13 Songs Where Family 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Comes First | Playlist 🎧

1. Aloe Blacc, “Family”

💿 All Love Everything • 🏷 BMG Rights Management • 📅 2020

“Family” sets the tone for All Love Everything, the long-awaited, comeback album from Aloe Blacc. It’s an optimal, prime example of a clean-cut, thoughtful R&B record – one that wouldn’t dare offend in the least. Obviously, the title suggests a certain sentiment, one viewed through a positive connotation. Nothing wrong with positivity!

On the chorus, Aloe Blacc asserts, “…I know it’s a long road but all I need / Is right here next to me / My family / My family.”  On the verses, the importance of family and life lessons shine like a beacon lyrically, particular Blacc’s own aspirations: “I’m gonna show them [my little ones] how to dream / We’ll plant a seed and watch it grow into a tree.”

2. Rina Sawayama, “Chosen Family”

💿 SAWAYAMA • 🏷 Dirty Hit • 📅 2020

More folks need to be buzzing about Japanese born, British musician Rina Sawayama.  Best described as an alternative musician, Sawayama’s music encompasses a variety of different styles including pop, R&B and even metal.  Her full-length debut album, SAWAYAMA, released in 2020, is quite intriguing – a must-hear! This awesome artist also happens to be a member of the LGBTQ+ community (She identifies as pansexual and bisexual).  She appears on this FAMILY COMES FIRST list thanks to “Chosen Family.”

“Chosen Family” appears as the 12^th and penultimate cut on SAWAYAMA.  Rina has said this regarding the song:

“I wrote this thinking about my chosen family, which is my LGBTQ sisters and brothers… The concept of chosen family has been long-standing in the queer community because a lot of people get kicked out of their homes and get ostracized from their family for coming out or just living true to themselves.  I wanted to write aa song literally for them…”

How awesome is that! Beyond the moving background, Sawayama serves up lovely, expressive, and nuanced vocals; you sense her authenticity and sincerity.  Furthermore, the production is gorgeous. The sound is balanced yet quite colorful and ear catching.  The best moment is undoubtedly the catchy chorus, the centerpiece of this standout record.

“We don’t need to be related to relate
We don’t need to share genes or a surname
You are, you are
My chosen, chosen family
So what if we don’t look the same?
We been going through the same thing, yeah
You are, you are
My chosen, chosen family.”

3. Cordae, “Family Matters”

Ft. Arin Ray

💿 The Lost Boy • 🏷 Atlantic • 📅 2019

Formerly YBN Cordae, the rapper drops the YBN, retaining just the Cordae. Notably, he was nominated for two Grammys at the 62^nd edition of the awards, including Best Rap Album for his debut, The Lost Boy.  The Lost Boy didn’t exactly light up the charts, but the album did debut at no. 13. Representing the critically acclaimed album on this FAMILY COMES FIRST is “Family Matters.” Fitting, right? RIGHT!

On this lush, soulful rap joint, Cordae doesn’t work alone.  No, he enlists R&B artist Arin Ray for the assist.  Ray provides lovely vocals on the chorus, which definitely support those ‘family matters’:

“It be the ones that’s closest
That go through the most shit
Maybe it’s me that’s been selfish
Don’t know why I can’t help it
And it’s been hard for me
To see what you been goin’ through, it’s tirin’
‘Cause you’ve been sufferin’, you’ve been sufferin’
No more sufferin’ in silence.”

As for the main attraction, Cordae provides a compelling narrative over the course of two verses.  As he spits, you can sense the authenticity served up about real people and their various struggles.  It all commences with that “Auntie who be raisin’ her daughter’s kids… Baby dad ain’t really with that supportive shit,” later referencing “an auntie who a prostitute, it hurt my soul / Promising you sellin’ your body ain’t worth that gold.” Ultimately, this is a totally worthwhile gem from the Lost Boy.

4. Alicia Keys, “Blended Family (What You Do for Love)”

💿 Here • 🏷 RCA • 📅 2016

“Blended Family (What You Do for Love)” is one of the best songs from HERE, the sixth studio album by Alicia Keys.  HERE was an underwhelming album by the Grammy-winner, but “Blended Family” served as a bright spot – a well-produced record seamlessly blending pop and R&B. The guitars and light touches of piano are quite successful.  The beat is dusty and soulful, idiomatic of old-school hip-hop.

Songwriting is where the song’s bread is buttered as Keys gets personal about her own family.

“I know it started with a little drama
I hate you had to read it in the paper
But everything’s alright with me and ya Mama
Baby everybody here you know adores ya.”

Keys brings unity on the chorus of this positive gem:

“That’s what you do, what you do, what you do
What you do for love
‘Cause there’s ain’t nothing, there ain’t nothing
Their ain’t nothing I won’t do for us
It may not be easy
This blend family, but baby
That’s what you do, what you do, what you do
What you do for love.”

5. Jay-Z, “Family Feud”

Ft. Beyoncé

💿 4:44 • 🏷 Roc Nation • 📅 2017

Personally, I’d consider 4:44 to be one of the deepest albums of Jay-Z’s career.  It came as no surprise that the album was nominated for multiple Grammys.  Sadly, Hov walked out empty-handed – it deserved better! Regardless, the album filled with highlights, including fam-reppin’ “Family Feud.” “Family Feud” features vocals from the lovely Beyoncé.

The record embodies portions of “Ha Ya” performed by The Clark Sisters.  The sample cultivates a soulful, spiritual backdrop, fueling the fire for Jay-Z.  The rapper emphasizes the importance of family, spirituality, and being goal-oriented. He touts black pride, positively.  Notably, on the final verse, he references the infamous Becky from his boo’s Lemonade album:

“Yeah, I’ll fuck up a good thing if you let me
Let me alone, Becky
A man that don’t take care his family can’t be rich
I’ll watch Godfather, I miss that whole shit.”

6. Jill Scott, “Family Reunion”

💿 Beautifully Human: Words and Sounds Vol. 2 • 🏷 Hidden Beach Recordings • 📅 2004

“Whoa whoa-o-whoa… What can you say it’s family.” Jill Scott – what an absolutely fabulous musician. Scott broke through with her 2000 debut album, Who is Jill Scott? – Words and Sounds, Vol. 1.  Four years later, Scott would drop a terrific sophomore album, Beautifully Human: Words and Sounds Vol. 2.  The biggest attraction from Vol. 2 is undoubtedly “Golden,” among the best of Scott’s career.  That said, Jill also gives us an awesome familial song with “Family Reunion,” which appears as the ninth track.

“Aunt Juicy been drinkin’ again (wooh) / Its only 1:30 in the afternoon / Everybody tip-toeing ‘round her / We all know she gonna be tore up soon.” On “Family Reunion,” Scott does a superb job of narrativizing the events that take place at a dysfunctional, black family reunion (emphasis on black). She sings beautifully as she captures these entertaining, memorable tales about her next of kin.  The third verse just might be my personal favorite:

“Oh shit, damn Micky and Steven are fightin’ again
Move out the way somebody might get hurt
Aw look at that what happen is worse
They knocked over Elenora’s Lemon Cake (Emm)
You know the one she barely ever makes...”

“Family Reunion” very much embodies the neo-soul sound popular in the early 00s.  The production backing Scott is gorgeous, fueled by a sample, “Look Over Your Shoulder” by The Escorts. “Golden” is the ‘ace in the hole,’ but the “Family Reunion” is pretty damn good.

7. Drake, “Keep the Family Close”

💿 Views • 🏷 Young Money Entertainment / Cash Money • 📅 2016

“All of my ‘let’s just be friends’ are friends I don’t have any more / How do you not check on me when things go wrong / Guess I should’ve tried to keep my family closer…” Lyrically, sounds very Drake-like if I do say so myself.  “Keep the Family Close” appears as the opener on the Canadian rapper/singer’s humongous 2016 album, Views.

“Keep the Family Close” kicks things off melodically, in Drake’s emo/R&B persona. It’s a familiar sound, but honestly, it never gets old.  Lyrically, he just doesn’t trust HER anymore, hence why he asserts, “I can’t depend on you anymore.” A girl doesn’t supplant family or close friends, at least a girl that’s not dedicated. Perhaps “Keep the Family Close” isn’t an epic, groundbreaking opener where Views is concerned, but Drake clearly articulates his point, and you’ve gotta dig the lush production.

8. Kacey Musgraves, “Family Is Family”

💿 Pageant Material • 🏷 Mercury • 📅 2015

“Can’t live with or without ‘em; you might talk about ‘em / But if someone else does, well, then you’ll knock ‘em out…” Before there was Golden Hour, Grammy-winning country artist Kacey Musgraves released two studio albums: Same Trailer Different Park (2013) and Pageant Material (2015). Interestingly, her sophomore album, another high-quality effort, didn’t get the buzz it should have.  Regardless, the album features a number of great records, including the family-driven “Family is Family.”

“They might smoke like chimneys, but give you their kidneys / Yeah, friends come in handy, but family is family.” Truly, “Family is Family.” It’s a pretty simple, incredibly relatable concept. In the context of Pageant Material, the record continues Musgraves’ love for truisms. In this case, the truism used is in regard to love for family, no matter how dysfunctional they might be.  Kacey says it best herself: “Family is family, in church or in prison.” Honestly, she’s keeping 100 to the nth degree!

9. Young Thug, “Family Don’t Matter”

Ft. Millie Go Lightly

💿 Beautiful Thugger Girls • 🏷 300 Entertainment / Atlantic • 📅 2017

“Like family don’t matter / What’s poppin’, what’s the deal?” Young Thug – quite the idiosyncratic rapper to say the least.  The quirky Atlanta standout definitely commences his 2017 album, Beautiful Thugger Girls, with a distinct selection: “Family Don’t Matter.” Wow Thugga – that’s a bold statement.  On the melodic cut, which features a mix of guitars and more hip-hop driven production, he’s assisted by Millie Go Lightly.  Don’t get it twisted though – Thugga is the star.

Here in particular, Young Thug exemplifies the label of an acquired taste.  His sound is distinct, blending melodic ideas, and honestly, a unique tone of voice.  After handling much of  the first verse with Mille Go Lightly handles, rapping about weed and Xanax along the way (“I be on Mars all day”), Thugga commands the remainder of the song. Honestly, FAMILY doesn’t seem to matter much here.  Clearly, the focus is more on sex and drip, on both the second and third verses.  I mean, it’s clear that sexed-up lyrics like “I can’t wait to deep stroke to the mornin’ / ‘Bout to put my dick in your mouth right when you yawn” have nothing to do with mom, dad, sister, brother – you catch my drift.

10. Mary J. Blige, “Family Affair”

💿 No More Drama • 🏷 Geffen • 📅 2001

“With a Dre track pumpin’, everybody’s jumpin’ / Go ahead and twist your back and get your body bumpin’ / I told you, ‘Leave your situations at the door’ / So, grab somebody and get your ass on the dance floor!” Yeah!!! Mary J. Blige is one of the greatest singers regardless of genre.  Throughout her illustrious career, she never ceases to amaze with the power and soulful nature of her instrument.  What’s hard to believe is that Blige has only earned one no. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. That chart topper would be the song at hand, “Family Affair,” which appears on her 2001 album, No More Drama.

“Family Affair” is a perfect example of hip-hop soul at its best.  Produced by Dr. Dre (just like Mary told y’all), “Family Affair” has that distinct Dre identity that made him one of the most highly demanded producers back in the day.  The beat is sick, while the keyboards and synths are sleek as albeit. Honestly, two decades later, “Family Affair” still sounds fresh, speaking to the timelessness of the sound.  Of course, ‘The Queen of Hip-Hop’ soul is on autopilot, particularly on the incredibly infectious chorus that makes you want to bounce!

“Let’s get it crunk upon
Have fun upon up in this dancery (In this dancery)
We got ya open, now ya floatin’
So you gots to dance for me (And you gots to dance for me)
Don’t need no hateration
Holleration in this dancery
Let’s get it percolatin’, while you’re waiting
So just dance for me.”

11. Future, “Xanny Family”

💿 EVOL • 🏷 Epic • 📅 2016

“Three exotic broads and I got ‘em soakin’ panties / Told ‘em they were certified, welcome to the xanny family.” Yeah, only Future could come up with a song like “Xanny Family,” which encompasses an orgy of three women who all want to have sex with him as well as pop pills (Xanax).  Definitely a different sort of a FAMILY to say the least! Future goes on to rap on the EVOL standout, “Promethazine, codeine, this shit campaign for us / The sauce look so clean like some angel dust.”

There’s even more druggy action beyond the Xanax and codeine, which is found in cough syrup (more on that coming):

“You comin’ to the crib, bring a gang of ‘tuss’
I dip it in the blunt, I’m tryna smoke the mud
I loaded up my gun, I’m tryna smoke the plug.”

The tuss references the chief ingredient in Lean/Purple Drank.  Future goes on to references marijuana (“I dip it in the blunt, I’m tryna smoke the mode”), then plans to shoot the drug dealer (“I load up my gun, I’m tryna smoke the plug”).  Hmm, the “Xanny Family” is sounding sketch AF.  “Xanny Family” previously appeared on Fill Your Prescription with These 11 Medicine Songs.

12. Sly & The Family Stone, “Family Affair”

💿 The Essential Sly & The Family Stone • 🏷 Sony Music Entertainment • 📅 2020 (1971)

Long before Mary J. Blige’s “Family Affair” produced by Dr. Dre, funk/soul icons Sly & The Family Stone had their own “Family Affair” that was quite a big deal.  Like MJB, Sly Stone and company also had a no. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Family Affair” in 1971. Unlike MJB, the collective would have more chart toppers including “Everyday People” and the charming “Thank You Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin/Everybody is a Star.”  But enough about those classics, let’s focus on the song at hand, shall we!

The songwriting is among the biggest selling points of “Family Affair” in all honesty.  The lyrics are incredibly fun and memorable, and true to the title, family centric. “One child grows up to be / Somebody that just loves to learn,” Stone sings, continuing, “And another child grows up to be / Somebody you’d just love to burn.” Hey – truer words have never been spoken!  Later, on the third verse, we get a treat with “Newlywed a year ago / But you’re still checking each other out, hey / Nobody wants to blow / Nobody wants to be left out.” Truly, “It’s a family affair” in all its glory.

13. Sister Sledge, “We Are Family”

💿 We Are Family • 🏷 Rhino / Atlantic • 📅 1979

We conclude this FAMILY 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 COMES FIRST list with a certified, feel good classic, “We Are Family.” “We Are Family” comes courtesy of Sister Sledge from their 1979 album, We Are Family. “We Are Family” is the group’s most famous hit and it’s not even close.  While this late 70s gem missed the no. 1 spot, they managed to lock down no. 2!

What makes “We Are Family” iconic? First and foremost, it’s the chorus, without question:

“We are family
I got all my sisters with me
We are family
Get up everybody and sing
We are family
I got all my sisters with me
We are family
Get up everybody and sing.”

Beyond the chorus, the production is funky as albeit.  We’ve got a colorful, soulful backdrop (guitars, keys, robust bass), anchored by an awesome groove.  The vocals are electric on both the verses and chorus. What else really needs to be said?