Hip Hop and Fathers

We all know that urban youth have often had difficult relationships with their fathers many whom have been absent, if not abusive. There are important public policy concerns that must be dealt with regarding fatherhood and urban communities. No matter how much the issue is researched or what disciplines are utilized as ways to engage fatherhood, we'll never have an answer or a set of policies that appeases everyone. But, discussions have not been confined to academic journals. Hip-hop has made countless references to fathers--some good and some bad. Here are several hip-hop quotables that seem particularly relevant on Father's Day:

"Favorite father?
How you gonna ask me that knowin' most of my click grew up without one?"
-- Saigon, Favorite Things

"I hope you grow up to become that everything you can be
That's all I wanted for you young'n, like Father, like Son
But in the end I hope you only turn out better than me
I hope you know I love you young'n, like Father, like Son"
-- Busta Rymes, on The Game, Like Father Like Son

"You see I deal with the premise that all children are ours
And that we all travel the same path
It's just that we don't get there at the same time"
-- Pops, on Common, Pops' Rap

"I mighta ended up on the wrong side of the tracks
If Pops wouldn't've pulled me back an said yo"
-- Nas, Bridging the Gap (featuring Olu Dara)

"Now dad this is a very sensitive subject
From the first time the doctor placed you in my arms
I knew I'd meet death before I'd let you meet harm"
-- Will Smith, Just the Two of Us


-- Nick J. Sciullo