The album is a concept album about the relationship between fathers and sons, exploring this theme from different perspectives. The title of the album refers to the fact that fathers pass down their own experiences and knowledge to their sons and daughters, leaving them with a legacy. It explores the different ways that fathers and daughters interact, how they view each other, how they treat each other, why they do what they do, etc.
The inspiration for the album was Darryl McDaniels’ own relationship with his father. McDaniels lost his father at an early age, so he had to deal with a lot as an adult man without his father around to guide him or teach him valuable lessons that he needed at that time. He has said that he felt like he had to teach himself about life in order to be successful. This is where many of the songs on “Fathers and Sons” came from—his own personal experience (and feelings about) being a son without a father.
When you listen to “Fathers and Sons,” you’ll hear a variety of stories from individual perspectives. This is emphasized by the inclusion of guest artists such as Nas and Q-Tip on the album. The track “Papa Crazy” references Darryl McDaniels’ own father’s death when McDaniels was a child.
The album went Gold despite receiving limited radio play.
