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."
The Bad Guy
Fabolous Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're all a bunch of fucking assholes
You know why?
'Cause you don't got the guts to be what you want to be
Fabolous...he doesn't have that problem
He always tells the truth
That's what it's all about?
So they can point their fucking fingers
and call me the fucking bad guy?
[Verse 1]
I guess I'm the bad guy
The fingers is pointing
Nigga, I don't go in no clubs without bringing my joint in
They be asking fellas why (why?)
It's cause the streets is watching
With an envious ear, jealous eye
You know how William H. Bonnie's rockin
I keep the home ??? two way contact for Johnny Cochran
Be the same dudes, testing your patience
In them hospitals, resting like patients, confessing to agents
You smell me, you gotta spray the Wesson like fragrance
And you pay your way out arrests and arraignments
These playas been playin' foul
And I done learned my lesson with flagrants
Nigga, this how I live it ain't just entertainment
I'm what they been trying to do, not do
I'm the kid, they been lying to you
You need people like me
I'm so F-A, be -O, L-O, you-S
Yeah, that's the bad guy
[Pain In Da Ass]
You need people like me
So you can point your fucking fingers
And say, "That's the bad guy."
So, what they make you?
Good?
[Verse 2]
Bitches think all they gotta do is say the child is yours
Quit they job and live off the child support
How could you stand there, smile in court
I'm a just settle, fly back to them Cayman Isle resorts
You better sign a pre-nup
You catch me instead of 'it wasn't me'
I'm gonna say 'where you get a key from?'
I love the way your butt swishes
But non of these slut bitches
is worth me asking my doctor why my nuts itches
If they see how the Rolls Royce smell
All day I be emptying my in box and my whole voice mail
I'll be ready to light the weed and pull it
Now every chick want to make me come faster than a speeding bullet
But I ain't into coaching birds like Tony LaRussa
I done had the thickest chickens to the boniest roosters
Who have trouble getting the kid like me to spend
Ma you'll never see a bad guy like me again, for real
[Pain In Da Ass]
So say goodnight to the bad guy, come on
It's the last time you're gonna hear a bad guy ???
You better make way, it's a bad guy coming through
[Verse 3]
Come on
What type of bad guy give fellas ???, females hugs
I making my business, my kids won't have to retail drugs
I get threats over the two way from email thugs
I ride with ratchets, clips under the CL rugs
Think I'm liking you? Wrong
'Cause even if I get locked
My money won't let me stay unrighteous for wrong
Case dismissed, the DA even liking the song
Right back to the P's, latest pair of Michael's shoes on
When you holla in the club it's cool
But don't change the subject fool
And start askin if I remember you from public school
You know I done heard dozens, of these birds buzzing
Talking 'bout I used to fuck with they 3rd cousin
FYI, stay the fuck from 'round me
[unknown] guys who want to hear somebody stuck or clown me
I don't care what other haters do
But if you think I'm loved for saving you
Say goodnight to the bad guy
[Pain In Da Ass]
Whoever said to us
Now maybe you can buy yourself
one of them first class tickets to the Resurrection
(Gun Shot)
The lyrics to Fabolous’ song “The Bad Guy” convey a sense of rebellion against society’s conventions of playing by the rules and conforming to expectations. The song begins with Pain In Da Ass calling out the listeners for being too afraid to be who they truly want to be, in contrast to Fabolous who “tells the truth” and refuses to be a conformist. In the first verse, he emphasizes his persona as an outsider by highlighting the futility of going to clubs without bringing his gun, as he is always being watched and judged by envious and jealous people. He employs an analogy to William H. Bonnie, a notorious criminal, to convey how he navigates the streets with wisdom and vigilance.
Fabolous continues to assert himself in verse 2, touching on themes of fidelity by warning men against women who try to trap them into paying child support, and advising them to sign a prenup to avoid being taken advantage of. His lyrics reveal his confidence and sense of self-worth, as he dismisses women who are not worth his time or trouble, and shows a disdain for societal norms around courtship and materialism. In the final verse, he addresses the negative attention that he receives from others, but ultimately shrugs it off, continuing to live according to his own rules and convictions.
Overall, “The Bad Guy” is a defiant song that celebrates individuality and nonconformity while rebelling against societal expectations of behavior and appearance. Fabolous refuses to compromise his values or bend to the will of others, and demonstrates his strength of character by living his life on his terms.
Line by Line Meaning
I guess I'm the bad guy
I acknowledge that people paint me as the villain
Nigga, I don't go in no clubs without bringing my joint in
I never go to clubs without my weapon because I know the streets watch me enviously
Be the same dudes, testing your patience
The same people who test your patience end up snitching to the authorities
I'm what they been trying to do, not do
I'm the person that people wish they had the courage to become
I love the way your butt swishes
I appreciate the female form but don't value these women enough to take them seriously
My money won't let me stay unrighteous for wrong
I have ample funds to avoid any sort of jail time should I ever get caught by the police
You know I done heard dozens, of these birds buzzing
I've heard many women try to claim that they have a romantic past with me
Say goodnight to the bad guy
I'm a villain and not afraid to admit it. Goodbye.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHN JACKSON, JOHN DAVID JACKSON, RAASHAUN CASEY, RENAN THYBULLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tyranbeaman8118
"You need people like me!...so you can point your fucken finger and say that's the bad guy....so what that make you good?" The most realist shit ever quoted
@soFRESHent
this is on my playlist so it eventually makes its way to my ears every year since 2001
@daviderosi3737
11
@RockSmith-rl9qr
The world needs bad men. We keep the other bad men from the door.
@JohnnyD3218
whoever made this vid grew up in my time period for sure. Awesome compilaton
@matthewleavens6200
Fucking tremors 🤣
@cibida1
Freshmen year of high school. Do anything to go back
@LEFTY2GUNZ401twoGUNZ
2018 going 2019 still banging this classic rns
@mixz9929
Hell yea
@symphoniez
@Mixz 2019 fo sho