It takes talent to make the struggle to succeed seem effortless, but that is the gift that separates artists like Brooklyn's John Jackson, aka Fabolous, from the everyday MC. While most rappers spend more and more time convincing the masses of their "hustle," Fabolous lets his work speak for his effort. With two platinum albums (2001's Ghetto Fabolous and 2003's Street Dreams) and one Gold (2004's Real Talk) to his credit, the veteran hitmaker still exudes a rookie-of-the year swagger. After recording for both Elektra and Atlantic Records, Fab is enjoying a home coming with the legendary Def Jam label. His first recorded song was "If They Want It" from DJ Clue's The Professional, which was released by Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam in 1998.
"I had people in my corner already over there," Fab says of DJ Clue and A&R Skane, the Desert Storm duo who discovered Fabolous. "So it wasn't like I was coming to a new neighborhood."
While he doesn't site any one reason for his move, Fabolous has learned a lot from his time in the industry and is eager to capitalize on his experience. "I haven't peaked yet," he explains. "I was happy with the past records, but I have some adversity to learn off of for the future."
It's appropriate that Fabolous is getting a fresh start for his latest release because he wants From Nothin' to Somethin' to be a rebirth for his fans old and new. "Everybody is trying to take what they have and make something more," says Fabolous, explaining the album's title. "It's a new year, everybody's on their hustle, back in the gym and I'm trying to give them some inspiration. This is music to chase your money too, work out--motivation music.
The first single "Make Me Better" is produced by Grammy Award winning producer Timbaland and finds Fabolous doing what he does best; blending radio ready sound beds with clever and memorable lyrics. Rapping that he needs "a Corretta Scott to make me King" Fab picks up with his female fans where "Baby" left off. "It's a great feel good record, it's got a lot of style to it," he says. "I wanted a record that could show that I could touch different people with my music."
Already recognized for his hit-making ability, Fabolous is eager to show the diversity of his technique while staying true to his blueprint for success. On the cocky "Make Money" he cleverly borrows Notorious B.I.G's trademark chuckle to comment on the laugh-ability of his competition: "these dudes is stand up rappers, hip-hop comedians, I start laughin as soon as I put your CD in." His wit and wordplay is not something he gets enough credit for, but the MC is confident people will come around. "Certain people recognize it," he says, "but its like they'll sing it in the shower, but they won't sing it outside. It's all good though. One of them days you gonna get drunk and start singing that song."
Enlisting a whose-who list of guests that includes Akon, Young Jeezy, Ne-Yo and Junior Reed, Fabolous plays to a variety of audiences on this disc, but there is no mistaking that it's his show from beginning to end. The anthemic "Brooklyn" features a yet to be disclosed surprise guest and "Change Up" pairs Fab with singer, producer extraodinaire Akon helping him reflect on his life and career.
"Anytime you become a successful person, people may look at you and say you changed," explains Fabolous, who references the October 2006 shooting that took place outside of Justin's restaurant in the lyrics of the song. "That record just talks about people changing as a person for money, how they carry themselves and treat other people. For me, I might have changed where I live or my number, but I haven't changed as a person…I slid a line or two about what happened in October but I'm not coming out with a bullet proof vest or anything."
The playful "Foggin Up The Windows," produced by Miami's The Runners, features R. Kelly's chopped and screwed vocals from his hit "Ignition" to prop up Fabolous' ode to parkin' lot pimpin' of the more carnal kind.
"I just took it back to trying to get some in the car," he says with a laugh. "Everyone's either done it or tried to get some in the car. It may not have been the place of choice but everybody's had a hotel on wheels."
Other rewind worthy tracks like "Real Playa" featuring Lloyd, "Diamonds" featuring Young Jeezy and the Just Blaze produced "Back To School" round out an impressive collection that makes From Nothin' to Somethin' worth the two-year wait. In his absence no artist has come close to matching his boyish charm, wit and unassuming cool both on and off the mic. With a new team and a pop of his collar Fabolous is indeed "fresh to Def."
"I'm trying to bring good music back to the game," he says confidently. "And anybody that's bringing good music, the hype is gonna follow them."
Bad Girl
Fabolous Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Guess who (hey, hey)
F to the A-B (hey)
Black Buddafly Let's go
And I'm a bad boy Like Martin and Will Show
u what u been missin' Like the kids on the carton of milk
Hey, I can snatch something bad outta the hood
And bring 'em back to the pad out by the woods
And I'm usually not layin' in the boozy spots
Girl, we can blow quicker than oozi shots
Chill where the Cristal's cold Jacuzzi's hot Ya feel me?
I ain't really the kinda girl That would
say that I'm a bad girl Though I should
So many times I did what I thought was right
But ended up in pain and that's why I'm like
I still believe and I'm hopin'
That I will find real love
But right now is not the time for that
Cause I'm young and I'm bad and I like that
Oh,
do you feel me now Oh,
dance with me now
Ladies help me out
[Chorus]
Ay if you feel me
Move wit me and don't stop
Put your hands up
Soon as the beat drops
Cause usually I'm not like this but tonight
I'm a bad girl
I'm a bad girl
And tonight we gonna show u How we get down
Don't think I'm innocent
Might look like that outside But when
I be alone wit you You'll see different
Cause all those boys dig those crazy things
I like it so good and so deep
Like I said for me straight to sleep
Don't get me wrong because I'm not a ho
I tell where to stop and when to go
Oh
do you feel me now Oh,
dance with me now
Ladies help me out, what
[Chorus: x2]
[Fabolous]
Hey, Hey Once a good girl gone bad She's gone forever
Prolly with me enjoying California weather
Hey Mami, we belong together
Like the white and yellow stones
That set into the prom together
And now a girl get into a stressed out mood
And go bad faster than left out food
They say it's the lazy flow the shorties love
It drive 'em crazy though, like Courtney Love
I keep a bad one that also's a good cook
5th Ave. classy mixed with the hood look
And my good look them bad for yo health
And everybody know you can do bad by yourself, girl
[Chorus]
Do you feel me now
Dance with me now
Ladies help me out
In the song "Bad Girl," Fabolous presents himself as a bad boy who has the power to bring out the bad in good girls. He claims that he can take a bad girl out of the hood and bring her to his luxurious pad in the woods, where they can chill in a cold Cristal and Jacuzzi’s hot tub. He is confident that he can make any girl feel good and bring out her wild side. Meanwhile, Black Buddafly, the featured artist, takes on the role of a good girl who is tired of being misled and hurt by her previous experiences. She longs for real love but, for now, she decides to embrace her bad nature and enjoy life as a young and reckless girl. In the chorus, she invites all the ladies to join her and move to the beat, as they show the world how they can get down.
The song's lyrics follow the typical Hip-hop theme of women as objects of men's desires. The lyrics suggest that women need a man's validation to feel good about themselves, and that it's cool for women to act bad or wild, but only if it pleases their men. The song's bridge, where Black Buddafly claims that she's not a ho and she knows when to stop and when to go, is a weak attempt at empowering women while still maintaining the male gaze.
Line by Line Meaning
Guess who (hey, hey)
Introducing himself to the listener
F to the A-B (hey)
Saying his name in a playful way
Black Buddafly Let's go
Giving a shout out to the group he's collaborating with
And I'm a bad boy Like Martin and Will Show
Comparing himself to famous bad boys from a TV show
u what u been missin' Like the kids on the carton of milk
Saying that he can fulfill the needs of the woman he's interested in
Hey, I can snatch something bad outta the hood
Saying he can pick up a woman from a troubled neighborhood
And bring 'em back to the pad out by the woods
Imagining a secluded spot where they can be alone
You know the crew bring the bad outta the good
Suggesting that his friends can be a bad influence on him
And I'm usually not layin' in the boozy spots
Saying he doesn't usually hang out in bars and nightclubs
Girl, we can blow quicker than oozi shots
Suggesting that they can have a wild and fast-paced relationship
Chill where the Cristal's cold Jacuzzi's hot Ya feel me?
Inviting the woman to join him somewhere luxurious and fun
I ain't really the kinda girl That would
Switching to the perspective of the woman he's interested in
say that I'm a bad girl Though I should
Admitting that she has a wild side
So many times I did what I thought was right
Reflecting on her past mistakes
But ended up in pain and that's why I'm like
Realizing that being a little bad can be fun
I still believe and I'm hopin'
Holding out hope for true love
That I will find real love
Reinforcing her desire for a meaningful relationship
But right now is not the time for that
Acknowledging that she wants to have fun for now
Cause I'm young and I'm bad and I like that
Embracing her wild side
Oh, do you feel me now Oh, dance with me now
Encouraging the listener to get into the mood of the song
Ladies help me out
Asking for support from the female listeners
Ay if you feel me
Asking the listener to join in
Move wit me and don't stop
Inviting the listener to dance along
Put your hands up Soon as the beat drops
Giving them instructions for the dance
Don't think I'm innocent
Returning to the woman's perspective
Might look like that outside But when
Saying that appearances can be deceiving
I be alone wit you You'll see different
Suggesting that she acts differently in private
Cause all those boys dig those crazy things
Saying that men are attracted to her wild side
I like it so good and so deep
Admitting that she enjoys the physical side of relationships
Like I said for me straight to sleep
Suggesting that she enjoys sex so much it makes her tired
Don't get me wrong because I'm not a ho
Defending her sexual choices
I tell where to stop and when to go
Emphasizing that she's in control of her own body
Once a good girl gone bad She's gone forever
Quoting the adage that once a woman becomes wild, she can't go back
Prolly with me enjoying California weather
Joking that the woman he's interested in would be with him in a better place
Hey Mami, we belong together
Flirting with the woman and suggesting they're a good match
Like the white and yellow stones That set into the prom together
Comparing their relationship to a set of matching jewelry
And now a girl get into a stressed out mood
Saying that some women behave badly when they're stressed
And go bad faster than left out food
Continuing the food metaphor to suggest that women can become bad very quickly
They say it's the lazy flow the shorties love
Commenting on his own style of rapping
It drive 'em crazy though, like Courtney Love
Saying that his style might not be perfect, but it's still attractive to women
I keep a bad one that also's a good cook
Saying that he likes women who can cook well
5th Ave. classy mixed with the hood look
Describing an attractive combination of styles
And my good look them bad for yo health
Joking that he's so attractive, he might be dangerous for the woman's health
And everybody know you can do bad by yourself, girl
Saying that it's okay to be a little bad on your own
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: LEROY AUSTIN, CHRISTOPHER FEATHERSTONE, JOHN JACKSON, JOHN DAVID JACKSON, NASTACIA KENDALL, AMINATA SCHMAHL, SAFIETOU SCHMAHL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
GorgeouslyReal T.V.
I still love this song! I wish they could make a comeback! I remember playing this in 06 pulling up to school my junior year for orientation. Memories!
Pretty Naughty FX
Same lol now I’m 31 . Time flies
Gnome King
This shit was DOPE! Nice video & song to go on the soundtrack of a great movie, and FAB Killed his verse too. I think this girl group was way underrated, these ladies are FLY! #ThumbsUpFromMe
Phire99
Yes Fab Killed it.
Jasmin T
Still bumpin In 2020🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
wuttTHEheckler
...2021👍 ..🐿️
Sluurp Juice & Drinks LLC
Years later and this joint still go HARD 🔥🔥🔥. Amina 🦋 still sound the same
Rez McClane
The one hit wonders of the early 00s be 🔥 🔥 🔥 💯
T Nicole
They had two hits. Get it right lol
Carla Carolina
Alguém em 2020 ouvindo ?! Amo essas músicas antigas rs