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."
Sickalicious
Fabolous Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Uh, huh, Oh! Yeah, Yeah, Uh! Uh! Yeah, Uh Uh!
They call me G-H-E-T-T-O
Black star power, like B-E-T shows
I'm usually pulling up in the G-T slow
Flashing my ring finger with the E-T glow
I'm that nucca, act rucka
Semi-auto, gat bucca
Take that fucker
Lay flat sucker
I'm the Negro, amigo
Get every bay from Tampa to Montigo
They say I got the lifestyle, and the E glow
I'm in the blow range, no matter where he go
I'm that homie
Gat on me
I'm the kid not that phony
Anybody that know me
Knows I'm here to get that money! Yeah!
[Chorus: Missy Elliott]
Hey! Now get that money, keep them rims spichey!
24 shoes on my Hummer, and they fitting tight!
Fabolous and Missy, Sickalicious right.
If you a hater make my gun go (Blocka, blocka, blocka, blow!)
[Fabolous]
They call me F-A-B-O-L-O
You-S, you just lay down slow! (Nigga)
Know this before this, trey pound blow (Uh-Huh)
Spit game, get dames to lay down low (Ohh!)
I'm da poppy cholo, the cops say the tops on the drops is to low
I shop till I drop, when I'm coppin new clothes
Bop in the hop, but don't stop to use hoes
I'm that new dude, that include
Making sure silencers in the gat is screwed
With an it don't even matter mood
And a "Fuck you, pay me" attitude
I'm that young boy, that slung boy
That'll have em saying, where you get that from boy
I'm still leaving niggas, at one choice
So run when you hear, that gun noise! (Blat!)
[Missy Elliott]
You say you rich, then come and talk that shit to me
(Blacka, blacka, blacka, blacka)
Buy your DVD's and TV's, but I like shoes on my Jeep
(Blacka, blacka, blacka, blacka)
24-inch wheels, and a good gold grill in the front
(Blacka, blacka, blacka, blacka)
Gotta closet made for big clothes
Gotta do more then treat me to lunch
[Chorus]
[Fabolous]
They call me William H period Bonnie
I ride in a seven series with Tommie's
I make another on of America's hotties
And I'm that serious mommy
I'm the one, like the Jet Li flick
The private jet ski's sick
The motors on the jet ski's quick
The clips in the sets be thick
And I done slipped more shots in then Gretzky's stick
I'm the one like Penny Hardaway's number
That's why dudes say it's hard to keep my broad away from ya
Once your bitch, get the god 2-way number
It'll be hard to get a Happy Father's Day from ya
I'm the one, like the piece that's on Nelly's chain
You can't reach me, I'm out of your celly range
Bitch I'll even put canary's up in your belly chain
And just to beat the traffic, hop in a helly main
[Chorus]
The song "Sickalicious" by Fabolous and featuring Missy Elliott talks about their luxurious and extravagant lifestyle. The lyrics are full of references to cars, jewelry, and money, emphasizing the rappers' material possessions. Fabolous starts off the song introducing himself as "Ghetto" and highlighting his black star power. He boasts about his certified platinum status and his willingness to use his gat bucca (gun) to take down his enemies. He also references his E glow, which likely refers to his expensive jewelry.
Missy Elliott joins in on the chorus, urging the listener to get that money and keep their rims spicheeeeyyy (shiny). She mentions the 24-inch rims on her Hummer and how they fit tight. The chorus again emphasizes the desire for money and material possessions.
Fabolous continues to flex his wealth, referring to himself as F-A-be, O-L-O and speaking about his purchases of new clothes and expensive cars. He also refers to himself as the "poppy cholo" and mentions the cops criticizing the height of his car's top. He talks about making sure his gats have silencers and his "fuck you, pay me" attitude towards making money.
Overall, "Sickalicious" is a song that glorifies materialism and the desire to become wealthy. Both Fabolous and Missy Elliott are no strangers to the luxurious lifestyle, and these lyrics only serve to reinforce their prominent status in the music industry.
Line by Line Meaning
They call me G-H-E-T-T-O
People refer to me as coming from the ghetto
Black star power, like be-E-T shows
I have charisma and influence like the stars on BET shows
I'm usually pullin up in the G-T slow
I usually arrive driving a GT car at a slow speed
Flashing my ring finger with the E-T glow
I am flashing my ring finger to show off my expensive jewelry with a glowing effect
I'm that nucca, act rucka
Certified plat nucca
Semi-auto, gat bucca
Take that fucka
Lay flat sucka
I am a tough guy who has street credentials and can handle myself in dangerous situations
I'm the Negro, amigo
Get every bay from Tampa to Montigo
They say I got the lifestyle, and the E glow
I'm in the blow range, no matter where he go
I'm a black man that people admire, who gets women from Tampa to Montigo and is always living the high life. I am also always in possession of drugs, no matter where I go.
I'm that homie
Gat on me
I'm the kid not that phony
Anybody that know me
Knows I'm here to get that money! Yeah!
I'm a friend that you can trust and rely on, with my gun always by my side. I'm the real deal and everyone knows that I'm all about making money.
Heeyyyy! Now get that money, keep them rims spicheeeeyyy!
24 shoes on my Hummer, and they fitting tiiigghhtt!
Fabolous and Missy, Sickalicious righhhhtttt.
If you a hater make my gun go (Fabolous: Blocka, blocka, blocka, blow!)
Hey, let's focus on making money and keeping our rims shiny! I have 24-inch shoes on my Hummer and they look great. Fabolous and Missy are an amazing duo that is sick and delicious, and haters better watch out because I'm ready to shoot them.
They call me F-A-be, O-L-O
you-S, you just lay down slow! (Nigga)
Know this before this, trey pound blow (Uh-Huh)
Spit game, get dames to lay down low (Ohh!)
My name is spelled Fabolous and I'm the real deal, while you are just a weak person who will easily submit to me. You should be aware that I am armed with a weapon that weighs three pounds and my smooth talk can seduce women into lowering their guard.
I'm da poppy cholo, the cops say the tops on the drops is to low
I shop till I drop, when I'm coppin new clothes
Bop in the hop, but don't stop to use hoes
I'm that new dude, that include
Making sure silencers in the gat is screwed
With an it don't even matter mood
And a 'Fuck you, pay me' attitude
I'm a stylish Hispanic gangster that the police notice for driving low-riding convertible cars, and I love shopping for clothes until I'm tired. I'm always bouncing to music without stopping to have sex with prostitutes. I'm a newcomer to the scene, but I already know the importance of attaching a silencer to my gun. I'm confident and don't care about consequences, with a 'pay me or else' attitude.
I'm that young boy, that slung boy
That'll have em saying, where you get that from boy
I'm still leaving niggas, at one choice
So run when you hear, that gun noise! (Blat!)
I am a young drug dealer that people are in awe of and ask where I get my merchandise from. I continue to outsmart and outrun my competition, giving them no choice but to surrender. So when you hear the sound of my gun, run away fast.
You say you rich, then come and talk that shit to me
(Blacka, blacka, blacka, blacka)
Buy your DVD's and TV's, but I like shoes on my Jeep
(Blacka, blacka, blacka, blacka)
24-inch wheels, and a good gold grill in the front
(Blacka, blacka, blacka, blacka)
Gotta closet made for big clothes
Gotta do more then treat me to lunch
If you claim to be rich, then prove it to me by talking about it. I'm not impressed with buying DVDs and TVs, but I sure love putting expensive shoes on my Jeep. Having 24-inch wheels and a gold grill on my teeth is also essential. My wardrobe requires a large closet, and I expect more than just a lunch treat from those who want to impress me.
They call me William H period Bonnie
I ride in a seven series with Tommie's
I make another on of America's hotties
And I'm that serious mommy
People refer to me as William H. Bonnie, and I drive around in a BMW 7 series car with expensive jewelry. I'm the kind of guy who can turn another woman into a national sex symbol, and you better take me seriously.
I'm the one, like the Jet Li flick
The private jet ski's sick
The motors on the jet ski's quick
The clips in the sets be thick
And I done slipped more shots in then Gretzky's stick
I am the one to be reckoned with, like Jet Li in movies. My private jet ski is amazing and has powerful motors and lots of guns attached to it. I have fired more rounds from my gun than Gretzky has hit pucks with his hockey stick.
I'm the one like Penny Hardaway's number
That's why dudes say it's hard to keep my broad away from ya
Once your bitch, get the god 2-way number
It'll be hard to get a Happy Father's Day from ya
I am the special one, like Penny Hardaway's jersey number. Guys find it challenging to keep their women away from me because I'm irresistible. Once your girl gets my contact information, it'll be tough for you to feel like a proud father on Father's Day.
I'm the one, like the piece that's on Nelly's chain
You can't reach me, I'm out of your celly range
Bitch I'll even put canary's up in your belly chain
And just to beat the traffic, hop in a helly main
I'm amazing, like the bling on Nelly's necklace. You can't get in touch with me because I'm too important to answer your calls. I will even put a canary bird on your expensive jewelry, and to avoid traffic, I'll just hop on a helicopter.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Walter Carl Becker, Donald Jay Fagen, Chad James Elliott, Melissa A. Elliott, John David Jackson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind