This month, as we celebrate fathers in all their complexity and grace, I have curated a 12–track playlist of songs that capture the raw emotions, wisdom, and stories of fatherhood.
Most of the songs here are rap, which I know isn’t everyone’s favourite. But these tracks tell real, honest stories about what it means to be a dad, with all the feelings that come with it.
It is a playlist for fathers, for sons and daughters of fathers and father figures. It’s for those who have had good dads, and for those who want to do better or understand more.
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Dax – To Be a Man
Opening with raw emotion, Dax unpacks the weighty expectations and struggles of manhood and fatherhood in a brutally honest reflection that resonates with anyone striving to do right by their family.
Joyner Lucas – Will
Inspired by Will Smith’s legacy, Joyner Lucas delivers a heartfelt tribute to father figures and mentors who shape lives with love and guidance.
Luther Vandross – Dance with My Father
A timeless classic homage to the irreplaceable love of a father.
Ed Sheeran – Small Bump
Ed Sheeran captures the beauty and heartbreak of fatherhood in a song about hope, loss, and the delicate nature of life.
Tupac – Letter 2 My Unborn
Tupac’s urgent and powerful message here speaks volumes about dreams, fears, and a father’s hopes amidst a harsh world.
Olamide – Letter to Milli
A deeply personal letter to his son talks about love, struggle, and legacy.
Eminem – Mockingbird
A father’s heartfelt attempt to explain life’s chaos to his daughter.
Macklemore (feat. Ed Sheeran) – Growing Up
Hopes and lessons a father wishes to pass to his newborn daughter.
Propaganda (feat. Sho Baraka) – I Ain’t Got an Answer
This track is an honest reflection on the uncertainties inherent in parenting.
Phil Collins – Son of Man
A song that inspires both fathers and children to embrace their unique paths.
Sauti Sol – Sober
A father seeks forgiveness and realness beyond the façades of everyday life.
Passenger – Walk in the Rain
Sharing life’s burdens with someone who truly understands.
