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."
Call Me
Fabolous Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
See ma, I think you took it
I think you took it wrong like
You got it misunderstood or something
You got it confused
I'm thinking about the one night we just spent together
(I mean, when was this ma)
(I never said that, I never said forever)
Call me (Na, I don't do this. You already knew this, ma we been through this)
Call me (Na, I can't do that once I done blew that. Ma, we been through that)
Girl, that was a one night fling
You was turned on by the moonshine and the sunlight bling
You kept licking your tongue at me knowing how quick that this young'n be
To pull out his dick from his dungarees
Besides, we had enough liquor and jumatries
That both of us would of got sick or had lung disease
I remember every gesture made (ooh)
During the escapade (ooh)
In the back of the Escalade (whoa)
When it come to tricks, I have some up my sleeve (uh huh)
But Shorty dived in head first and didn't come up to breath (shit)
I usually don't get to rag um (uh)
But it's so real, I made the caddy chauffeur hop out and get the magnums
We getting close the Park of Meridian (uh huh)
She pulling her skirt down (uh huh)
And tucking her titties in (uh huh)
I'm walking this biddy in (uh huh)
Caressing her pretty skin
She say- "I love the video that you n PD in" (yeah right)
I'm thinking about the one night we just spent together
That I'd cherish the love I thought would last forever
Call me (Na, I don't do this. You already knew this, Ma we been through this)
Call me (Na, I can't do that once I done blew that. Ma we been through that)
This girl hobby was to slow me down (uh)
Got me walking wobbling through the lobby lounge (ohh)
In the pent house blasting Mob Deep and some Bobby Brown (uh huh)
Do not disturb sign prolly woulda not be found (yeah)
If there's one thing I'm giving her, it gotta be back shots (uh)
She screaming like she just won the lottery jack pot (ahhh) (uh)
At the same time she jerking and wiggling (uh huh)
Smirking and giggling (ha ha ha)
'cause I'm like dirt when I'm digging in (uh)
The way she working and fingering
She must have be a gymnast
'cause the positions wasn't hurting her ligaments
Ma I know you got centerfold measurement features (uh huh)
But after a night, it was a pleasure to meet ya (uh huh)
Get ya under and outta where (uh)
You ain't gotta go home but you gotta get outta here
So write your number on this paper (uh)
I might want to scrape ya (uh)
Next year when I go on TOUR (uh)
Still thinking about the one night we just spent together
That I'd cherish the love I thought would last forever
Call me (Na, I don't do this. You already knew this, ma we been through this)
Call me (Na, I can't do that once I done blew that)
Now I ain't seen Shorty since the spot last summer
And she still calling and paging (what the fuck)
I don't even know how she got my numbers (damn)
But I been hiding (uh huh)
'cause, this girl looking for the kid like Bush was searching for Bin Laden (damn)
Before I didn't care if she where I be (uh uh)
But now I mean it be scaring me (uh huh)
To get yearly therapy (uh huh)
She said her heart broken; it caused her to start smoking
And I was in deep thinking, making her keep drinking
Since Hiedy started stalking me (uh huh)
I hadda get body guards to walk with me (yeah)
If you want to get Fabolous, that's on you, that's on you (okay)
Long as you know where they at on you (I said okay)
I'm looking at her was and reactions (uh)
Hoping that this don't turn into a fatal attraction (ut uh)
She screaming "fabolous give me one more chance; fabolous give me one more chance"
I'm thinking about the one night we just spent together
(I mean, when was this ma?)
That I'd cherish the love I thought would last forever
(I never said that, I never said forever)
Call me (Na, I don't do this. You already knew this, ma we been through this)
Call me (Na, I can't do that once I done blew that. Ma we been through that)
The song "Call Me" by Fabolous is about a one-night stand with a girl who thinks it meant more than it actually did. The singer talks about how the girl keeps trying to reconnect and shows signs of being obsessed with him. He tries to make it clear that it was just a fling and that he is not interested in anything more. The opening lines of the song set the tone for the rest of the lyrics, where he says, "See ma, I think you took it, I think you took it wrong, you got it misunderstood or something, you got it confused."
Throughout the song, he talks about how the girl was turned on by him and how they had too much to drink. He recalls specific details about the night, like the gestures she made and the things they talked about. However, he emphasizes that it was just a one-time thing and that he is not interested in pursuing a relationship. He repeats the phrase "Call me" multiple times in the song, but each time he says he doesn't do that anymore, revealing that he has moved on from the fling.
The song delves into the themes of lust, obsession, and unrequited love. The singer tries to make it clear that the girl is not what he wants, but she persists in trying to connect with him. It highlights the power dynamic that exists in one-night stands and how they can often lead to confusion and misunderstandings. Overall, the song has a melancholic tone, emphasizing the pain that comes with unrequited love.
Line by Line Meaning
Ha ha ha ha ha
The singer starts with a laugh, maybe because of how the situation turned out
See ma, I think you took it
The singer addresses the woman he had a one-night stand with and thinks she's misunderstood something
I think you took it wrong like
The singer clarifies that the woman's got the wrong idea about what happened between them
You got it misunderstood or something
The artist insists that the woman's got the wrong impression of what transpired
You got it confused
The artist assumes that the woman is mistaken or has misconceptions about what happened
I'm thinking about the one night we just spent together
The singer recalls the one-night-stand he had with the woman he is talking to
(I mean, when was this ma)
The singer is curious about the exact time when they were together
That I'd cherish the love I thought would last forever
The artist reveals that he never intended to form a lasting relationship with the woman
(I never said that, I never said forever)
The artist clarifies that he never gave the woman hope for a long-term relationship
Call me (Na, I don't do this. You already knew this, ma we been through this)
The artist declines the woman's request to call him, reminding her that he doesn't do that kind of stuff
Call me (Na, I can't do that once I done blew that. Ma, we been through that)
The singer repeats his refusal to call the woman, explaining that he can't do that after their short fling
Girl, that was a one night fling
The artist reminds the woman that their interaction was nothing more than a brief encounter
You was turned on by the moonshine and the sunlight bling
The singer implies that alcohol and flashy jewelry might have been the reasons why the woman was attracted to him
You kept licking your tongue at me knowing how quick that this young'n be
The singer suggests that the woman was aware that he is quick to engage in physical intimacy
To pull out his dick from his dungarees
The singer is admitting to being sexually active and eager, especially after drinking alcohol
Besides, we had enough liquor and jumatries
The artist explains that they had already consumed enough drinks and were engaging in other activities to avoid contracting sexually transmitted infections
That both of us would of got sick or had lung disease
The artist suggests that they had consumed so much alcohol that they were both in danger of getting alcohol poisoning or other illnesses
I remember every gesture made (ooh)
The singer recalls every action and movement they both made while together during their fling
During the escapade (ooh)
The singer describes the event as an adventure or an experience
In the back of the Escalade (whoa)
The artist specifies that the encounter occurred in the back seat of a luxurious Cadillac Escalade
When it come to tricks, I have some up my sleeve (uh huh)
The artist is skilled in sexual tricks and techniques and is ready to impress
But Shorty dived in head first and didn't come up to breath (shit)
The artist is surprised that the woman did not take a break or pause in the bedroom
I usually don't get to rag um (uh)
The singer does not usually talk badly about women he's associated with
But it's so real, I made the caddy chauffeur hop out and get the magnums
The artist is providing physical protection for both him and the woman by obtaining safe sex measures
We getting close the Park of Meridian (uh huh)
The singer describes their proximity to a park while they were leaving the luxury hotel
She pulling her skirt down (uh huh)
The woman is fixing her clothing and tucking it in, in anticipation of leaving the car
And tucking her titties in (uh huh)
The woman is adjusting her upper clothing or bra
I'm walking this biddy in (uh huh)
The artist is accompanying the woman as she leaves the vehicle
Caressing her pretty skin
The artist describes himself touching the woman's skin affectionately and gently
She say- "I love the video that you n PD in" (yeah right)
The woman is trying to flatter the singer by referencing his music video, but the singer sees through it
This girl hobby was to slow me down (uh)
The singer thinks the woman is interested in just slowing him down to keep him from pursuing other women
Got me walking wobbling through the lobby lounge (ohh)
The artist suggests that the woman had an impact on him during their time together, to the point of making him unsteady
In the pent house blasting Mob Deep and some Bobby Brown (uh huh)
The artist references the music that was playing loudly in the suite during their encounter
Do not disturb sign prolly woulda not be found (yeah)
The artist implies that the couple didn't care about privacy or being caught during their intimate moment
If there's one thing I'm giving her, it gotta be back shots (uh)
The singer is humble-bragging about his sexual prowess, which involves giving the woman physical pleasure from behind
She screaming like she just won the lottery jack pot (ahhh) (uh)
The artist hints that the woman is enjoying the sexual encounter immensely and is very vocal
At the same time she jerking and wiggling (uh huh)
The singer describes the woman's movements during their intimate moment
Smirking and giggling (ha ha ha)
The singer suggests that the woman is teasing him and enjoying herself in the moment
'cause I'm like dirt when I'm digging in (uh)
The singer is continuing the earlier humble-bragging about his sexual prowess, implying that he can get a little dirty
The way she working and fingering
The artist is admiring the woman's movements and behavior during the encounter
She must have be a gymnast
The artist is impressed by the woman's flexibility and skill, suggesting that she may have been a gymnast
'cause the positions wasn't hurting her ligaments
The singer is suggesting that the woman was able to be flexible during their time together without any pain or discomfort
Ma I know you got centerfold measurement features (uh huh)
The singer is suggesting that the woman he had the fling with has an attractive figure
But after a night, it was a pleasure to meet ya (uh huh)
The artist implies that although he enjoyed their time together, it was just a one-night stand, so he is not interested in pursuing a relationship
Get ya under and outta where (uh)
The artist suggests that the woman may have overstayed her welcome
You ain't gotta go home but you gotta get outta here
The artist implies that although the woman is free to stay, he would prefer it if she left immediately
So write your number on this paper (uh)
The singer is asking the woman to give him her phone number
I might want to scrape ya (uh)
The artist implies that he may want to contact her in the future
Next year when I go on TOUR (uh)
The singer suggests that he may be traveling and may want to reconnect with the woman after his tour
Now I ain't seen Shorty since the spot last summer
The singer implies that he hasn't seen the woman he had the fling with since last summer
And she still calling and paging (what the fuck)
The singer is annoyed that the woman is still contacting him, even after their fling is over
I don't even know how she got my numbers (damn)
The artist is surprised that the woman is still able to contact him and does not know how she got his phone number
But I been hiding (uh huh)
The artist implies that he has been avoiding the woman's calls and messages
'cause, this girl looking for the kid like Bush was searching for Bin Laden (damn)
The singer compares how the woman is searching for him to how the United States was searching for Osama Bin Laden
Before I didn't care if she where I be (uh uh)
The singer implies that he was not concerned with the woman's whereabouts before, but he is now
But now I mean it be scaring me (uh huh)
The artist admits that the woman's persistence and stalking behavior has made him fearful
To get yearly therapy (uh huh)
The artist suggests that he may need therapy to recover from the situation and what the woman has done
She said her heart broken; it caused her to start smoking
The artist explains that the woman is claiming emotional trauma and is using smoking as a coping mechanism
And I was in deep thinking, making her keep drinking
The singer implies that he was using alcohol to coax the woman into more intimate situations
Since Hiedy started stalking me (uh huh)
The artist mentions a stalker by the name of Hiedy as a way of suggesting that he is used to being stalked or has dealt with this kind of situation before
I hadda get body guards to walk with me (yeah)
The singer is taking security measures to protect himself from the woman's stalking behavior
If you want to get Fabolous, that's on you, that's on you (okay)
The singer implies that whoever wants to be with him is welcome to try and do so
Long as you know where they at on you (I said okay)
The singer doesn't care if someone is chasing him, as long as they know the boundaries
I'm looking at her was and reactions (uh)
The artist is studying the woman's behavior and is observant of her actions
Hoping that this don't turn into a fatal attraction (ut uh)
The artist is nervous that the woman may be developing an unhealthy attachment to him, possibly similar to the plot of the movie "Fatal Attraction"
She screaming "fabolous give me one more chance; fabolous give me one more chance"
The singer is describing the woman's demeanor, as she keeps begging him to give her another chance to be with him
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SAMUEL BARNES, JEAN OLIVIER, J JACKSON, D MYERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind