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."
Diamonds
Fabolous Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It ain't hard to tell
(Diamonds in my damn chain)
(Diamonds in my damn chain)
I'm like, oh daddy, I see you do the damn thing
Got my vote, I'm feelin' ya campaign
I like you, but I really like your damn chain
(Diamonds in my damn chain)
It kinda explains the way she be actin'
She liked my necklace so she started relaxin'
Now, that's what the fuck I call a chain reaction
Yo, you think they like me now, wait until the light hit me
I bet the house somebody's girl spend the night with me
They gotta love it, if not, then I guess they haters
This kinda necklace turn on the investigators
They ain't got one problem with this
Square face watch look like sponge bob on the wrist
One white, one gold, one nice, untold
You could look, but don't touch, guns might unload, now
I respect them thugs who get they jackin' on
But we squeeze to every slug that we be packin', son
Ya boy got the drug money we be stackin' on
Lotta carrots, not the one's Bugs Bunny snackin' on
Got 'em gettin' close, and lookin' like I scooped-up
The titanic chain from the bottom of the ocean
I play them diamonds well when I got that jewelery on
They should call me Carat Jeter, maybe Canary Bonds
(Diamonds in my damn chain)
(Diamonds in my damn chain)
I'm like, oh daddy, I see you do the damn thing
Got my vote, I'm feelin' ya campaign
I like you, but I really like your damn chain
(Diamonds in my damn chain)
(Diamonds in my damn chain)
It kinda explains the way she be actin'
She liked my necklace so she started relaxin'
Now, that's what the fuck I call a chain reaction
Damn, what happened? He blinded everybody
Hey it must be Jeezy, outshinin' everybody
Yeah, I'm fretted for the show
You could call me the light man
(Diamonds in my damn chain)
You could call me the bright man
Yeah, I don't do bright links, I do AP's
Yeah, I spit cheese on all these VV's
Blow an OG, yeah, I got it from home
Twelve carat pinky ring, shit, I got it robbin'
(Break yourself, nigga) We have to step it up a notch
Iced-out ski-mask, placed in the projects to hide my weed stash
Dominican shit, shit, I got it from fans
Yo, the stone is in my chain, so I call it the cab
(Diamonds in my damn chain)
(Diamonds in my damn chain)
I'm like, oh daddy, I see you do the damn thing
Got my vote, I'm feelin' ya campaign
I like you, but I really like your damn chain
(Diamonds in my damn chain)
(Diamonds in my damn chain)
It kinda explains the way she be actin'
She liked my necklace so she started relaxin'
Now, that's what the fuck I call a chain reaction
Yo, maybe it's them VV's 'cause they sets susters
Sit on the next bus like the show on MTV
The wings on the chain make a nigga fly
Like the wings on a plane when you sittin' in between 'em
They hittin' when you clean 'em, glitterin' when you seen 'em
Beemin' through the tints when I'm sittin' in the "Phenom"
Oops, I mean Phantom my words got tangled, man
But this tiger stripe watch make this bitch a Bengals fan
We all know Jacob check the shit he did
He spent more time making the band than Diddy did
You feel my campaign, then drop your old spouse
I'm out in DC at the white and gold house
Wanna convince me, love? Secret service me with some of that Lewinsky love
She saw the chain, gave me brain, no strain ever since
Now that's what I call a real chain of events, nigga
(Diamonds in my damn chain)
(Diamonds in my damn chain)
I'm like, oh daddy, I see you do the damn thing
Got my vote, I'm feelin' ya campaign
I like you, but I really like your damn chain
(Diamonds in my damn chain)
(Diamonds in my damn chain)
It kinda explains the way she be actin'
She liked my necklace so she started relaxin'
Now, that's what the fuck I call a chain reaction
Diamonds on my damn chain
It ain't hard to tell
In this song, Fabolous raps about his expensive diamond chain and the reaction it gets from those around him. He boasts about the attention it brings him and how it elevates his status, even making references to political campaigns. He compares his jewelry to a "chain reaction," suggesting that his flashy style has a contagious effect that draws people in. He uses wordplay and vivid imagery to describe his diamonds and the way they catch the light. He also references other rappers and their jewelry, further emphasizing the theme of status and competition in the rap industry.
Overall, "Diamonds" is a song that celebrates material wealth and its ability to impress and attract others. Fabolous uses his diamond chain as a symbol of his success and his ability to stand out in a crowded field. The lyrics suggest that this kind of conspicuous consumption is not only acceptable, but desirable, and that those who can afford it should flaunt it.
Line by Line Meaning
Diamonds In My Damn Chain!
Fabolous proudly shows off his diamonds on his chain.
I'm like ooh daddy, I see you do the damn thang
Fabolous admires a man's success and approves of his campaign.
Got my vote, I'm feelin' your campaign
Fabolous supports the man and his campaign.
I like you but, I really like your damn chain!
Fabolous admires the man's chain more than the man himself.
It kinda explains the way she be actin'
Fabolous realizes that the girl is only acting interested in him because of his necklace.
She liked my necklace so she started relaxin'
The girl is attracted to Fabolous because of his diamond necklace.
Now that's what the fuck I call a chain reaction!
The girl's attraction towards Fabolous is caused by the chain and it's a type of chain reaction.
Yo, You think they like me now, wait until the light hit me
Fabolous believes that people will like him more when the light hits him and highlights his diamonds.
I bet the house somebody girl spend the night with me
Fabolous is so confident that a girl will spend the night with him because of his diamonds that he bets his house on it.
This kinda necklace'll turn on the investigators
Fabolous believes that even investigators would be attracted to his diamond necklace.
They ain't got one problem with this
No one has a problem with Fabolous's diamond necklace.
Square face watch look like Sponge Bob on the wrist
Fabolous's watch has a square face resembling Sponge Bob on his wrist.
One white, one gold, one nice, untold
Fabolous has multiple watches, and one of them is white, one is gold, another one is nice and one is untold.
You can look but don't touch, Guns might unload, now
People can look at Fabolous's diamonds but should not touch them, or they might face his loaded guns.
I respect them thugs who get the jackin' on
Fabolous respects the thugs who try to steal diamonds from him.
But we squeeze set every slug that we be packin's long
Fabolous and his crew are violent towards those who try to rob them.
You boy got the drug money we be stacking on
Fabolous has drug money that he and his crew stack up.
Lotta carrots, not the one's Bugs Bunny snackin' on
Fabolous's diamonds are worth a lot of money, unlike the ones Bugs Bunny eats.
Got 'em, get 'em close and, lookin' like I scooped up
Fabolous got his diamonds and now shows them off.
The Titanic chain, from the bottom of the ocean
Fabolous's diamond necklace is so massive that it's compared to the Titanic ship that sunk to the bottom of the ocean.
I play them diamonds well when I got that jewelery on
Fabolous knows how to show off his diamonds when he wears his jewelry.
They should call me Parot Jeter, maybe Canary Bonds
Fabolous is so skillful at showing off his diamonds that he suggests people call him Parot Jeter or Canary Bonds.
Yo, maybe it's them VV's, 'cause they sets Susters'
The size and quality of Fabolous's diamonds cause people to talk about them and admire them.
Sit on the next bus like that show on MTV
People want to copy Fabolous's diamond style and show them off on a show like MTV's Next Bus.
The wings on the chain, make a nigga fly like the wings on a plane
The design of Fabolous's diamond chain makes him feel like he's flying like a plane with wings.
They hittin' when you clean them, glitenin' when you seen 'em
Fabolous's diamonds are shining and dazzling when cleaned and even more shiny and dazzling when seen in person.
Beemin' through the tints when I'm sitting in the "Phenom"
Fabolous's diamonds shine through his car windows when he's riding in his high-end Phenom car.
Oops! I mean Phantom, my words got tangled man
Fabolous misspoke when he called his car a Phenom instead of a Phantom.
But this Tiger stripe watch, make you bitch a Bangles' fan
Fabolous's striped watch is so impressive that it would make haters become fans of the Bangles watch brand.
We all know Jacob, check the shit he did
Jacob, the famous jeweler, is well-known for his diamond creations, and Fabolous wants others to know about him too.
We spent more time, "Making The Band" than Diddy did
Fabolous spent more time securing diamonds to create his chain than Diddy spent creating the Making The Band TV show.
You feel my campaign, then drop your old spouse
People who support Fabolous's campaign should leave their old love interests and show support.
I'm out in DC, at the "White and Gold House"
Fabolous is in DC, showing off his diamonds at the White House.
Wanna convince me love? Secret Service me with some of that Lewinsky love
If someone wants Fabolous's love and attention, they should try Secret Service tactics to impress him like Bill Clinton's affair with Monica Lewinsky.
She saw the chain, gave me brain, no strain ever since
A girl was attracted to Fabolous's diamond chain, and they've been hooking up since then.
Now that's what the fuck I call a good "Chain of Events"! Nigga!
The girl's attraction sparked a series of good events for Fabolous, which he calls a "good chain of events" and celebrates.
Diamonds On My Damn Chain! It Ain't Hard To Tell
Fabolous has diamonds on his chain, and it's easy to see and tell.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: Raymond N Diaz, John N Jackson, Jay W. N Jenkins, Steve Morales, Sharif Emil N Slater
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mricecoldproduction
THAT BEAT IS CRAZY
@ggMwaniki
"They should call me Carat Jeter or maybe Canary Bonds"
Beat and flow goes crazy a decade later
@dimendkai
ehh beat didn’t age well today
@subzero308
@@dimendkai knock it off
@jonathanhuerta7715
this beat is crazy I like it
@devan4thepeople
@@dimendkaiSubjective. Beat and song is super fire to me lol.
@odstmsgt
If you here in 2022 you’re probably sad but this perks you up!
@SikhestGamer
I miss the old Fabolous, these songs were tooo sickk
@tangooscar633
Jeesus....2012 was 10 years ago!
@cosmicdarkman8821
Track COLD💯