poppas than mommas. I had to scrape through all the corners of earth to find just a handful of the fatherhood equivalent of this Mother's Day playlist. Enjoy these 10 poignant father-child hip-hop anthems. Happy Father's Day.
10. Ja Rule - "Daddy's Little Baby"
© Universal Music
"Daddy's Little Baby" is a rare moment of introspection from Ja Rule's much maligned discography. Ja tells his daughter: "Degrade yourself, never cause I'm teaching you better/Life ain't all about cheddar, diamonds, and leather."
9. Common & Lonnie Lynn - "Pop's Rap"
The "Pop's Rap" series is a staple of Common's albums. It usually which finds Lonnie Lynn Sr. offering words of wisdom to the younger generation on the last song of every Common album.
8. Royce da 5'9" - "Life" (Feat. Amerie)
Royce puts aside his more provocative side and gets philosophical on this moody gem which doubles as a guide of sorts to his little man. The message -- perspective is reality -- may be too complex for little Royce but one day he'll thank daddy for this heartfelt tribute.
7. Will Smith - "Just the Two of Us"
© Columbia
Will Smith transforms Bill Withers' similarly titled love ballad into a father-son anthem. Will's version must have resonated with many dads as it climbed all the way to No.2 on the U.S. Billboard chart.
6. Atmosphere - "Yesterday"
© Rhymesayers
"Yesterday," a standout cut from Atmosphere's When Life Gives You Lemons, finds Slug reminiscing over his father's days on earth.
5. NY Oil - "Father Father"
Though NY Oil's "Father Father" incorporates Barack Obama's famous speech on parental responsibility, it's far more captivating than any political rhetoric on the issue.
4. The Game - "Like Father Like Son" (Feat. Busta Rhymes)
© Universal Music
Game's message to his son on this track from The Documentary is straightforward yet crucial: Learn from your father's mistakes and you'll reduce the chances of making ones of your own.
3. Slick Rick - "It's A Boy"
© Def Jam
It would be convenient to assume that all of Slick Rick's lyrics are misogynistic tales. Buried within The Ruler's treasure chest, however, is this joyous celebration of fatherhood, "It's A Boy."
2. Xzibit - "Foundation"
Xzibit is no stranger to songs about father-son relationships. "Carry the Weight," from At the Speed of Light, deals with his rough childhood and his father's role in his life. On "Foundation," X flips the table and lays down the law for his son over DJ Mugg's heart-tugging track.
1. Ed O.G. & Da Bulldogs - "Be a Father to Your Child"
© Mercury
Ed O.G. most important contribution to hip-hop may be this 1991 plea for parental responsibility. As the title betrays, the song reprimands deadbeat dads ("Stop sittin' like a chair and having your baby wonder where you are/ Or who you are, fool") and urges all fathers to realize that their presence supersede the presents. An undeniable hip-hop masterpiece.
