Fatt Father
Parenting wisdom from Detroit’s Fatt Father; photographed by Mario Butterfield.
On a sobering Veterans Day in America, Fatt Father presents a listen to his new third album titled after today’s holiday that provides voices & identities beyond war story hype with brilliant production from D.R.U.G.S. Beats. Released through the independent imprint Fueled By Life Media Group, Fatt Father paints Detroit based portraits of experiences along with detailed recollections of remembered loved ones/lost ones & situations where contributions from fellow talents Royce Da 5’9”, Kuniva (of D12), Ro Spit, Chordz Cordero, Low Down & Fat Killahz, provide further local elaborations of the lesser sung & unheard souls whose trials & tribulations have been denied due process, a platform & chance to be heard by the outside world.
Taking us deep into personal narratives with stories recalled from lives in the D that paint intimate portraits of how precious & fragile the game of life truly is—Fatt Father’s Veterans Day toasts tales of survival paying tribute to not just our brave military forces but the day-to-day survivors, casualties of war & the wounded warriors that hail from the streets of life. The album begins with the cinematic flashback intro that provides an oral history segment of the “things that come back” that sets the somber & hyper-real tone of Veterans Day. Fatt sets the table with the immersive funeral organ, death knell ring & haunted choral vocals from D.R.U.G.S. Beats super-sensory production that brings the full emotive weight of mourning the death of a brother, & the unsuitable situations of strife that are depicted in “Shabazz’s Gospel”, through the thick of it on “Come On”, with the 70s film funk of “Mama’s Words” where Fatt Father hands over the mic to mama for some maternal words that will set you on the straight & narrow pretty darn quick.
Life lessons get poured on heavy from the pulpit testimonials delivered by Fatt Father that takes takes us to church on “One Day” that reaches out for redemption in a confessional, to the solemn salute of Taps played by a lonely horn on “The Unthinkable”. Reiterations of “I do it for the real, I don’t do it for the fake” strike true on “Keep Ya Head Up” that gives a shout outs to the family & folks in the pen, right before D.R.U.G.S. plugs in the whole thing to an electric affair on super rhythmic instructional that asks his impressionable audience not to talk but rather, “Just Listen”. Fatt is joined by Fatt Killahz on “Never Die” that pours a little out to the great eternal while reminiscing to a reflective back beat that sends things into a mental stream of nostalgia right before issuing a track about responsibilities on “All Day”. The thrills of dropping the kids off at momma’s house so you can party is sung with an element of humor & realness joined by Ro Spit on “K.A.M.M.H.”, questions of “Why” ft. Chordz Cordero that offers up some snazzy funk right before the beautiful, tragic & all out heart-breaking “Linda” ballad might make you cry. The mood gets livelier on “The Greatest” that offers up a round of Muhammad Ali level boasts from Low Down, Royce Da 5’9″ & Kuniva right before Fatt Father gets on the blow-horn to deliver a message for all people to hear all the inclusive “Everybody”, right before the curtain call of “Thank You” that brings the entire album full circle with dedications & an abundance of gratitude where the closing “Outro” connects the opening “Veteran State Of Mind (Intro)” with closing war zone memories, sensory & more that that can never escape the far reaching grasp of emotionally & spiritually charged remembrances.
Detroit’s own champagne papi—Fatt Father; press photo courtesy of the artist.
Fatt Father provided us with the following insightful exclusive that reflects on both Veterans Day the holiday & the album:
Fatt Father talks Veterans Day
Veterans Day is a holiday reserved to pay homage to all of the brave men and women who have served in the armed forces. What started as a day celebrating those who fought in World War I, Veteran’s Day is the day we honor those who left families, and sacrificed themselves, in order to protect others. I respect and salute the courageous men and women who suit up to protect the people and the country that they believe in.
The D’s own boss baller Fatt Father; photographed by Trigger Finger Visuals.
Veterans Day the album, is similar to the holiday in many ways. The album represents life and the situations that we endure throughout life. After completing the project and listening back, It felt like a war had been documented. The fallen soldiers, the POWs, the pain, family, politics, economics, love, hate, defeat and victory are just a few of the elements used to create this 56 minute masterpiece. Drugs Beats provided the perfect production layout to work hand and hand with every bar. I’ve never been in the military, nor will I pretend to be as brave as those men and women who sign up to fight for us. My goal was simply to tell my story and pay homage to the people, the situations and learned lessons that helped mold me into who I am today. SALUTE!
Fatt Father live; press photo courtesy of the artist.
Fatt Father’s new album Veterans Day is available now from Fueled By Life Media Group.
