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."
N/A
Fabolous Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Huh Huh uh huh do it huh Yea
Uh Uh do it huh huh what y'all want huh
Rollin, gold two seater
Stash in the dash
Hole through heaters
Blocka! Put holes through beaters
Balling, Brooklyn dawn
Addicted to Crys hooked on Don
15 G's hookers on
Ma, I want to see how you look in thongs
Hustling, guys that send Po's
Cause I chop rocks the size of mentos
Blame me, trials aquit those
Look at the hurt your eyes will squit close
Pimpin' here's a new way to flirt
Listen to the two way alert
It goes (2 way beeps in song's beat)
Lets go VIP boo raise your skirt
[Chorus 1:]
Holla back Young'n (Ho Ho!)
Holla back (Ho Ho!)
Holla back Young'n (Ho Ho!)
Holla back (Ho Ho!)
Holla back Young'n (Ho Ho!)
Holla back (Ho Ho!)
Holla back Young'n (Ho Ho!)
Holla back (Ho Ho!)
I'm Gangsta
Y'all just wannabe's
Federal Agents on their P's
30 grand 28 on the keys
Gotta good lawyer I'm gonna squeeze
Thuggin' jeans and Tim's
Fitted to the front lean the brim
Ride but never on teenage rims
And I keep a chick's face between limbs
Styling y'all heard about my kick game
I'm on the parkway see me at the Knick game
Probably seen this tatted on your chick frame
F-A-be -O-L-O-you-S
Riding y'all know as well I do
That's the way you can tell I flew
So I got a deal I sell pot too
Cause before I hit the pens I'm getting bailed by Clue
[Chorus]
Cruising top on the Mercedes low
Turn us up when you hear this on the radio
Blasting with the nineteen eighty flow
Make the necks on the ladies go (wooo wooop)
Holla that's what a pretty thug will do
Hit Branson get a fifty jug or two
Y'all throwin on them gritty mugs for who
Like y'all don't know what fifty slugs will do
Hating I just bought the bulls
I put y'all in the front page articles
I got em looking at the billboard charts confused
And I still freestyle to start the Clue's
Repping I'm that kid about the doe
I done copped coke and started droughts before
Shit Platinum out the door
Now I drop the top down just to shout to hoes
[Chorus]
Holla back back back back...(Hoooo Hoooo! until music fades)
The lyrics of Fabolous’s N/A provide a vivid picture of his lifestyle in Brooklyn. He brags about his wealth, from his gold two-seater to his addiction to high-end liquor, to his prowess in the criminal world of illegal drugs, weapons, and prostitution. Fabolous is not shy about his illegal activities and seems to revel in his notoriety. He also mentions his face tattoos, which he claims are probably tattooed on the women he has been with. He describes his fashion sense, including his tailored jeans and fitted hats. Fabolous seems to have a particular affinity for Timberland boots, as he mentions them several times in the song. He talks about his reputation for being a freestyle rapper who can start a Clue’s mixtape with an impromptu verse. The chorus of the song is all about hollering back to the young’n, which can be interpreted in many ways. Still, it’s clear that Fabolous is bragging about his accomplishments and his status as a successful rapper, hustler, and womanizer.
Line by Line Meaning
Rollin, gold two seater
Driving around in a fancy car
Stash in the dash
Hiding something valuable in the dashboard of the car
Hole through heaters
Shooting guns and making holes through other people's guns
Blocka! Put holes through beaters
Continuing to shoot guns and damage other people's vehicles
Ghetto Fab stroll through Cheetahs
Walking around in a nightclub called Cheetahs
Balling, Brooklyn dawn
Living it up in Brooklyn
Addicted to Crys hooked on Don
Addicted to a luxurious lifestyle involving Cristal champagne and probably cocaine
15 G's hookers on
Spending a lot of money on prostitutes
Ma, I want to see how you look in thongs
Asking a woman to try on revealing underwear
Hustling, guys that send Po's
Making money by dealing drugs
Cause I chop rocks the size of mentos
Selling drugs in large quantities
Blame me, trials acquit those
Taking the blame for crimes others committed and getting away with it in court
Look at the hurt your eyes will squint close
Reflecting on the effects of one's lifestyle, which can lead to painful events happening
Pimpin' here's a new way to flirt
Giving advice on how to attract women
Listen to the two way alert
Paying attention to the sounds of a two-way pager
Lets go VIP boo raise your skirt
Inviting a woman to a VIP section and asking her to show more skin
I'm Gangsta
Identifying as a gangster
Y'all just wannabe's
Claiming that other people who try to be gangsters are not the real deal
Federal Agents on their P's
Avoiding getting arrested by federal agents who are on guard
30 grand 28 on the keys
Making money by selling drugs
Gotta good lawyer I'm gonna squeeze
Having a lawyer who can get you out of legal trouble
Thuggin' jeans and Tim's
Wearing baggy clothes and Timberland boots, hallmarks of a thug style
Fitted to the front lean the brim
Wearing a baseball cap that leans forward
Ride but never on teenage rims
Driving a car that is not too flashy or gaudy
And I keep a chick's face between limbs
Engaging in sexual activities with a woman
Styling y'all heard about my kick game
Boasting about one's sense of style, particularly shoes
I'm on the parkway see me at the Knick game
Being seen driving on the parkway and attending a Knicks basketball game
Probably seen this tatted on your chick frame
Having one's name tattooed on a woman's body as a sign of possession
Riding y'all know as well I do
Driving around in a car
That's the way you can tell I flew
Showing off one's wealth and success
So I got a deal I sell pot too
Making money by selling marijuana
Cause before I hit the pens I'm getting bailed by Clue
Promising not to go to prison because a music industry colleague named DJ Clue will bail you out
Cruising top on the Mercedes low
Driving around in a Mercedes-Benz with the top down
Turn us up when you hear this on the radio
Requesting to have the volume turned up when hearing the song on the radio
Blasting with the nineteen eighty flow
Rapping with a style reminiscent of the 1980s
Make the necks on the ladies go (wooo wooop)
Attracting attention from women who are impressed with the rapper's skills
Holla that's what a pretty thug will do
Asking people to shout in appreciation of the skills and style the rapper is showing off
Hit Branson get a fifty jug or two
Going to a particular neighborhood to buy drugs in bulk
Y'all throwin on them gritty mugs for who
Questioning why other people are trying to act tough or menacing when the rapper is the real gangster
Like y'all don't know what fifty slugs will do
Warning others about the consequences of messing with the rapper
Hating I just bought the bulls
Attracting jealousy from others because of the rapper's wealth and success
I put y'all in the front page articles
Making other people feel important or famous by referring to them in the media
I got em looking at the billboard charts confused
Achieving success on music charts despite other people's confusion or disbelief
And I still freestyle to start the Clue's
Impressing DJ Clue and others in the music industry with one's freestyle rapping skills
Repping I'm that kid about the doe
Identifying as a person who cares about making money
I done copped coke and started droughts before
Having experience in dealing drugs and controlling the availability of drugs in a particular area
Shit Platinum out the door
Achieving platinum record sales
Now I drop the top down just to shout to hoes
Showing off one's car by driving with the top down and attracting attention from women
Holla back back back back...(Hoooo Hoooo! until music fades)
Asking people to holler in appreciation of the rapper's skills, with a repeating refrain of 'Ho Ho' until the music fades away
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHAD HUGO, JOHN JACKSON, JOHN DAVID JACKSON, PHARRELL WILLIAMS, PHARRELL L WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@PaperChaserCEO
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@yesthank1577
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQgPAePvcz8&t=2s
@mashondaknight9132
Fabulous never disappointed he is so nyc this video is definitely on point
@TheAeasy19
These throw backs are much appreciated
@PaperChaserCEO
Thanks fam. I'm glad you enjoy them.
@TheAeasy19
@PaperChaserDotCom I'm sure everyone in the comment section has appreciation. Timeless tracks
@ObsLongBox
Back when Air Force ones were hotter than Jordan 1s and dunks. Wait…. they still are….
@dawansmith6578
I was in High School when this came out. I couldn't wait for the new "Air Forces" to drop!
@thecunninlynguist
Man I miss the mixtape era
@anyanwuuchenna
Loso be there , fofo be near and popo be there. Three word rhymes