Offset Owns Up To His Shortcomings As A Parent On “Father Of 4”

Prior to the release of Offset’s solo debut album, FATHER OF 4, the Migos member’s A&R Carlos Desrosiers told The New York Times that the project would include songs about the rapper’s life story. As shown by the album’s title and cover art featuring Offset surrounded by each of his four children, fatherhood is one of the primary themes on the full-length release. The Metro Boomin-produced title track sets the tone, opening the album with a specific apology to all of his children, each born from a different mother.

The introduction by Atlanta spoken word artist Big Rube, who is known for his work with OutKast, sets the tone for the track:

I am who you see
What you hear is part of me
But there’s so much more to me
So much more to be than just alive
A son, a brother, a husband, a father
But still can go even farther
Wish and will, can go harder
In that time, I went the hardest
More than this generic term “artist.”

Offset starts the chorus by mentioning his 9-year-old firstborn child Jordan:

I was 17 years old when I had you
Tryna find my soul when I had you
I was oh so broke when I had you
Locked up down the road when I had you
Jordan, sorry I wasn’t there for all your birthdays
I tried to hit, I wasn’t rich, and had no workplace

In November 2017, The Blast reported that Jordan’s mother Justine Watson had filed court documents in August to establish paternity and child support for their son. She alleged that Offset had not been there for their child both physically and financially, seeking retroactive child support and $15,000 in attorney’s fees. Offset responded by claiming he had provided for Jordan since birth. In addition to requesting joint legal and and physical custody of their son, Offset reportedly wanted the child’s name legally changed to his own.

The chorus continues with a reference to Offset’s other son Kody:

My son Kody, he three, rappin' already like me
Ridin' in the car, you don’t play me, then he gon' scream

Kody was born to Oriel Jamie. They appear to be on good terms, as Oriel congratulated Offset on his engagement to Cardi B. As Genius contributor tomsarram points out, Offset previously shared a video of Kody freestyling at his 3rd birthday party:

The first verse features Offset rapping about his first daughter Kalea Marie:

Kalea, you my first, first daughter
I missed the first years of your life, I’m sorry
Tell the truth, I ain’t really know if I was your father
Tell the truth, I really don’t even know your mama

Kalea’s mother is Atlanta rapper Shya L'amour, who is best known for her single, “On Go.”

Finally, Offset addressed Kulture Kiari, his other daughter and first child with his wife Cardi B. As Genius contributor tomsarram explains, both Offset and Cardi have been reluctant to share photos of Kulture:

It’s clear that Offset is trying to avoid having an estranged relationship with his children like the one he has with his father. In a recent interview with Esquire, Offset spoke about falling out of touch with his father, who left when Offset was just a toddler. According to the rapper, the last time they spoke was three years ago on the phone.

When Offset offered to share some of his newly earned money, his father said he couldn’t accept it out of a sense of pride. “It just started to make me upset,” Offset remembered. “You slapped my hand when it wasn’t even out. You didn’t even come back to put anything in my hand. So now I feel like you don’t have any respect for me. You’re still running and you don’t have to.”

Listen to the song above, and read all the lyrics to Offset’s “Father of 4” on Genius now.