: Kendrick recounts playing basketball with his father, who used aggressive competition to teach resilience rather than providing emotional comfort. Musical Feature: Sampha
"Father Time" is the fifth track on Kendrick Lamar 's 2022 album, Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers . It is widely considered one of the project's most introspective and transparent moments. Kendrick Lamar - Father Time ft. Sampha (Official Audio)
: The song begins with a suggestion from Kendrick's wife, Whitney Alford, that he seek therapy. Kendrick explores his resistance to vulnerability, attributing it to "daddy issues" and a childhood defined by "tough love". : Kendrick recounts playing basketball with his father,
: He reflects on how his father taught him to suppress emotions—described as "no chaser neat"—and how this emotional unavailability is passed down through generations. It is widely considered one of the project's
The track features a "whimsical and melancholy" piano-driven beat produced by a team of long-time collaborators: