30 minutes after midnight, Offset and his wife, fellow rapper Cardi B, finally entered the red room. The couple -- who were both dressed in red to appropriately match the title of Offset’s latest single -- stopped in front of a childhood photo of the Quality Control rapper, flanked by professional cameras and cell phones, before making their way to the stage. For an hour, Offset partied with family and friends as he introduced a small crowd in Atlanta to his solo debut album, Father of 4.
Offset’s harmonica-playing grandfather and Big Rube, who appears on the album’s title track, warmed up the crowd before he took center stage. In addition to Cardi, fellow Migos members Quavo and Takeoff, singer Jacquees, rapper Young Dolph and others joined him, rapping along to the new project, which touches on Offset’s struggle to cope with relationship troubles, the death of loved ones, legal woes and the demands of fame all while parenting his four children.
Wearing a sparkly long-sleeved, floor-length red dress, Cardi B kicked her shoes off and got comfortable on the side of the stage, where she stayed for much of the listening party. “I ain’t never let my girl hear this song because I made it for her,” Offset said before rapping “Don’t Lose Me” to his grinning wife. Later, Cardi was boastful and animated when rapping along to her verse on “Clout.”
Offset was short on words when introducing many of the songs of the album, seeming intent on letting the work speak for itself. Despite the album’s heavy content, the atmosphere on stage and throughout the venue was certainly celebratory. Matching the album’s theme, the Atlanta venue that hosted the listening party featured mementos, including a replica of the lime green Dodge Challenger that the rapper totaled in 2018. Photos of Offset with his mom, kids and other family and friends were hung throughout the space and a video of the rapper played on a loop. In the video, he can be seen spending Christmas with a blue-haired Cardi, taking the photo with his kids for the album’s photo shoot and more.
Offset is honest about the fact that he’s still learning to juggle fame and family but, on the night of his solo album debut, both were front and center.
You can stream 'Father of 4' on all streaming platforms.