Fabolous has always been an excellent lyricist. The problem with Fab is that he never gave the fans more than that. He’s always been in generic rapper roles: “the player”, “the dealer” or “the gangsta”. But things have changed during a three-year gap since his last album, Real Talk. He jumped from Atlantic to Def Jam. Fab is also trying to get his crew and label, Street Family, stronger. Will this album be the one to put Fabolous in the elite category? Let’s find out.
1. From Nothin’ To Somethin’
Fab shows lyrical prowess on the intro to the album. Though he reps Brooklyn, Fabolous sounds like T.I. rapping over a DJ Toomp sounding beat here. Different from what I expected to hear from Fab; not bad though.
2. Yep, I’m Back
Fabolous does a little Jeezy on this one (Boom clap, boom clap). Besides that, Loso does what he does best; talk that flossing shit! Questionable line: “Rain? I Hurricane Katrina the strip club.”
3. Change Up (feat. Akon)
The cell locks and you know that Akon produced this one. The beat sounds like…uh an Akon track. Fab talks about how some dudes change up when they get money but he won’t. Not a bad track, not a great track; average.
4. Make Me Better (feat. Ne-Yo)
Fabo calls in Timbaland and Ne-Yo for the ladies and the radio play. I actually think this is his second single. The track is slower than I expected but it’s still a good radio track. I like the line, “I’m a need a Coretta Scott if I’m gonna be king.”
5. Baby Don’t Go (feat. T-Pain)
I’m sorry to say, but Fabolous has done three songs in a row with R&B dudes on the hook. Same Fab. In this variation, he gets Jermaine Dupri behind the boards and T-Pain on the chorus. This one is too commercial for me though. Skip!
6. Return Of The Hustle (feat. Swizz Beatz)
This one has been on my iPod for a minute and is a mixtape banger. Just Blaze provides a track that you think Jay-Z might of took, but Fab still kills it.
7. Gangsta Don’t Play (feat. Junior Reid)
This one has a hard dark beat. Junior Reid adds that reggae feel and his hook is about a minute long. It’s a good album track being that Fab can do stuff he wouldn’t do on a single ready song.
8. Real Playa Like (feat. Lloyd)
Damn Fab! How many R&B artists are gonna be on this album? (Answer: 6) I guess Fabolous wanted to make sure this album sold. The song is not bad. Polow Da Don provides a good laid back soundtrack. Something for the ladies (Once again).
9. First Time (feat. Rihanna)
Fab and labelmate Rihanna talk about the first time you are sexually with a person. This one has radio all over it. Its okay I guess.
10. Diamonds (feat. Young Jeezy)
This was the first single for the album and you know what? I didn’t like it. I thought for the first single Fabolous would want to separate himself from the pack. Jeezy mails this one in too. You can check this one out; I’ll pass.
11. Brooklyn (feat. Jay-Z & Uncle Murder)
Brooklyn is in the house on this one when Hova and Uncle Murder show up. The cameos are okay, but this song is not up there with BK anthems like “Brooklyn’s Finest” or “Return Of The Crooklyn Dodgers”. The beat could of definitely been better.
12. I’m The Man (feat. Red Cafe)
Red Cafe returns to the public on this one. Fab has a hot line on this one when he says, “The weed man for Redman and Method Man.” This is an average album track.
13. Jokes On You (feat. Pusha-T)
You know I like a Don Cannon track! Cannon provides room for Fab and Pusha to talk their ganagsta shit. They both use comedian names as metaphors which is creative. This could be looked as a sequel to the Clipse’s song “Comedy Central” featuring Fabolous.
14. What Should I Do (feat. Lil’ Mo)
The duo of Lil’ Mo and Fabolous hook up again on this track. Fab tries to get deep on this one by answering fan letters (like a gentler Eminem’s “Stan”). My questions is, Who is the hell would write Fab asking serious questions about prison time or the Iraq war? Still not a bad song; a deeper Fab.
15. This Is Family (feat. Paul Cain, Freck Billionaire, Red Cafe, Joe Budden, & Ransom)
This is a posse cut for Fab’s crew Street Family. It let’s everybody get their words at over six minutes. There are some hot lines in this song like Freck Billionaire saying, “The white bitch got me rich like Federline”. Joe Budden also has some hot lines likes, “I’ll get in the ring for that Vince McMahon money” and “How they gonna manage? Letting off VA Tech style, dudes ain’t even safe on campus”. If you like spittin’, check this one out.
Bottom Line:
Okay, Fab didn’t reinvent the wheel here. With more radio singles that street bangers, he didn’t come with anything new. But what he did come with was a solid album. While Fabolous could’ve delve into he personal life and connected with his fans more, most of his songs were still well produced. If you wanted a different and more mature Fab, you might be disappointed. If you just wanted a solid Fab album, you’ll enjoy this one.
nappy Picks: “From Nothin’ To Somethin'”, “Return Of The Hustle”, “Jokes On You”, “Brooklyn”, & “This Is Family”
Download: Fabolous feat. Paul Cain, Freck Billionaire, Red Cafe, Joe Budden, & Ransom – “This Is Family”
