Father (LL Cool J song) explained

Father
Cover:	Father LL Cool J.jpg
Type:	single
Artist:	LL Cool J
Album:	Phenomenon
B-Side:	4, 3, 2, 1
Released:	January 13, 1998
Recorded:	1997
Genre:	Hip hop gospel
Length:	4:44
Label:	Def Jam
Producer:	Trackmasters
Chronology:	LL Cool J
Prev Title:	4, 3, 2, 1
Prev Year:	1997
Next Title:	Hot, Hot, Hot
Next Year:	1998

"Father" is the third single from LL Cool J's seventh album, Phenomenon. It was released on January 13, 1998 for Def Jam Recordings and was produced by the Trackmasters.

"Father", which was an auto-biographical song that detailed LL's abuse from his mother's boyfriend, would prove to be the most successful single from the album, it made it to number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became his eighth single to reach number one on the Hot Rap Singles. It sold 500,000 copies.^[1] The song's main sample is "Father Figure" by George Michael.^[2]

The music video was directed by Samuel Bayer.

Track listing

A-side

1. "Father" (radio edit) – 3:57
2. "Father" (instrumental) – 4:42

B-side

1. "4, 3, 2, 1" (remix instrumental) – 5:00
2. "4, 3, 2, 1" (instrumental) – 4:15

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "Father"!Chart (1998)!Peak
position

Year-end charts

Chart (1998)!scope="col"

Position
US Billboard Hot 100^[3]	97
US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks^[4]	80
US Billboard Hot Rap Singles^[5]	14

Notes and References

1. Best-Selling Records of 1998 . Billboard. BPI Communications Inc.. January 30, 1999 . June 3, 2015 . 75 . 0006-2510. 111. 5.
2. album. Phenomenon. 1997. Def Jam Recordings.
3. Web site: Billboard Top 100 - 1998 . 2010-08-28 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090309202636/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1998 . 2009-03-09 .
4. Book: Billboard Year-End Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks - 1998. 26 December 1998 – 2 January 1999. 2011-09-11.
5. Book: Billboard Year-End Hot Rap Singles - 1998. 26 December 1998 – 2 January 1999. 2011-09-11.