Subscribe

* indicates required
Okayplayer News

To continue reading

Create a free account or sign in to unlock more free articles.

By continuing, you agree to the Terms of Service and acknowledge our Privacy Policy

Okayplayer's Top 10 Father's Day Jams

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY.

Father's Day is upon us, players (and former players) and as the only bonafide Dad in the Okayplayer office, seems only right that it falls on me to assemble our official list of Top 10 Father's Day  Jams (listen up, youngbloods). This is not a true countdown or a "real" mixtape, of course. Just a playlist of Dad-friendly beats to soundtrack your Fathers Day activities of laying around, chomping cigars, reading the newspaper--and eating the big piece of chicken.

1. Chris Rock Intro

You already knew. Every (conceptual) mixtape needs an intro and no soundbite sums up the bragging rights of being poppa bear than Rock's paean to the Real Daddys. Father's Day is every day in Chris Rock's world.

2. Common - "Pop's Rap"

The ultimate father-son franchise in hip-hop, Lonnie Lynn senior and junior team up to drop some Fatherly wisdom on the whole world...click through for "Pop's Rap" parts two and three.

3. Common - "Pop's Rap 2"

4. Common - "Pop's Rap 3"

5. Femi Kuti - "Water No Get Enemy"

Femi's cover/tribute to the father of afrobeat (and his own biological) Fela Kuti's "Water No Get Enemy"--famously interpolated by The Soulquarians on "Pop's Rap 3" makes the perfect seque into the rest of our playlist--and one of the few times Femi has ever "covered" his Dad. Because the 1st rule of afrobeat is, we nuh play backtune.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY.

6. V/A - Legend Remixed.

Not every EDM reinterpretation on this version excursion from Bob Marley's most famous "album" is a top shotta. But with multiple remixes of Marley classics ("Stir It Up"; "No Woman No Cry"; "Easy Skanking"; "Redemption Song" and "Buffalo Soldier") from sons Ziggy and Stephen, Legend Remixed is a Father's Day playlist-within-a-playlist (there's also some gems contributed by non-blood relations--see Jim James' contribution, not to mention Photek's future dub take on "One Love.")

7. Big K.R.I.T. - "Rich Dad, Poor Dad."

K.R.I.T.'s tribute to his hard-working, example-setting pops is not only the most recent addition in the Father-Son category, but possibly the most heartfelt ever--a Father's Day must-spin.

8. Nas x Olu Dara - "Bridging The Gap"

Of course "Life's A Bitch" is the original and classic Nas x Olu Dara team up, but "Bridging The Gap" is a true tribute, not just a cameo and a namecheck in the album credits but a cross-generational collaboration that provides an excellent blueprint on how to get it together and give game the right way. The Father's Day soundtrack jam par exellence (not to mention the anthem of Gap-wearers of all ages and genders).

9. Nas - "Daughters"

Nas pays it forward with 2012's grown-man gamechanger "Daughters." Although equally appropriate for International Women's Day, the line "They say the coolest playas and foulest heart breakers in the world / God gets us back, he makes us have precious little girls..." makes this a poignant and essential Father's Day selection for the Okayplayer generation.

10. EDO G. - "Be A Father To Your Child"

The O.G. of hip-hop tributes to biologicals who bothered, EDO G's 1991 how-to manual also has one of the best rap videos ever; like Mo' Betta Blues meets Knocked Up. A fitting closer to our Father's Day playlist, this one goes out to all the Daddies in the entire world. Enjoy the rest of your special day of self-indulgence--you earned it. Then get one good night's sleep and go right back to being an ED O.G. to your child.