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."
exodus
Fabolous Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like it's designed in their favor
Like it ain't outlined for them to waiver
Their rights for a lil' bit fame
Get in bullshit fights for a lil' name
To get noticed by some niggas that don't give two fucks about you
Till you make 'em a few bucks they doubt you
See there's no money in good health
So they need you to be sick with it, ill content and delivery niggas
This nation thrives off misery niggas
So if you ain't trying to let your hard times increase your wealth
Niggas keep that progressive shit to yourself
This is the business of buying souls, and we only fuck with those who trying to sell them
See me as an adversary 'cause they know I'm tryin' to tell them
About the forest of artists who grow only to meet industry axes
How they take niggas dreams and write then off in their taxes
Contracts is confusing, but don't worry they'll appoint the lawyer for you whore you
Loan you funds to fuck your soul make you pay it back and still maintain control of your stroll
Your tracks and your hot ass slow flow
they'll keep you looking good and all that, but no dough
You see when that get a bitch, they got a bitch
And contrary to popular opinion it ain't my sistas that switch
It's my brothers
We the dumb motherfuckers
Hardest niggas in the streets turned industry suckers
'Cause we refused to do the knowledge
Nigga, you can't learn this music game in the streets or in college
So you betta pick up a book or something
Or fuck it, Black Ice will put it in a hook or something
Hope that you listen to it
Got you pumpin' that poison while they paint them illusionary parades and keep pissin' through it
You pussies don't know the price or the sacrifices that this industry makes real niggas walk
F-a-b-o-l-o-u-s album number 3 Real Talk
In “Exodus,” Fabolous calls out the music industry for taking advantage of young artists who are willing to do anything to get famous. He begins by saying that young aspiring artists don't understand how the game works and how it’s designed for them to give up their rights for a shot at fame. They get into fights and do whatever it takes to get noticed by those who don't even care about them, and he warns them that the industry thrives off misery, so if they don't want to suffer, they should keep their progressive content to themselves.
Fabolous then delves into the business of buying souls, explaining how the industry takes advantage of artists, from signing confusing contracts to loaning them money to make them indebted and maintain control over their music. He says that the industry takes artists' dreams and writes them off in their taxes. The contracts are confusing, and they appoint artists with a lawyer who will whore them out and make them pay back the funds the industry lent them, ultimately controlling their music, tracks, and slow flow.
Fabolous further explains that it's not women who switch in the industry, but men, the hardest niggas in the streets, who turn into industry suckers. They refuse to do the knowledge and pick up a book, thinking they can learn this music game in the streets or in college. Fabolous concludes the song by saying that real niggas who walk in the industry know the sacrifices and price they have to pay, and he hopes that his message resonates with them.
Line by Line Meaning
My youngins get it fucked up when y'all talk about the game
My young associates misunderstand the nature of the music industry when you speak of it
Like it's designed in their favor
Like it was created to benefit them
Like it ain't outlined for them to waiver
Like it doesn't have systematic ways to make them give up their rights in exchange for fame
Their rights for a lil' bit of fame
Their personal freedoms in exchange for a small amount of attention and recognition
Get in bullshit fights for a lil' name
Engage in meaningless conflicts for a small amount of recognition
To get noticed by some niggas that don't give two fucks about you
To gain the attention of people who don't care about you
Tell 'em you don't do the jives and shucks, and they route you to the shelf
Inform them that you don't play into their games and they ignore you
See there's no money in good health
Being in a good state doesn't earn you money
So they need you to be sick with it, ill content and delivery niggas
Therefore, they require you to have negative content and style
This nation thrives off misery niggas
That's because the country relies on the suffering and struggles of its people
So if you ain't trying to let your hard times increase your wealth
Therefore, if you don't use your challenges to improve your financial status
Niggas keep that progressive shit to yourself
Then, you better keep your positive and forward-thinking ideas to yourself
This is the business of buying souls, and we only tryin' to fuck with those who trying to sell them
The music industry is about acquiring people's personalities, and we only want to work with those who are willing to give them up
See, they may see me as an adversary 'cause they know I'm tryin' to tell them
They may see me as an opponent because I'm telling the truth
About the forest of artists who grow only to meet industry axes
About the many artists who are used and discarded by the industry
How they take niggas dreams and write then off in their taxes
How they crush people's dreams and then claim the losses on their taxes
Contracts is confusing, but don't worry they'll appoint you a lawyer for you whore you
Contracts are complex, but don't worry, they'll provide you with a lawyer to take advantage of you
Loan you funds to fuck your soul make you pay it back and still maintain control of your stroll
They will give you money to relinquish your individuality and maintain control over your career
Your tracks and your hot ass slow flow
They're only interested in your songs and your style if they can exploit them
they'll keep you looking good and all that, but no dough
They will present you in a favorable light, but you won't make much money
You see when that get a bitch, they got a bitch
When they acquire someone, they own them
And contrary to popular opinion it ain't my sistas that switch
Contrary to what people think, it's not the women who give in
It's my brothers
It's the men who do
We the dumb motherfuckers
We are the foolish and easily misled ones
Hardest niggas in the streets turned industry suckers
The toughest people on the streets become puppets of the industry
'Cause we refused to do the knowledge
Because we refuse to learn and understand the workings of the industry
Nigga, you can't learn this music game in the streets or in college
You cannot acquire knowledge of the industry through street smarts or traditional education
So you betta pick up a book or something
You better read and educate yourself
Or fuck it, FAB will put it in a hook or something
Or disregard reading and just listen to my music
Hope that you listen to it
I hope you pay attention to what I say
Got you pumpin' that poison while they paint them illusionary parades and keep pissin' through it
They distract you from your problems with fake images while they continue to control and exploit you
You pussies don't know the price or the sacrifices that this industry makes real niggas walk
You don't understand how the industry forces real people to make tough decisions and sacrifices to succeed
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: John David Jackson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind