Today’s song of the day is “Father” by LL Cool J, singer, songwriter and actor. It was released on January 13, 1998, through the Def Jam record label.
The song “Father” is an autobiography that details LL’s abuse by his mother’s partner.
Fun Facts:
- The song’s lyrics were written by James Todd Smith, Claude Olivier, Samuel Barnes and George Michael.
- LL Cool J was born on January 14, 1968, as James Todd Smith in Bay Shore Islip, New York. The talented rapper doubles as an actor, songwriter and record producer.
- When he was four, Smith found his mother and grandfather in critical condition after being shot by his father. Thankfully, both survived and helped support his music career.
- By 16, Smith was making his own demo tapes and sending them to recording studios, including Def Jam. He signed onto Def Jam Recordings in 1984.
- Before he was LL Cool J, Smith took on the name J-Ski. However, he changed his name after discovering rappers used the name “Ski” in association with cocaine culture. LL Cool J stands for Ladies Love Cool James.
- “Father” is part of the album Phenomenon, released on October 14, 1997. The album is the seventh studio album by the talented rapper LL Cool J.
- The hit single rose through the charts achieving unmatched success compared to other singles on the Phenomenon album.
- “Father” made it to the 18th spot on the Billboard Hot 100 and rose to first place on the Hot Rap Singles.
- The song eventually sold half a million copies.
- Smith moved into the acting realm with appearances in Halloween H20, Any Given Sunday, S.W.A.T, and Last Holiday, among others.
- Today, he plays special agent Sam Hanna in NCIS.
- LL Cool J earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2016.
- He also has his own charitable foundation called Jump & Ball to provide athletic and team-building opportunities for young people.
Lyrics
I swear to tell the truth and nothin but the truth…
so help me GOD
I just felt like tellin the story of my life
Felt like, maybe somebody could be inspired, you know?
We all feel pain, we all go through things
But it’s time to overcome all that
If your plane crashed in the water and everybody died
would you drown on purpose or try to survive?
I was born handicapped my arm wouldn’t move
They called me a cripple pops caught an attitude
Beat my moms smoked lye drove trucks
My moms had a miscarriage, he didn’t give a fuck
He sniffed some coke, come home
Beat up on my moms cause she’s talkin on the phone
Come on
(all I ever wanted)
All I ever wanted
(all I ever needed)
All I ever needed
(was a father)
was a father
(that’s all)
That’s all!
(all I ever wanted)
All I ever wanted
(all I ever needed)
All I ever needed… was a father
(was a father)
Moms got tired of the beatings said, “Yo, we got to go”
Packed up her bags we bounced out the do’
She said, “I ain’t takin these whippin’s no mo’
I wanna live to see my little Todd grow”
I remember tear drops on my pops face
Lookin down at me standin on the staircase
Handsome brother with a smooth goatee
Makes me wonder why he act so ugly, you feelin me?
(I’m feelin you)
My pops got drunk when me and my moms bounced
Swigged some Jack Dan’, sniffed up a ounce
Grabbed the shotty left Long Isle for Queens
Possesed by a demon… a devil it seemed
I was too young to understand the risk
when your moms come home off the midnight shift
She turned around heard the shotgun click
My pops said, “You think that you could leave me?”
He blasted my moms in the back
She fell down screamin I can’t forget that
My grandfather tried to close the do’
He got shot ten times in the stomach yo, for real
My head was spinnin, I had never seen blood
Four years old, this don’t feel like love
Anyway, pops dissapeared
Grandpops and moms healed up over the years
This therapist got up in her head
Led her to believe without him she’d be dead
You know, they fell in love with one another
Everything seemed right that’s word to mother
until I started gettin beatings everday
Sometimes for going outside to play
Late at night on my knees I’d pray
a young child, wishin the pain would go away
Dad where was you when he made me strip
Beat with belts like a slave with a whip
Kicked me down steps outside in the snow
Punched me in the chest stomped me out on the flo’
That’s just the tip of the iceberg look
It’s too long for a song but perfect for a book
Word is bond, that’s real baby
0 Comments