The lack of fathers remains a significant problem in the black community. As a new generation attempts to right the wrongs of the generation before them, more issues have prevented the black family structure from becoming strong again. Memphis, Tenn., rapper Don Trip delves into the tribulations of single fatherhood in his new single, “Letter To My Son.”
Don Trip sat down with rolling out to discuss his thoughts on the song that has had a tremendous impact since being released. –amir shaw
How did “Letter To My Son” come about?
It was my personal story that I wanted to tell. It was something on my chest. I was venting and it just so happened that me venting is what flourished into everything that happened now. I wasn’t doing it to get a record deal. Actually, I had given up on the whole aspect of signing to a major and that I was going to do it on my own no matter how long it took. And when I did that record, that was just what was on my heart. I just poured it out and, fortunately, it picked up two years later. And that just goes to show that patience is a virtue.
From an overall perspective, you are a black man who wants to be in his child’s life. How important is that message for black men?
That goes for all men. If you want to be called a man, you have to be a man. You made that seed. You [were] a man for however long it took to conceive that child. … So if you could do that, then you should man up and take responsibility and take care of your seed. … When it comes to actually providing for your child and being there for your child, time and money has to go into that. So even if you don’t got all of the money in the world, the time still counts because you can’t get those moments back.
Cee Lo Green adds a soulful melody to the record. How did that come about?
The Cee Lo Green addition to the record came about when we got a call from Jimmy Iovine. The call was to add a hook to it. Once we came to agreement to add the hook, I suggested that it had to be somebody with some soul. It had to be somebody that you could feel on the record. And it had to be somebody like Cee Lo Green. So that was an honor in itself.
