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."
Ready
Fabolous Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't need a master room, don't need to set the mood
She like, "Yeah, yeah"
One touch one touch, she gon' give me all the love
She's ready, so ready
She ready, so I'm ready
I feel it comin' on strong, you're so heavy
She ready, I'm ready
I hear if you stay ready, you ain't gotta get ready
Call you when I get there, you just get your shit wetty
Oops I mean your shit ready, can't believe I said that
Least you know where my head at, now shorty where your head at
She gon' dive in head first, school me like the board of ed
She do it then we do it so she can say she thought ahead
Laid up in that all day, can't get out that waterbed
Talk nasty for ya boy, silent treatment for the feds
No cup for the thirsty, she bad as controversy
Skin-tone like Hershey, body Lord have mercy
Yeah if this thing were a car, it'd be a Lamborghini Mercy
Maybe I'm too fast, girl say she
And baby we don't need a bed, no
Don't need a master room, don't need to set the mood
She like, "Yeah, yeah"
One touch one touch, she gon' give me all the love
She's ready, so ready
She ready, so I'm ready
I feel it comin' on strong, you're so heavy
She ready, I'm ready
Talkin' 'bout you born ready, talkin' 'bout it's on deck
Talk a good one on text, you say you 'bout it I'm gon' check
I put some kisses on neck, let me warm that engine up
Relax when the tension's up, girl you just call your nigga up
And I pop up in that all black and kill that
See I'm dressed appropriate, you got to feel that
Feel that? (I feel that)
That's that love comin' down
For the brain, I'm dumbin' down, we on swole when she come around
Need ice to numb it down, night stick to beat it up
Rodney King that teen girl, can't we all just get along?
You could get along, you already know, but is you ready though?
And baby we don't need a bed, no
Don't need a master room, don't need to set the mood
She like, "Yeah, yeah"
One touch one touch, she gon' give me all the love
She's ready, so ready
She ready, so I'm ready
I feel it comin' on strong, you're so heavy
She ready, I'm ready
If you are a bad one, be ready (Be ready)
Two times for my niggas, we ready (We so ready)
Pretty ladies in the V.I. and they ready (They so ready)
I'm feelin' good, chillin' good, I'm ready (I'm ready, yo)
Left a girl in the back, she ready (She so ready)
We don't know how to act, we ready (Cause we're ready)
And we can't wait to get home (If you're ready, come on)
And baby we don't need a bed, no
Don't need a master room, don't need to set the mood
She like, "Yeah, yeah"
One touch one touch, she gon' give me all the love
She's ready, so ready
She ready, so I'm ready
I feel it comin' on strong, you're so heavy
She ready, I'm ready
The song "Ready" by Fabolous and Chris Brown is about a couple ready to take their intimacy to the next level. The chorus expresses that they don't need a bed or a master room to set the mood because she is ready. The first verse describes how the woman is willing to take charge and dive into the relationship head first. The second verse talks about how the singer is also ready and dressed appropriately to make their evening a memorable one. The bridge repeats how they don't need to set the mood and that they're both ready to take things to the next level.
The song's lyrics are clear and direct but also use double entendres and suggestive phrases to convey the message. It's an upbeat song with an R&B vibe and rap verses, making it a combination of both genres. The song stands out because it's a remix of two other songs with different genres, "One More Chance" by The Notorious B.I.G. and "I’m Sprung" by T-Pain. Fabolous and Chris Brown collaborated to make the song that fuses the two songs' choruses and verses.
Line by Line Meaning
And baby we don't need a bed, no
We don't need a bed, it's just an accessory.
Don't need a master room, don't need to set the mood
A fancy room and setting the mood isn't needed for her to give love.
She like, "Yeah, yeah"
The woman agrees that she is ready for anything.
One touch one touch, she gon' give me all the love
Her one touch will give him all the love.
She's ready, so ready
She is ready for anything.
She ready, so I'm ready
He is ready because she is ready.
I feel it comin' on strong, you're so heavy
He feels that she is coming on strong and passionate.
Talkin' 'bout you born ready, talkin' 'bout it's on deck
Talking about being always ready and prepared for anything.
Talk a good one on text, you say you 'bout it I'm gon' check
Talking a lot on text, but he will check if she is really about what she says.
I put some kisses on neck, let me warm that engine up
He kisses her neck to start warming her up.
Relax when the tension's up, girl you just call your nigga up
When the tension goes up, she can just call him and relax.
And I pop up in that all black and kill that
He will show up in all black and make it awesome.
For the brain, I'm dumbin' down, we on swole when she come around
He is dumbing down things for her to understand, and when she comes around, the excitement goes up.
Rodney King that teen girl, can't we all just get along?
He will have fun with the girl, and references Rodney King to mean that they can all have fun together.
If you are a bad one, be ready (Be ready)
If she is a confident woman, she should always be ready for anything.
Two times for my niggas, we ready (We so ready)
He acknowledges his friends and says that they are all ready for anything.
Pretty ladies in the V.I. and they ready (They so ready)
There are attractive ladies around, and they are all ready for anything.
Left a girl in the back, she ready (She so ready)
There is a girl in the back, and she is ready for anything.
We don't know how to act, we ready (Cause we're ready)
They are ready and can't control themselves.
And we can't wait to get home (If you're ready, come on)
They can't wait to get home and are inviting people who are also ready.
One touch one touch, she gon' give me all the love
Her one touch will give him all the love.
She's ready, so ready
She is ready for anything.
She ready, so I'm ready
He is ready because she is ready.
I feel it comin' on strong, you're so heavy
He feels that she is coming on strong and passionate.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANDREW HARR, JERMAINE JACKSON, KEVIN COSSOM, ANDRE DAVIDSON, SEAN DAVIDSON, CHRISTOPHER BROWN, JOHN JACKSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@squeakthatsme4122
I love Chris Brown's voice whenever he sings slow jams.
@jessicabumpers3487
That RnB Voice🗣🗣🗣
@chandlerstcloud4470
facts and george floyd is dead
@iyonnasummer7797
Chris brown’s music is timeless
@donovanphillips8692
Facts
@bujubest95
Fabulous music timeless as well
@wilsongaye2437
Facts
@king...675
did yall listen to 11:11?
@sierraalexis7244
i miss this year so bad i’ll do anything to go back to 2010-2015😥
@Anthonyc301
Best era of rap