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 Guy
Fabolous Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're all a bunch of fucking assholes
You know why?
'Cause you don't got the guts to be what you want to be
Fabolous...he doesn't have that problem
He always tells the truth
That's what it's all about?
So they can point their fucking fingers
and call me the fucking bad guy?
[Verse 1]
I guess I'm the bad guy
The fingers is pointing
Nigga, I don't go in no clubs without bringing my joint in
They be asking fellas why (why?)
It's cause the streets is watching
With an envious ear, jealous eye
You know how William H. Bonnie's rockin
I keep the home ??? two way contact for Johnny Cochran
Be the same dudes, testing your patience
In them hospitals, resting like patients, confessing to agents
You smell me, you gotta spray the Wesson like fragrance
And you pay your way out arrests and arraignments
These playas been playin' foul
And I done learned my lesson with flagrants
Nigga, this how I live it ain't just entertainment
I'm what they been trying to do, not do
I'm the kid, they been lying to you
You need people like me
I'm so F-A, be -O, L-O, you-S
Yeah, that's the bad guy
[Pain In Da Ass]
You need people like me
So you can point your fucking fingers
And say, "That's the bad guy."
So, what they make you?
Good?
[Verse 2]
Bitches think all they gotta do is say the child is yours
Quit they job and live off the child support
How could you stand there, smile in court
I'm a just settle, fly back to them Cayman Isle resorts
You better sign a pre-nup
You catch me instead of 'it wasn't me'
I'm gonna say 'where you get a key from?'
I love the way your butt swishes
But non of these slut bitches
is worth me asking my doctor why my nuts itches
If they see how the Rolls Royce smell
All day I be emptying my in box and my whole voice mail
I'll be ready to light the weed and pull it
Now every chick want to make me come faster than a speeding bullet
But I ain't into coaching birds like Tony LaRussa
I done had the thickest chickens to the boniest roosters
Who have trouble getting the kid like me to spend
Ma you'll never see a bad guy like me again, for real
[Pain In Da Ass]
So say goodnight to the bad guy, come on
It's the last time you're gonna hear a bad guy ???
You better make way, it's a bad guy coming through
[Verse 3]
Come on
What type of bad guy give fellas ???, females hugs
I making my business, my kids won't have to retail drugs
I get threats over the two way from email thugs
I ride with ratchets, clips under the CL rugs
Think I'm liking you? Wrong
'Cause even if I get locked
My money won't let me stay unrighteous for wrong
Case dismissed, the DA even liking the song
Right back to the P's, latest pair of Michael's shoes on
When you holla in the club it's cool
But don't change the subject fool
And start askin if I remember you from public school
You know I done heard dozens, of these birds buzzing
Talking 'bout I used to fuck with they 3rd cousin
FYI, stay the fuck from 'round me
[unknown] guys who want to hear somebody stuck or clown me
I don't care what other haters do
But if you think I'm loved for saving you
Say goodnight to the bad guy
[Pain In Da Ass]
Whoever said to us
Now maybe you can buy yourself
one of them first class tickets to the Resurrection
(Gun Shot)
The song "Bad Guy" by Fabolous begins with an intro by Pain In Da Ass that sets the tone for the rest of the song. He talks about how people tend to criticize and label individuals who don't conform to societal norms as "bad guys." He praises Fabolous for being true to himself and always telling the truth. The song then moves on to verses where Fabolous portrays himself as the "bad guy" who doesn't care what other people think of him. He follows his own rules and lives life on his terms, even if it means being labeled as a criminal.
In the first verse, Fabolous talks about how he always carries a weapon when he goes to clubs because he knows that people are envious of him and may try to harm him. He talks about how he has learned his lessons the hard way through flagrant fouls and has come out stronger. He says that he does not consider his lifestyle as entertainment; it is just the way he lives his life. In the second verse, Fabolous talks about how women he meets always try to use him for his money and fame. He says that he needs to be cautious and sign pre-nups because he has already been through countless legal battles over false accusations. He goes on to say that even if people don't like him, he doesn't care because he is still successful and making money.
Overall, the song "Bad Guy" is all about Fabolous embracing his inner bad boy without any worries about what people think of him. He is not afraid of being called out for his actions because he pens his own life story.
Line by Line Meaning
I guess I'm the bad guy
He's accepting the label of being the antagonist or the 'bad guy'.
The fingers is pointing
People are blaming him for things he may or may not have done.
Nigga, I don't go in no clubs without bringing my joint in
He carries his firearm with him wherever he goes.
They be asking fellas why (why?)
People are curious about why he carries his gun around.
It's cause the streets is watching
He's afraid of being caught off guard without his gun because of the dangerous situations he finds himself in.
With an envious ear, jealous eye
People around him are envious of how he lives his life and he can feel their jealousy.
You know how William H. Bonnie's rockin
He's referring to the notorious criminal, Billy the Kid.
I keep the home ??? two way contact for Johnny Cochran
He doesn't want to explain the phrase 'home ???' due to its sensitive nature, but implies he has a way to contact his lawyer, Johnny Cochran.
Be the same dudes, testing your patience
The people causing trouble and making him anxious are often the same people he loves and cares about.
In them hospitals, resting like patients, confessing to agents
These people will turn on him and give information to the authorities while they're in the hospital recovering.
You smell me, you gotta spray the Wesson like fragrance
The phrase 'you smell me' is intimidation and implies that he is 'armed and dangerous.'
And you pay your way out arrests and arraignments
He can bribe his way out of any legal trouble he may face.
These playas been playin' foul
The people he's surrounded by have been betraying him and aren't to be trusted.
And I done learned my lesson with flagrants
He's been burned before and would rather take precautions now.
Nigga, this how I live it ain't just entertainment
This is his reality, not a performance or act.
I'm what they been trying to do, not do
He's succeeded in 'making it' while others have failed.
I'm the kid, they been lying to you
He was the underdog and his detractors claimed he would never make it, but he proved them wrong.
You need people like me
He's implying that people need a 'bad guy' to blame for their problems.
So you can point your fucking fingers
People need someone to blame and he's become their scapegoat.
And say, "That's the bad guy."
He's the person that is blamed for everyone's problems or misfortunes.
Bitches think all they gotta do is say the child is yours
Women accuse him of being the father of their children to claim child support payments.
Quit they job and live off the child support
They don't want to work and use the money he gives them to survive.
How could you stand there, smile in court
Women accuse him of fathering their children and then lie about it in court.
I'm a just settle, fly back to them Cayman Isle resorts
He's willing to pay the child support fees to avoid any further confrontation.
You better sign a pre-nup
He's advising men to sign prenuptial agreements to protect themselves from deceitful women.
You catch me instead of 'it wasn't me'
He won't deny what he's done, he'll take responsibility for his mistakes.
I'm gonna say 'where you get a key from?'
He will ask how the woman obtained a key to his property.
I love the way your butt swishes
He is into women with a curvy figure.
But non of these slut bitches
He doesn't have respect for promiscuous women.
is worth me asking my doctor why my nuts itches
He would rather not have sex than risk catching an STI from a woman.
If they see how the Rolls Royce smell
Women are attracted to him due to his wealth and status.
All day I be emptying my in box and my whole voice mail
Women are constantly trying to get in touch with him.
I'll be ready to light the weed and pull it
He's ready to smoke marijuana when the opportunity arises.
Now every chick want to make me come faster than a speeding bullet
Women are aggressively pursuing him sexually.
But I ain't into coaching birds like Tony LaRussa
He's not interested in guiding or training women to suit his needs.
I done had the thickest chickens to the boniest roosters
He's been with women of different body types and preferences.
Who have trouble getting the kid like me to spend
Women struggle to get him to spend time with them, let alone buy them lavish gifts.
Ma you'll never see a bad guy like me again, for real
He is unique as a 'bad guy' and won't be replaced easily in the lives of those around him.
Whoever said to us
He's repeating a phrase, but it's unclear what it means.
Now maybe you can buy yourself
He's implying that someone has enough money to purchase something expensive.
one of them first class tickets to the Resurrection
He's making a reference to the idea of being resurrected after death.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHN JACKSON, JOHN DAVID JACKSON, RAASHAUN CASEY, RENAN THYBULLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tyranbeaman8118
"You need people like me!...so you can point your fucken finger and say that's the bad guy....so what that make you good?" The most realist shit ever quoted
@soFRESHent
this is on my playlist so it eventually makes its way to my ears every year since 2001
@daviderosi3737
11
@RockSmith-rl9qr
The world needs bad men. We keep the other bad men from the door.
@JohnnyD3218
whoever made this vid grew up in my time period for sure. Awesome compilaton
@matthewleavens6200
Fucking tremors 🤣
@cibida1
Freshmen year of high school. Do anything to go back
@LEFTY2GUNZ401twoGUNZ
2018 going 2019 still banging this classic rns
@mixz9929
Hell yea
@symphoniez
@Mixz 2019 fo sho