"4 da Fam" is a song by American rapper Amil, featuring verses from American rappers Jay-Z, Memphis Bleek, and Beanie Sigel. Ty Fyffe produced the song. It was released on Roc-A-Fella as the second single from her debut album All Money Is Legal. In the song's lyrics, Amil boasts about being the best female rapper, and Jay-Z discusses his fears of becoming a father, which his verse suggests he believed was about to occur at the time.
"4 da Fam" received mixed reviews from music critics; some critics praised Jay-Z's verse, while others criticized Amil's contributions. It appeared on several Billboard charts. The song peaked at No. 99 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop SongsBillboard chart and No. 97 on the Hot Rap SongsBillboard chart. "4 da Fam" was promoted with a music video, which was played on the music show Artist Corner and the BET network.
A music video, directed by Nick Quested, was released for "4 da Fam" in 2000.[6][7] It was played that year on the music show Artist Corner and BET.[6][8] The video was uploaded to Amil's Vevo account on October 25, 2009.[9]
Composition and lyrics
At 4 minutes and 19 seconds long,[10] "4 da Fam" includes verses from Amil, Jay-Z, Memphis Bleek, and Beanie Sigel.[1] Steve Rivers of Ebony described it as a "crew love record".[11] In her part, Amil brags about her career through the lyrics: "I'm the illest female that you heard thus far."[12] In his verse, Jay-Z raps about becoming a father in the verse: "I got four nephews and they're all writing ... and I'm having a child, which is more frightening."[a] Rob Markman of MTV News wrote that fatherhood was a subject that Jay-Z explored from his debut album Reasonable Doubt (1996).[15] Jay-Z's other lyrics include: "Y'all niggas truly ain't ready for this dynasty thing / Y'all thinking Blake Carrington, I'm thinking more like Ming."[16] and "I got 4 nephews, and they all write-ing / They all young and wild, plus they all like Beans."[11]
Reception
"4 da Fam" received mixed reviews from music critics. Andrew Barber and Al Shipley of Complex praised Jay-Z's contribution, and wrote that "he had the best verse and batted clean up". In a 2018 article, they included "4 da Fam" in their list of the top-100 best Jay-Z songs.[17] John Kennedy of Vulture.com identified the single as an improvement over the track "Pop 4 Roc" from Jay-Z's fourth studio album Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter (1999), and described "4 da Fam" as "the real deal".[18] While critical of Amil, Son Raw of Fact referred to the single as a "prime Roc La Familia-era posse cut".[19] A writer for Bossip criticized Amil's verse, and included her boast as the best female rapper on their list of the top-ten greatest lies in hip hop music.[12]
"4 da Fam" peaked at No. 99 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop SongsBillboard chart on July 22, 2000, and remained on the chart for a week.[20] On the same day, it reached a peak position of No. 97 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Streaming Songs Billboard chart, staying on the chart for a week.[21] It also peaked at No. 29 on the Hot Rap SongsBillboard chart, and remained on that chart for 11 weeks.[22]
^During a 2000 interview with Vibe, Jay-Z said that his verse was true and he was expecting a child.[13] Further information was never provided,[14][15] and Rob Markman of MTV News believed the child "was most likely lost through miscarriage".[15]