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."
Rap & Sex
Fabolous Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You know I'm at the studio man, what you doing, you gon' come through?
Yeah I'mma come through. I might rock the mic too
Haha, I bet
I just got the crib with the studio
You could say I live at the studio
Shawty come and give at the studio
All I do is rap and sex
Niggas see how I was flowin' on my last cassette
(At the studio)
Got a condo with nothin' but condoms in it
Same place where the rhymes were invented
So all I do is rap and sex, imagine how I stroke
See how I was flowin' on my last cassette
Shawty came through just to hear the mixtape (Soul Tape)
Ended up starring in a sex tape
With a player from New York no Nicks tape (swish)
Might need your bitch for my next day
I come upstairs then I come get them drawers
Come back downstairs then I come up with bars
Shit feels so good it might come out tomorrow
Beat that shit up, she might come out with scars
I do not lie, I been the truth
If I'm in her box, I say that I'm in the booth
Comin' up with the headlines
That's off the top of the head (whoa, whoa)
Heard she nasty on the mic
Go for the sloppiest head (whoa, whoa)
Then she gon' bust that thing wide
I'ma just let that thing ride (whoa, whoa)
I just got the crib with the studio
You could say I live at the studio
Shawty come and give at the studio
All I do is rap and sex
Niggas see how I was flowin' on my last cassette
(At the studio)
No slow jams just street nigga rap
Want R&B smooth, get an R&B dude
Got a Range and a Benz, I make R&B moves
But I can call Trey, you in an R&B mood?
And get him to the studio
Like "wassup this Fab
Got a bad bitch with me and she up for grabs"
Talkin' bout "ask him what's up with this collab?"
And she waitin' at the studio
Sign on the door that say "No hatin' at the studio"
And I always keep it playa at the studio
Every time she ask I say I'm at the studio
Layin' somethin' down
See how I was snappin' on my last shit
Hard start off with the soft flow
Then switch it up to some fat shit
(Feel me?)
Nigga don't make me go [?] your bitch
I love this shit but I don't love your bitch
Rap, sex (x2)
All I do is Rap & sex (x3)
Pussy got me screaming, Meek Mill flow (Ho!)
Spray it like Mase (aha), speak real slow
You with a boss one, Rick Ross grunt (Huh!)
Nasty like Nas, one mic [?] (all I need is one mic)
Best I ever had (Crazy), word to Drake
Bustin' off the grill [?] Chiraq, murder rate (Let's get it!)
Kiss on it (Heh), excuse my French (Haan)
Hit the studio, rap and sex
I just got the crib with the studio
You could say I live at the studio
Shawty come and give at the studio
All I do is rap and sex
Niggas see how I was flowin' on my last cassette
(At the studio)
The song "Rap & Sex" by Fabolous is an explicit ode to the lifestyle of a successful rapper in the music industry. The lyrics show how the rapper's life revolves around creating music and having casual sex. The opening lines of the song depict a conversation between Fabolous and someone trying to reach him while he's at the studio. This sets the tone for the rest of the song, which is all about Fabolous's obsession with music and sex. He talks about how he just bought a crib with a studio in it, and how he spends most of his time there. He mentions that the same place where he writes his rhymes is also where he has sex, implying a blurring of boundaries between work and pleasure.
The chorus of the song is repeated several times throughout, with the refrain "All I do is rap and sex," emphasizing the rapper's single-minded focus on these two things. He talks about how he was flowin' on his last cassette, which could be a reference to a previous album or mixtape he's made. He also brags that he can make his sex partners scream like Meek Mill and that he can rap both soft and hard, showing his versatility as an artist.
Overall, "Rap & Sex" reveals the hedonistic lifestyle of a rap star, where everything revolves around money, music, and sex. The song is a perfect example of the hyper-masculine culture of hip-hop, where women are often portrayed as objerts and sex is celebrated as an expression of power.
Line by Line Meaning
Where you at?
Asking where the other person is.
You know I'm at the studio man, what you doing, you gon' come through?
The person is at the studio and is inviting the other person to come over.
Yeah I'mma come through. I might rock the mic too
Agreeing to come over and also rap.
Haha, I bet
Saying that it's probable.
You could say I live at the studio
He spends most of his time at the studio.
Shawty come and give at the studio
Girls come and have sex at the studio.
All I do is rap and sex
He spends his time doing rap and having sex.
Niggas see how I was flowin' on my last cassette
Other rappers admire his skill and flow.
Got a condo with nothin' but condoms in it
He has a lot of condoms in his place, ready for sex.
Same place where the rhymes were invented
He created his rap in the same condo where he has sex.
Shawty came through just to hear the mixtape (Soul Tape)
A girl came over to listen to his music.
Ended up starring in a sex tape
They had sex and recorded it.
With a player from New York no Nicks tape (swish)
He had sex with a girl from New York, not from the Knicks basketball team.
Might need your bitch for my next day
He might need someone else's girlfriend for his next sexual encounter.
I come upstairs then I come get them drawers
He goes upstairs to have sex and takes off the girl's clothes.
Come back downstairs then I come up with bars
After having sex, he goes back downstairs to write and create bars (rap lyrics).
Shit feels so good it might come out tomorrow
He might release his rap track (or might have gotten the girl pregnant).
Beat that shit up, she might come out with scars
He has rough sex and the girl might have physical marks or scars.
I do not lie, I been the truth
He speaks the truth and does not lie.
If I'm in her box, I say that I'm in the booth
He makes a play on words, saying he's in the girl's box (or vagina) but refers to it as being in the recording booth.
Comin' up with the headlines
He's creating newsworthy headlines with his music.
That's off the top of the head (whoa, whoa)
He's freestyling or rapping off the top of his head.
Heard she nasty on the mic
He heard the girl is good at having sex.
Go for the sloppiest head (whoa, whoa)
He wants the girl to give him the best oral sex (sloppy head).
Then she gon' bust that thing wide, I'ma just let that thing ride (whoa, whoa)
After sex, she'll orgasm and he'll let her enjoy it.
No slow jams just street nigga rap
He doesn't make slow R&B music, just raps about his street life.
Want R&B smooth, get an R&B dude
If you want smooth R&B music, listen to an artist who makes that kind of music.
Got a Range and a Benz, I make R&B moves
He has expensive cars and he can make R&B music (if he wanted to).
But I can call Trey, you in an R&B mood?
He can call Trey Songz, who is known for making R&B music, and asks if the other person is in the mood for that kind of music.
Like "wassup this Fab
Addressing himself as Fabolous.
Got a bad bitch with me and she up for grabs"
He's with a beautiful girl who is available for sex.
Talkin' bout "ask him what's up with this collab?"
Asking Fabolous about a possible collaboration.
And she waitin' at the studio
The girl is waiting at the studio for them to arrive.
Sign on the door that say "No hatin' at the studio"
There is a sign on the door that says no negative energy allowed in the studio.
And I always keep it playa at the studio
He keeps things respectful and gentlemanly at the studio.
Every time she ask I say I'm at the studio
Every time she asks where he is, he says he's at the studio.
Layin' somethin' down
Recording music or having sex.
See how I was snappin' on my last shit
Other rappers liked the way he was rapping on his last track.
Hard start off with the soft flow
Starting the track slow but then switching to a harder, more aggressive flow.
Then switch it up to some fat shit (Feel me?)
Changing up his flow to something better (making himself bigger).
Nigga don't make me go [?] your bitch
He'll have sex with someone else's girlfriend if they don't stop bothering him.
I love this shit but I don't love your bitch
He enjoys having sex, but doesn't want to be involved with someone else's girlfriend.
Pussy got me screaming, Meek Mill flow (Ho!)
Having sex makes him scream like Meek Mill in his rap song.
Spray it like Mase (aha), speak real slow
He's good at sex and takes his time.
You with a boss one, Rick Ross grunt (Huh!)
He's with a beautiful girl and is feeling like Rick Ross, bossing around.
Nasty like Nas, one mic [?] (all I need is one mic)
He's good at having sex like Nas is good at rapping with just one microphone.
Best I ever had (Crazy), word to Drake
He's having great sex like in the song 'Best I Ever Had' by Drake.
Bustin' off the grill [?] Chiraq, murder rate (Let's get it!)
He's ejaculating and compares it to the high murder rate in Chiraq (Chicago).
Kiss on it (Heh), excuse my French (Haan)
He's kissing during sex and apologizing for swearing.
Hit the studio, rap and sex
He's going back to the studio to make music and have sex.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHARLES DUMAZER, JOHN JACKSON, JONATHAN BURKS, SHAWN CARTER, TIMOTHY MOSLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind