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."
Makin
Fabolous Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Whoa-oh
Ayy man
Some kids gon' be runnin' around somebody house to this one (whoa-oh)
(Yeah)
They gon' make babies to this (oh-oh yeah yeah)
(Oh-oh, oh-oh, yeah yeah)
I mean, it feels good
Oh yeah, the song too (yeah)
It feels good too (yeah)
I told her I'll be there in a minute (oh)
She knew I'ma take it down soon as I get it (oh)
You can leave your hair in a mess (yeah), don't even get dressed (yeah)
Tonight we makin' love (put it in a ponytail, whatever)
I told her let's stay home, she was with it (that Vicky Secret set you got)
She know I'ma take it down soon as I get it (we can do that another time)
You can leave your hair in a mess, don't even get dressed (you don't need none of that tonight, baby)
Tonight we makin' love makin' love (none of that at all)
(Ayy baby, you remember this?)
Makin' love
June twenty second, think I came in twenty second
I was watching honey peck it while she lay on tummy naked
To the pace of the base and this Cash Money record
She just drop, drop, drop, damn you Manny Fresh
But I got my thing together, told her she could bring whatever
Get some green, we could puff, get the cream, get the cuffs
Baby, even when I'm gentle, it might seem like it's rough
But if neighbors ain't complaining, you ain't screaming enough
And yeah, they might hear as I'm slappin' to the jewel
She said, "Baby right there, do it rapid, do it smooth"
I said, "Baby right where?"
Kept tappin' to the groove
She said, "Nigga, right there, I'ma slap you if you move"
I told her I'll be there in a minute (oh)
She knew I'ma take it down soon as I get it (oh)
You can leave your hair in a mess (yeah), don't even get dressed (yeah)
Tonight we makin' love (oh-oh)
I told her let's stay home, she was with it (oh)
She know I'ma take it down soon as I get it (oh)
You can leave your hair in a mess (yeah), don't even get dressed (yeah)
Tonight we makin' love, girl, we makin' love
No, you can't forget the feeling when you staring at the ceiling
And you can't catch your breath, you just laying there chilling
Like one and then the two (two)
Two and then the three (three)
Three and then the four (four)
Damn, I want some more (more)
So I slam her to the floor, set the camera to record
Throw them legs up in the air, just like Lamborghini doors
See, we might have had some problems with the stamina before
I'm no amateur, I'm sure, I could ram until you're sore (yes)
But I ain't tryna hurt ya (nah)
I'm jus' tryna nurture (yes)
Them niggas just flirt to hit it and to hurt ya
What I'm throwin' dirt for? I'm tryna alert ya
But fuck that, lay it down, let a nigga work ya
I told her I'll be there in a minute (oh)
She knew I'ma take it down soon as I get it (oh)
You can leave your hair in a mess (yeah), don't even get dressed (yeah)
Tonight we makin' love (oh-oh)
I told her let's stay home, she was with it (oh)
She know I'ma take it down soon as I get it (oh)
You can leave your hair in a mess (yeah), don't even get dressed (yeah, oh-whoa-oh)
Tonight we makin' love, girl, we makin' love
Uh huh, 'til you tell me that you had enough
Uh huh, I'ma slow it down and I'ma speed it up (yeah)
And I will not stop
Do it to you like a dude that ain't got no job
I ain't got nowhere to be, so I don't gotta leave
Get the itis in the sheets, I'ma eat and go to sleep
Then we wake up and repeat, everything you do to me
I' a turn and do to you
And then I'm a black and blue that thing (dance for me)
I love the way you move that thing (so nasty)
I look and I say, "Ooh, that thing
Make me wanna sing a song" (anybody ever seen a-)
Make 'em wanna sing along
So listen baby, I'll be there in a minute
She knew I'ma take it down soon as I get it (oh)
You can leave your hair in a mess (yeah), don't even get dressed (yeah)
Tonight we makin' love (oh-oh)
I told her let's stay home, she was with it (oh)
She know I'ma take it down soon as I get it (oh)
You can leave your hair in a mess (yeah), don't even get dressed (yeah)
Tonight we makin' love, girl, we makin' love
Yeah, so I called baby girl up like
"Ayy man, I'm finna come through there"
She like, "For what?
You ain't gon' get none"
I said, "I'm not comin' to get none
I'm comin' to get some"
She said, "You ain't gon' get some unless you make love to me"
I said, "Make love?
What the fuck is that"
Hahahaha
The lyrics in Fabolous’ song “Makin Love” reveal a sexual encounter between two people who are looking to leave their worries behind and engage in some passionate love-making. The song appears to be aimed at providing an escape from the outside world and focusing on physical pleasure. The lyrics discuss the willingness of both participants to engage in the encounter without worrying about outside distractions. The line “You can leave your hair in a mess, don't even get dressed/ Tonight we makin' love” suggests that the two people are so focused on each other that they don’t even need to worry about their appearance.
Fabolous also makes reference to his past experience with sex in the song. He talks about how he's no amateur when it comes to pleasing a woman and is willing to go the extra mile to satisfy his partner. The line "But fuck that lay it down, let a nigga work ya" delivers that message loud and clear. The line “I'm no amateur I'm sure, I cold ram until you're sore” suggests that Fabolous has a lot of experience when it comes to sex and satisfying his partners.
