Fats Belvedere
Masta Ace Lyrics


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The name′s Fats Belvedere
And if you live in my hood, and you got big credit
Now I'm the man you come to see
Mastercard, Visa, whatever it is, I either have it, or I′ll get it
Now I've known Ace for most of my life
And I was always telling this guy it was crazy
To be going out there, breaking his ass
Making phonecalls, sending emails
Running in and out of town for a few grand here
For a few grand there
But he had a passion for it




Ya'know he didn′t care
And honestly, I had to respect him for that

Overall Meaning

In "Fats Belvedere," Masta Ace introduces listeners to the titular character, a man in his neighborhood who is essentially the go-to guy for anyone looking to make big purchases on credit. Belvedere's reputation precedes him: if you need something, he can get it for you. Ace describes his own familiarity with the man, noting that he's known him for most of his life. Belvedere is an interesting figure in that he's essentially a credit dealer, facilitating the fulfillment of people's consumerist desires in exchange for a cut of the profits. Implicitly, the song raises questions about the nature of debt, credit, and consumption. There's a dichotomy between the "have-nots" who need to rely on Belvedere's services and the "haves" who can afford to pay for things outright. This could be interpreted as a larger commentary on the societal impacts of income inequality, and how those with fewer resources are forced to resort to sometimes-questionable financial practices in order to make ends meet or live the lifestyle that they want.


Line by Line Meaning

The name′s Fats Belvedere
My name is Fats Belvedere


And if you live in my hood, and you got big credit
If you reside near me and have a good credit record


Now I'm the man you come to see
Then I'm the one you should approach


Mastercard, Visa, whatever it is, I either have it, or I′ll get it
I can provide or arrange any credit services like Mastercard, Visa etc.


Now I've known Ace for most of my life
I have known Ace for the majority of my lifetime


And I was always telling this guy it was crazy
I used to frequently consider Ace's actions as insane


To be going out there, breaking his ass
He would work very hard, often tirelessly


Making phonecalls, sending emails
Frequently contacting people via phone and email


Running in and out of town for a few grand here
Traveling to various locations for small amounts of money


For a few grand there
For a bit of cash here and there


But he had a passion for it
However, Ace was passionate about what he did


Ya'know he didn′t care
He didn't worry or think much about it


And honestly, I had to respect him for that
Honestly, I respected him for his passion and commitment




Writer(s): Duval A. Clear

Contributed by Riley O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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