4 da Fam
{{short description|2000 single by Amil}}
{{good article}}
{{Infobox song
| name = 4 da Fam
| cover =
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Amil featuring Jay-Z, Memphis Bleek & Beanie Sigel
| album = All Money Is Legal
| released = September 13, 2000
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
| length = 4:19
| label = Roc-A-Fella
| writer = {{flatlist|
- Amil Whitehead
- Shawn Carter
- Dwight Grant
- Malik Cox
- Ty Fyffe
}}
| producer = Ty Fyffe
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title =
| next_year =
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = Amil
| type = singles
| prev_title = I Got That
| prev_year = 2000
| title = 4 da Fam
| year = 2000
| next_title =
| next_title2 =
| next_year =
}}
{{Extra chronology
| artist = Jay-Z
| type = single
| prev_title = Is That Your Chick (The Lost Verses)
| prev_year = 2000
| title = 4 da Fam
| year = 2000
| next_title = I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)
| next_year = 2000
}}
{{Extra chronology
| artist = Memphis Bleek
| type = single
| prev_title = Is That Your Chick (The Lost Verses)
| prev_year = 2000
| title = 4 da Fam
| year = 2000
| next_title = Change the Game
| next_year = 2001
}}
{{Extra chronology
| artist = Beanie Sigel
| type = single
| prev_title = The Truth
| prev_year = 2000
| title = 4 da Fam
| year = 2000
| next_title = Change the Game
| next_year = 2001
}}
}}
"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 one of the verses, Jay-Z discusses his fears of becoming a father.
"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 {{abbr|No.|number}} 99 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Billboard chart and No. 97 on the Hot Rap Songs Billboard chart. "4 da Fam" was promoted with a music video, which was played on the music show Artist Corner and the BET network.
Recording and release
Ty Fyffe produced "4 da Fam" and wrote it with Amil Whitehead, Shawn Carter (Jay-Z), Dwight Grant (Beanie Sigel), and Malik Cox (Memphis Bleek). The track was mixed by Pat Viala and recorded by Just Blaze. It was released on September 13, 2000 as the second single from Amil's debut album, All Money Is Legal (2000).{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Fam-Explicit-Album-Version/dp/B00138IGI6|title=4 Da Fam (Explicit Album Version) [Explicit]|date=September 13, 2000|publisher=Amazon|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170314022449/https://www.amazon.com/Fam-Explicit-Album-Version/dp/B00138IGI6|archive-date=March 14, 2017|url-status=live}} The song was made available as a 12-inch single through Roc-A-Fella.{{cite AV media notes|title="4 da Fam"|author=Amil|year=2000|publisher=Roc-A-Fella|id=12852}} It was also included on a double A-side with the album's lead single "I Got That".{{cite book|title=I got that : 4 da fam|publisher=WorldCat|oclc = 74825265}} In advertisements for All Money Is Legal, "4 da Fam" was promoted as one of its "blazin' joints".{{cite magazine|date=October 2000|title=Roc-A-Fella Presents…Amil|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yicEAAAAMBAJ&q=%224+da+Fam%22+%22Jay-Z%22&pg=PA18|magazine=Vibe|volume=8|issue=8|pages=18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180404001416/https://books.google.com/books?id=yicEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA18&lpg=PA18&dq=%224+da+Fam%22+%22Jay-Z%22&source=bl&ots=KNck-UJ6UL&sig=EWT-xozmiW6f3zPtdf1CxLPlYvk&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwibttaIqZ_aAhUD2lMKHd_NCPc4eBDoAQhcMAk#v=onepage&q=%224%20da%20Fam%22%20%22Jay-Z%22&f=false|archive-date=April 4, 2018|via=Google Books}}
A music video, directed by Nick Quested, was released for "4 da Fam" in 2000.{{cite magazine|author=Hay, Carla|date=July 29, 2000|title=MTV, Refac Team to Create Consumer Electronics Line|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kxEEAAAAMBAJ&q=%224+da+Fam%22&pg=PA99|url-status=live|magazine=Billboard|volume=112|issue=31|pages=99|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180403233527/https://books.google.com/books?id=kxEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA99&dq=%224+da+Fam%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwipnevln5_aAhXJq1MKHZGpCOkQ6AEIPTAF#v=onepage&q=%224%20da%20Fam%22&f=false|archive-date=April 3, 2018|via=Google Books}}{{cite web|url=https://vimeo.com/151507763|title=Amil feat. Beanie Sigel- Memphis Bleek & Jay-Z – 4 Da Fam|publisher=Vimeo|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180404002211/https://vimeo.com/151507763|archive-date=April 4, 2018|url-status=live}} It was played that year on the music show Artist Corner and BET.