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."
Throw It In The Bag
Fabolous Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We got another one boy, (A-T-L)
(Just throw it in the bag)
What's up Brooklyn?, Whats up son?
What's up Fabo?, Ay man, I got that black Amex wit me
Aka that throw it the bag card, yeah!
Now I know you ain't over there starin' at my girl
Nigga I know you don't call yourself hollarin' at my girl
I know you don't call yourself hollarin' at my girl
I keep her in Louboutin, Louie Vuttion
Gucci down to her feet, yup just like me
I'm the one, with them ones
Fuck the price on the tag
Just throw it in the bag
Un huh un huh un huh
Just throw it in the bag
Uh huh uh huh uh huh
Just throw it in the bag
Look at price tags
Where they do that at?
Heard that in A-T-L
When I'm in A-T-L
Just ask my baby girl
I treat that lady well
Ain't nothin' so so
An I know JD well
A couple Benz's, black white gray C.L.
Got niggas lookin' like, did we miss a Mercedes sale?
Don't wonder what I do, just know they pay me well
They keep that Gucci and that Louie on my labi-els
That's the way we feel
Must be nice man
You wit the right man
You ain't gotta price scan, or ask how much
Now what I look like?
Son I'm from Brooklyn, what it look like?
You get it, 'cause I got it
I got it, so you get it
In my Miami they say, don't stop get it get it
Mami do the speedy
Daddy do the duffel
Bag full of chips
We ain't talkin' ruffles
Uh huh uh huh uh huh
Just throw it in the bag
Uh huh uh huh uh huh
Just throw it in the bag
Uh huh uh huh uh huh
Just throw it in the bag
Uh huh uh huh uh huh
Just throw it in the bag
See I know what I'm a tell her
The same thing that the bank robber told the teller
"Just throw it in the bag"
That's the way it suppose to be
A real nigga posed to help you out with the groceries
Just throw it in the bag
Paper or plastic, it's safer to ask it
So dead that nigga, I will pay for the casket
That Remy Mar' got him spittin' plenty bars
Broke ass nigga couldn't buy the mini bar
So get with Loso
He ain't got to no so
Such a gentlemen dozen bottles of that rose Mo
Oh you gotta man, well you need a richer one
Meet me in the parking lot, the place say get you one
Meet me at the register
I'm there on the regular
Them niggas price checkin'
You can help them in a second
As we proceed to give you what you need
Like we breakin' down the weed
Shorty just throw it in the bag!
Uh huh uh huh uh huh
Just throw it in the bag
Uh huh uh huh uh huh
Just throw it in the bag
Uh huh uh huh uh huh
Just throw it in the bag
Uh huh uh huh uh huh
Just throw it in the bag
Everybody do the throw it in the bag
Hey throw it in the bag
Everybody do the throw it in the bag
Hey throw it in the bag
Everybody do the throw it in the bag
Hey throw it in the bag
Uh huh uh huh uh huh
Just throw it in the bag
Uh huh uh huh uh huh
Just throw it in the bag
Uh huh uh huh uh huh
Just throw it in the bag
Uh huh uh huh uh huh
Just throw it in the bag
The song "Throw It in the Bag" by Fabolous featuring The Dream was released in 2009 as a single from Fabolous' album, "Loso's Way". The song was produced by Tricky Stewart, which adds to its catchy and groovy beats. The lyrics of the song tell a story of a man who is protecting his lady from other men who are admiring her by flaunting his wealth and willingness to buy her anything she desires. He compares his girlfriend's fashion to his own luxurious lifestyle, hinting at his success.
The lyrics are a true representation of the rap industry's golden era, where boasting about money, power, and women seems to be the most attractive topic. Despite its catchy beat and relatable storytelling, "Throw It in the Bag" did not top any chart tables but rather remained a popular club and party song. It is a song with a strong message about materialism and the power of money, a message that still resonates in the 21st century.
Line by Line Meaning
(You already know what it is)
We have another hit on our hands.
We got another one boy, (A-T-L)
We have another hit song, this one is for Atlanta.
(Just throw it in the bag)
Buy anything you want, don't worry about the price.
What's up Brooklyn?, Whats up son?
Greetings to Brooklyn, the place where I come from.
What's up Fabo?, Ay man, I got that black Amex wit me
Greetings to myself, I have a black American Express card with me.
Aka that throw it the bag card, yeah!
This credit card is also known as the 'throw it in the bag' card.
Now I know you ain't over there starin' at my girl
I hope you're not looking at my girl in a disrespectful way.
Yeah I know you ain't over there starin' at my girl
I'm sure you're not staring at my girl, right?
Nigga I know you don't call yourself hollarin' at my girl
I am certain that you didn't try to talk to my girl.
I know you don't call yourself hollarin' at my girl
I'm sure you didn't shout at my girl, right?
I keep her in Louboutin, Louie Vuttion
My girl wears expensive shoes and bags from famous brands.
Gucci down to her feet, yup just like me
She has Gucci shoes like me, all the way down to her feet.
I'm the one, with them ones
I'm the one with the money.
Fuck the price on the tag
Money is not an issue, don't worry about the price.
Just throw it in the bag
Just buy everything she wants and throw it in the bag.
Look at price tags
Why bother looking at the prices?
Where they do that at?
Where do people actually care about the prices?
Heard that in A-T-L
Atlanta is where people don't care about the prices.
When I'm in A-T-L
When I'm in Atlanta, I act like I don't care about the prices.
Just ask my baby girl
Just ask my girl, she knows how I treat her.
I treat that lady well
I treat my girl properly.
Ain't nothin' so so
Nothing is mediocre or average here.
An I know JD well
I am acquainted with Jermaine Dupri.
A couple Benz's, black white gray C.L.
I have a few black, white, and gray Mercedes C.L. vehicles.
Got niggas lookin' like, did we miss a Mercedes sale?
People are wondering if there is a sale on Mercedes because of my cars.
Don't wonder what I do, just know they pay me well
You don't need to know what I do, just know that I get paid well.
They keep that Gucci and that Louie on my labi-els
My labels always have Gucci and Louis Vuitton on them.
That's the way we feel
That's how we feel about money and luxury items.
Must be nice man
It's great to have money and be able to afford nice things.
You wit the right man
You're with a man who can give you nice things.
You ain't gotta price scan, or ask how much
You don't need to check the price, just buy it.
Now what I look like?
Do I look like an ordinary person to you?
Son I'm from Brooklyn, what it look like?
I'm from Brooklyn, you know what it means.
You get it, 'cause I got it
You understand what I'm saying because I have money to back it up.
I got it, so you get it
I have money so you can understand my lifestyle.
In my Miami they say, don't stop get it get it
In Miami, people say to keep getting money and not stop.
Mami do the speedy
My girlfriend buys things quickly.
Daddy do the duffel
I carry the money in a duffel bag.
Bag full of chips
I have a bag full of money.
We ain't talkin' ruffles
We're not talking about potato chips.
See I know what I'm a tell her
I know what I'm going to say to her.
The same thing that the bank robber told the teller
I'm going to say the same thing a bank robber says to the teller.
"Just throw it in the bag"
Just give me the money and put in the bag.
That's the way it suppose to be
That's how it's supposed to be when you have money.
A real nigga posed to help you out with the groceries
When you have money, it's expected to help people out, even with their groceries.
Paper or plastic, it's safer to ask it
When you have money, it doesn't matter if you use paper or plastic bags.
So dead that nigga, I will pay for the casket
I will pay for the funeral of anyone who tries to mess with me.
That Remy Mar' got him spittin' plenty bars
The rapper Remy Ma has inspired me to rap well.
Broke ass nigga couldn't buy the mini bar
His financial situation is so bad that he can't even buy a miniature bar.
So get with Loso
Come and hang out with Fabolous.
He ain't got to no so
He doesn't have to know everything.
Such a gentlemen dozen bottles of that rose Mo
I'm a gentleman, I buy a dozen bottles of rose Moet.
Oh you gotta man, well you need a richer one
Your current boyfriend is not rich enough, you need a richer one.
Meet me in the parking lot, the place say get you one
Meet me in the parking lot, I'll buy you a car.
Meet me at the register
Meet me at the checkout counter.
I'm there on the regular
I go there often.
Them niggas price checkin'
Other people are checking the prices.
You can help them in a second
You can help them check the prices and buy their items quickly.
As we proceed to give you what you need
As we continue to provide what you want.
Like we breakin' down the weed
Like we are breaking down marijuana to smoke it.
Shorty just throw it in the bag!
Just buy everything and throw it in the bag!
Everybody do the throw it in the bag
Everyone, just throw everything you want in the bag.
Hey throw it in the bag
Put anything you want in the bag, don't worry about the price.
Lyrics © EMI MUSIC PUBLISHING FRANCE, PEERMUSIC FRANCE, Peermusic Publishing, WARNER CHAPPELL MUSIC FRANCE
Written by: John Jackson, Terius Nash, Christopher Stewart
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind