Rap Dad

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This timely reflection on male identity in America explores the intersection of fatherhood, race, and hip-hop culture. Just as his music career was taking off, Juan Vidal received life-changing news: he’d soon be a father. Growing up, neglectful men were the norm—his own father struggled with addiction and infidelity, leaving Vidal with deep insecurities. At twenty-six, feeling unprepared for parenting, he sought to change the narrative for his child by turning to counterculture. The musician-turned-journalist takes a thoughtful approach to identity and societal views on fatherhood. To confront his fears, Vidal revisits his youth as a first-generation American born to Colombian parents, reflecting on the drug-fueled streets of 1980s–90s Miami. During these formative years, he found solace in skateboarding, graffiti, and hip-hop music. He weaves his personal story with rap lyrics and interviews with compelling figures in pop culture, many of whom are nontraditional fathers. Along the way, he challenges the unfair stereotypes surrounding urban men, particularly Black and Latino men. This heartfelt examination reveals the lasting impact of absent fathers and is rich with symbolism, offering a poetic chronicle of beats, rhymes, and life.