{{cite magazine|date=May 20, 2000|title=Video Monitor|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PA8EAAAAMBAJ&q=%224+da+Fam%22&pg=PA109|url-status=live|magazine=Billboard|volume=112|issue=21|pages=109|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180403233527/https://books.google.com/books?id=PA8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA109&dq=%224+da+Fam%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwipnevln5_aAhXJq1MKHZGpCOkQ6AEINTAD#v=onepage&q=%224%20da%20Fam%22&f=false|archive-date=April 3, 2018|via=Google Books}} The video was uploaded to Amil's Vevo account on October 25, 2009.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tosG9zVW4kg|title=Amil, Beanie Sigel, Memphis Bleek, Jay-Z – 4 Da Fam|date=October 25, 2009|publisher=Vevo|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160509053142/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tosG9zVW4kg|archive-date=May 9, 2016|url-status=live}}
Composition and lyrics
At 4 minutes and 19 seconds long,{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/all-money-is-legal-mw0000069377|title=AllMusic Review|last=Wilson|first=MacKenzie|publisher=AllMusic|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012003654/http://www.allmusic.com/album/all-money-is-legal-mw0000069377|archive-date=October 12, 2016|url-status=live}} "4 da Fam" includes verses from Amil, Jay-Z, Memphis Bleek, and Beanie Sigel. Steve Rivers of Ebony described it as a "crew love record". 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."{{efn|During a 2000 interview with Vibe, Jay-Z said that his verse was true and he was expecting a child.{{cite magazine|author=Ex, Kris|title=Jayhova's Witness|date=December 2000|volume=8|issue=10|pages=129–130, 132–136|magazine=Vibe|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7icEAAAAMBAJ&q=%224+da+Fam%22&pg=PA134|via=Google Books|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180403233527/https://books.google.com/books?id=7icEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA134&dq=%224+da+Fam%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwipnevln5_aAhXJq1MKHZGpCOkQ6AEIMTAC#v=onepage&q=%224%20da%20Fam%22&f=false|archive-date=April 3, 2018}} Further information was never provided,{{cite web|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/jay-z-beyond_reasonable_doubt|title=Jay-Z: Beyond Reasonable Doubt|last=Cowie|first=Del F.|date=August 23, 2009|work=Exclaim!|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160329081950/http://exclaim.ca/music/article/jay-z-beyond_reasonable_doubt|archive-date=March 29, 2016}} and Rob Markman of MTV News believed the child "was most likely lost through miscarriage".}} Rob Markman of MTV News wrote that fatherhood was a subject that Jay-Z explored from his debut album Reasonable Doubt (1996).{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1676987/jay-z-glory-cant-be-life-dad-lyrics/|title=Jay-Z Takes on Fatherhood: From 'Glory' to 'Can't Be Life'|last=Markman|first=Rob|date=January 9, 2012|publisher=MTV News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171215040959/http://www.mtv.com/news/1676987/jay-z-glory-cant-be-life-dad-lyrics/|archive-date=December 15, 2017|url-status=dead}} 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."{{cite web|url=http://theboombox.com/jay-z-the-dynasty-roc-la-familia-solidified-his-legacy-hip-hop/|title=How Jay Z's 'The Dynasty: Roc La Familia' Helped Solidify His Legacy in Hip-Hop|last=Preezy|date=October 31, 2015|work=The Boombox|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170509080723/http://theboombox.com/jay-z-the-dynasty-roc-la-familia-solidified-his-legacy-hip-hop/|archive-date=May 9, 2017|url-status=live}} and "I got 4 nephews, and they all write-ing / They all young and wild, plus they all like Beans."{{cite news|url=http://www.ebony.com/entertainment-culture/mel-carter-makes-his-own-way-677|title=The Carter Administration: Jay-Z's Nephew Mel Makes His Own Way|last=Rivers|first=Steve|date=October 4, 2012|work=Ebony|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180404134658/http://www.ebony.com/entertainment-culture/mel-carter-makes-his-own-way-677|archive-date=April 4, 2018|url-status=live}}
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.{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/music/the-best-jay-z-songs/4-da-fam|title=The 100 Best Jay-Z Songs|last1=Barber|first1=Andrew|last2=Shipley|first2=Al|date=March 20, 2018|work=Complex|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180403235054/http://www.complex.com/music/the-best-jay-z-songs/4-da-fam|archive-date=April 3, 2018|url-status=live}} 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".{{cite web|url=http://www.vulture.com/2017/09/all-274-jay-z-songs-ranked-from-worst-to-best.html|title=All 274 Jay-Z Songs, Ranked From Worst to Best|last=Kennedy|first=John|date=September 5, 2017|publisher=Vulture.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180225111015/http://www.vulture.com/2017/09/all-274-jay-z-songs-ranked-from-worst-to-best.html|archive-date=February 25, 2018|url-status=live}} While critical of Amil, Son Raw of Fact referred to the single as a "prime Roc La Familia-era posse cut".{{cite web|url=http://www.factmag.com/2015/06/10/the-rise-and-fall-of-roc-a-fella-records/12/|title=The Rise and Fall of Roc-A-Fella Records|last=Raw|first=Son|date=June 10, 2015|work=Fact|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180404001416/http://www.factmag.com/2015/06/10/the-rise-and-fall-of-roc-a-fella-records/12/|archive-date=April 4, 2018|url-status=live}}
"4 da Fam" peaked at {{abbr|No.|number}} 99 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Billboard chart on July 22, 2000, and remained on the chart for a week.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/amil/chart-history/bsi/|title=Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (4 da Fam)|magazine=Billboard|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171215040959/https://www.billboard.com/music/amil/chart-history/r-b-hip-hop-songs/song/388958|archive-date=December 15, 2017|url-status=live}} 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.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/amil/chart-history/rbs/|title=R&B/Hip-Hop Streaming Songs (4 da Fam)|magazine=Billboard|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171215040959/https://www.billboard.com/music/amil/chart-history/r-and-b-hip-hop-streaming-songs/song/388958|archive-date=December 15, 2017|url-status=live}} It also peaked at No. 29 on the Hot Rap Songs Billboard chart, and remained on that chart for 11 weeks.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/amil/chart-history/rap/|title=Hot Rap Songs (4 da Fam)|magazine=Billboard|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171215040959/https://www.billboard.com/music/amil/chart-history/rap-song/song/388958|archive-date=December 15, 2017|url-status=live}}
Credits and personnel
Credits are adapted from the liner notes of All Money Is Legal:{{cite AV media notes|title=All Money Is Legal|date=September 19, 2000|author=Amil|type=Inlay cover|publisher=Roc-A-Fella Records, Columbia Records, and Sony Music}}
- Featuring – Beanie Sigel, Jay-Z, Memphis Bleek
- Mixed by – Pat Viala
- Producer – Ty Tyfife
- Recorded by – Just Blaze
- Written by – Ty Tyfife, Amil Whitehead, Shawn Carter, Dwight Grant, and Malik Cox
Charts
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|+ Chart performance for "4 da Fam" !align="left"|Chart (2000) ! style="text-align:center;"|Peak |
| scope="row"|US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)
| style="text-align:center;"|99 |
|---|
| scope="row"|US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)
| style="text-align:center;"|29 |
| scope="row"|US R&B/Hip-Hop Streaming Songs (Billboard)
| style="text-align:center;"|97 |
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+Release date and format for "4 da Fam" |
| Country
! Date ! Format ! Label ! {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
|---|
| scope="row"| United States
| {{start date|2000|9|13}} |
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{YouTube|id=tosG9zVW4kg|title="Amil, Beanie Sigel, Memphis Bleek, Jay-Z - 4 Da Fam"}}
{{Amil}}
{{Jay-Z singles}}
{{Beanie Sigel}}
{{Memphis Bleek}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:4 Da Fam}}