Daddy Issues

(album: Paternity Leave - 2020)

(I ain't got no pride. They say pride comes before the fall.)

It's like I'm living happy now
My daughter saying "I love you, Daddy" now
And that kinda juice me up

My daddy didn't know his daddy
And he wasn't much of a daddy to me
It wasn't all his fault, he wasn't taught and that just added to it
Coma from a bike wreck... hold up, hold up, mic check
'Fore I pour my soul out for some folks that I ain't twice met
I never saw my parents together, I got one picture
When you get one side of the story, you most likely got some issues
Always told I just look like him, same demons I fight 'em
Can't believe the pain won't leave, it's the same reason I'm writing
I better do better, now and forever, never say never
I never say no, my daughter gone be spoiled rotten if I let her
Damn near cried from what Ki'elle told Roy in a letter
Once they old enough to miss you, and you no longer together
That's regretful
It'll tear you apart, hurt you in the worst way
Missing them firsts and them birthdays (Hm.)
Recitals, games and them field days
Gotta be there to scare the prom date
I can still hear my mom say, "We don't need him look, we straight
Made it this far without child support
And he don't pay bills where we stay
Plus he cheated while I was still pregnant with you
So what happened next was just an excuse"
Think she see him when she looking at me
I grew up having to deal with that too
Damn

"Ain't like I'm still 5 years old, y'know? Ain't like I'ma be sitting up every night, asking my mom 'when's daddy coming home,' y'know? Who needs him? TO HELL WITH HIM! I'll be a better father than he EVER was. And I sure as hell don't need him for that, CUZ AIN'T A DAMN THING HE COULD EVER TEACH ME ABOUT HOW TO LOVE MY KIDS... How come he don't want me, man?"

Gotta forgive yourself first, had to be there so I left work
Come to find out if your heart empty, it don't matter what your net worth
Living for a social network, dying for the attention
I'm enjoying my truth even though y'all lies look so convincing
I been dancing to Baby Shark, when she go to sleep I watch Ozark
More to life than going live, I'd rather go to the park
Can't lie I'm tired of Elmo. But she can't tell though
Face that look just like me, act just like me, that I can't tell no
Told her momma I hate her (eghh), that's how I felt though
Deep down wishing we could all just stick together like velcro
My last fling had daddy issues, so she looked for love in the Chanel store
Just like street niggas my father figures so I grew up wanting to sell dope
No patience, anyone can make a baby
Take a man to be a real father, I done learned a lot from a lil' toddler
(That's real) Leave it to me and she will prosper
You a deadbeat then we ain't potnas
Can't keep causing these same problems

(Daddy issues...)