"Father" is the third single from LL Cool J

LL Cool J

James Todd Smith , better known as LL Cool J , is an American rapper, entrepreneur, and actor...

's seventh album, Phenomenon

Phenomenon (LL Cool J album)

Phenomenon is the seventh studio album by rapper LL Cool J. After the success of his previous release Mr. Smith, the same basic principles are followed here, with several R&B-influenced tracks, and a couple of more hardcore Rap tracks. The album was not as commercially successful as Mr. Smith in...

. It was released on January 13, 1998 for Def Jam Recordings

Def Jam Recordings

Def Jam Recordings is an American record label, focused primarily on hip hop and urban music, owned by Universal Music Group, and operates as a part of The Island Def Jam Motown Music Group...

 and was produced by Erick Sermon

Erick Sermon

Erick Sermon , in Bay Shore, New York is an American rapper, musician, and producer.Sermon is best known as half of late-1980s/1990s hip hop group EPMD and for production work. He currently resides in Islandia, New York.- Career :...

 and LL Cool J.

"Father", which was an auto-biographical song that detailed LL's abuse from his step-father, would prove to be the most successful single from the album, it made it to #18 on the Billboard Hot 100

Billboard Hot 100

The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...

 and became his eighth single to reach #1 on the Hot Rap Singles. The song's main sample is "Father Figure" by George Michael

George Michael

George Michael is a British musician, singer, songwriter and record producer who rose to fame in the 1980s when he formed the pop duo Wham! with his school friend, Andrew Ridgeley...

.

Peak positions

Chart (1998)	Peak position
Billboard Hot 100	18
Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks	12
Billboard Hot Rap Singles	1
Billboard Rhythmic Top 40	23

End of year charts

End of year chart (1998)	Position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	97
Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks	80
Billboard Hot Rap Singles	14