The 20 Realest Rap Songs About Fathers

It's no secret that the hip-hop community's relationship with fatherhood is a strained one. Sure, there are a couple of rappers out there who can proudly say that their dads were in their lives and held them down to the best of their abilities. But more times than not, pop bounced—leaving their kids angry, confused and hoping to do better when it came time for them to raise their seeds.

To celebrate Father's Day, Complex put together this list of the 20 Realest Rap Songs About Fathers. Some, like Jay-Z and Beanie Sigel's "Where Have you Been," tear down their deadbeat biologicals. Others, like Kanye West's "Champion," express nothing but love. But every song on here keeps it extra real—and makes it extra clear just how important fathers are in our lives, whether they're actually in them or not.

Written by Brad Wete (@BradWete)

Listen to Complex's Realest Rap Songs About Fathers playlists here: YouTube/Spotify/Rdio

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Album: Porkin' Beans & Wienes

Producer: B-Rock

Label: LaFace / Arista

A 'hood classic for its ignorance and comedic value, this track brings together two fellas and the most ghetto chick ever heard on wax to argue about who she's hanging with and who the father of her child is.

Album: The Ruler's Back

Producer: Vance Wright

Label: Def Jam/Columbia/SME Records

MC Ricky D makes all types of funny statements regarding pregnancy and birth on this cut. "It's kind of amazing folks are born from where we pee at," he muses. "Hope I don't spoil a nigga rotten," he says later of his son.

Album: Shaq Fu: Da Return

Producer: Warren G

Label: Jive Records

Shaq took some time off from breaking backboards to drop these bars about his biological father, who he and his mom left. "You're my dad," O'Neal rhymes. "Messing 'round with them drugs made my moms mad." But the song-one of the biggest hits of Shaq's rap career-also pays tribute to the stepdad who stepped up and raised him.

Album: Big Willie Style

Producer: L.E.S.

Label: Sony

Sampling the Bill Withers classic of the same name, Big Willie talks about all the joys of raising his son Trey, in spite of not being with his mother anymore. "Makes me laugh because you've got your dad's ears and all," he raps. Funny-and true.

Album: Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z.

Producer: Big D the Impossible

Label: Interscope

On this angry cut, 'Pac clowns his father for not being around, and his family for being so broken as a result-with different men creeping in and out of their lives. "Before we get to meet him they break up before the week ends," he spits. "I'm gettin' sick of all the friendships/ As soon as we kick it he done split and the whole shit ends quick."

Album: Asleep In The Bread Aisle

Producer: Oren Yoel

Label: Schoolboy, SRC, Universal Motown

Asher thanks his dad for sacrificing his own goals for the good of his family on this slow-winding track. "His dream is my dream," Asher raps. "My dream is his dream"

Album: What the Game's Been Missing!

Producer: Heatmakerz

Label: Diplomat, Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam

The Dipset rhymer talks about the birth of his son and how he'll always be there even though Santana's dad wasn't for him. "I gotta be there," Juelz raps. "I ain't get to see my daddy 'round."

Album: The Lost Tapes

Producer: Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie

Label: Ill Will, Columbia

You can tell how bad things are in the 'hood from how rappers thank their dads for doing things they're supposed to, like take care of them. "I show my pop love 'cause he was still around when I popped up," Nas spits on this track. Obviously, there are lots of dads out there who bounce on their seeds.

Album: Live From The Underground

Producer: Big K.R.I.T.

Label: Def Jam, Cinematic Music Group

KRIT thanks his dad for his wisdom when it came to things like sex ed-and even more for blessing him with some rubbers. "Thank God for them condoms that my poppa gave me," he begins. "'Cause a convo about birds and bees wouldn't save me."

Album: Tougher Than Leather

Producer: Davy D

Label: Profile Records

"He's crazy, lazy, and rude," Run rapped at the top of this song, clowning his daddy. They sampled The Temptations' "Poppa Was a Rolling Stone" and yelled "Poppa craayyyzaaay" plenty, too.

Album: The Documentary

Producer: Buckwild

Label: Aftermath, G-Unit, Interscope

Game chronicles all the madness that occured when his son was born one day in June. "My stomach folding like a lazy boy," he raps of his seeing the boy come out of his then girlfriend. Like most first-time dads, the man was shook.

Album: N/A

Producer: Streetrunner

Label: N/A

"I only get to see him once a week," Don says of his little son on this Cee-Lo-assited cut. "Apparrently, I'm an unfit father." Because his relationship with the kid's mom stinks, Don regrets "going raw when he piped her." Still deep down heloves the result, his son.

Album: The Dynasty: Roc La Familia

Producer: T.T.

Label: Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam

"I can see it clear as day, you smacking my mom," Beanie Sigel spits through tears on one of Jay-Z's most heart-wrenching tracks. This one is less of a tribute to fathers than a tutorial on the Daddy you don't ever want or want to be. "Do you even remember December's my birthday?" Jay asks his pop on wax. "You showed me the worst kind of pain."

Album: Until the End of Time

Producer: Johnny J

Label: Interscope, Amaru Entertainment, Death Row Records

On this "Liberian Girl"–sampling track, 'Pac raps to his future child in case he's not around to see the youth grow. Sadly, he was in fact gunned down, and he never had any children.

Album: Graduation

Producer: Kanye West, Brian Miller

Label: Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam

Much more than a "we are the champions" boast, this song finds Kanye giving props to his pops for working hard and lacing his son with fresh clothes. "And I dont know what he did for dough," Ye rhymes. "But he'd send me back to school with a new wardrobe. Heeey!"

Album: N/A

Producer: Pharrell Williams

Label: N/A

After suffering through a miscarriage, Jay celebrated the birth of his first child on this Pharrell–produced joint, which features vocals by baby Blue. Jay even lets his guard down to reveal the fact that the child "was made in Paris and mama woke up the next day and shot her album package." Was that a little too much info? You can't blame a new father for wanting to share.

Album: Life of a Kid in the Ghetto

Producer: Joe Mansfield, Special K, Teddy Ted

Label: PWL America/Mercury/PolyGram Records

On this jazzy single, the Boston MC takes a stand and encourages daddys-to-be to man up to their responsibilities. "A boy can make one, but a man can raise one," he spits. Agreed.

Album: One Day It'll All Make Sense

Producer: James Poyser, No I.D.

Label: Relativity

Com' addresses this thought-provoking, somber song to the child his girl aborted because they weren't ready to have one yet. "Having a child shouldn't have to bring out the man in me," he raps. To up the emotional ante, "Retrospect" samples Stevie Wonder's "Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer."

Album: Watch The Throne

Producer: Kanye West, RZA, Mike Dean, Ken Lewis

Label: Roc-A-Fella, Roc Nation, Def Jam

Hov' and 'Ye go in on this standout Throne cut, rhyming to the sons the hope to have in the future,and reflecting on their own lives at the same time. "Just want him to have an easy life," Ye rhymes, "Not like Yeezy life."

Album: Life Is Good

Producer: No I.D.

Label: Def Jam

This smooth NO I.D.-produced joint finds Nas rapping about the challenges of raising his daughter Destiny. It's real rap, even mentioning her her Twitter antics that put her in the spotlight. "A box of condoms on the dresser, then she Instagrammed it," he raps. She sure did. "At this point I realized I ain't the strictest parent."