Overall, “Makin Love” is a song about being in the moment and enjoying the physical connection between two people. It's about two people who connect on a deep, sexual level and are not afraid to let go of their inhibitions to enjoy the moment.
Line by Line Meaning
I told her I'll be there in a minute,
I promised to be there shortly.
She knew I'm a take it down soon as I get it,
She's aware we'd be intimate as soon as I arrive.
You can leave your hair in a mess, don't even get dressed
She does not have to get ready for what is about to happen.
Tonight we makin' love
Tonight is about being intimate with each other.
I told her lets stay home, she was with it
I proposed we stay at home, and she was in agreement.
June twenty second, think I came in twenty second
This line is obscure and has no in-depth meaning.
I was watching honey peck it while she lay on tummy naked,
I was admiring her as she was lying down facing the bed.
To the pace of the base and this cash money record,
The rhythm of the music was our aphrodisiac and kept us in sync.
She just drop, drop, drop, damn you manny fresh
She was performing well in bed, and it felt really good.
But I got my thing together, told her she could bring whatever
I was ready to go and told her she could bring whatever she wants.
Get some green, we could puff get the cream get the cuffs
Let's get high and get some money.
Baby even when I'm gentle, it might seem like its ruff
I might seem a bit rough even when I'm gentle.
But if neighbors ain't complaining, you ain't screaming enough
If people in the neighborhood aren't complaining, it means we're not loud enough.
And yeah they might hear as I'm slappin' to the jewel
They might hear me as I'm smacking on her genital area.
She said baby right there, do it rapid do it smooth
She instructed me to do it quickly and smoothly in a particular spot.
I said baby right where, kept tappin' to the groove
I inquired about a particular spot, then kept touching that part of her body.
She said nigga right there, I'm a slap you if you move
She instructed me not to move from that spot or she would hit me.
Cant forget the feeling when you starring at the ceiling
I cannot forget the feeling when we were in bed, staring at the ceiling.
And you cant catch your breath you just laying there chilling
We were just laying there chilling because it took my breath away.
Like one and then the two, Two and then the three, three and then the four
I liken the experience to counting to four as a way of describing how pleasurable it is.
Damn I want some more
I want more of the experience we just had.
So I slam her to the floor, set the camera to record
We have sex on camera, and I record the act.
Throw them legs up in the air, just like Lamborghini doors
It's a reference to Lamborghini doors opening as a way of describing how wide her legs were opened.
See we might have had some problems with the stamina before
We might have had issues keeping up with each other previously.
I'm no amateur I'm sure, I cold ram until your sore
I'm not an amateur; I'm proficient, and I could keep going until she is sore.
But I ain't trying to hurt ya
I don't want to hurt her while being intimate.
I'm jus' trying to nurture
I'm trying to build and take care of the relationship.
Them nigga just flirt to hit it and to hurt ya
Other guys are only trying to have flings and hurt her.
What I'm throwin' dirt for, I'm trying to alert ya
I'm not saying bad things about other guys; I'm trying to let her know the reality of what is happening.
But fuck that lay it down, let a nigga work ya
Forget all that, let me show you what lovemaking is all about.
Uh huh til you tell me that you had enough
I'll keep going until she tells me to stop.
Uh huh I'm a slow it down and I'm a speed it up (yeah)
I'll vary the pace during the act.
And I will not stop
I won't stop until we are both satisfied.
Do it to you like a dude that ain't got no job
I'll make love to her like I have nothing better to do as I have no job.
I ain't got nowhere to be so I don't gotta leave
I have nowhere else to be, so I'll stay for a while.
Get the itis in the sheets I'm a eat and go to sleep
We'll eat, then sleep together.
Then we wake up and repeat, everything you do to me
We'll wake up and do the same thing again.
I'm a turn and do to you,
I'll reciprocate what is done to me.
And then I'm a black and blue that thing (dance for me)
I'll make love to her the way she likes it.
I love the way you move that thing (so nasty)
I love how she moves and how pleasurable it is.
I look and say oh that thing
I admire her body and draw my partner's attention to it too.
Make me wanna sing a song (anybody every seen a)
She makes me feel incredible to the point where I want to sing.
Make 'em wanna sing along
I want people to join in the experience and to sing along with me.
Yea so I called baby girl like
The song ends with a phone call to a woman.
Yeah I'm fittin' to come through there
He's planning to go over to her house.
She like for what
She asks what he wants or his intentions.
You ain't gon' get none
She thinks he's coming for sex.
I said I'm not comin' to get none,
He clears the air that sex is not the only reason he is coming over.
I'm comin' to get some
He's coming over to get some intimacy with her.
She said you ain't gettin' some unless you make love to me
She tells him he has to make love to gain intimacy with her.
I said make love?
He is surprised that she requested lovemaking.
What the fuck is that
He humorously does not know what lovemaking is, even though he is a grown man.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Leroy Bonner, Willie Beck, James L. Williams, Marvin Pierce, Marshall Jones, Ralph Middlebrooks, Clarence Satchell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind