Fabolous is in a weird place that most emcees never are in. He is one of the best lyricist, and makes hit records. Even with all this said, I don’t think he is appreciated like he should be. He and Luda are the only two rappers who I can honestly say this about. Both have numerous hits, and classic, or close to classic bodies of work. Well fresh off of his acclaimed There is No Competition 2 (Where Fab claimed he had killed the competition), Fabolous hits us with tape with a more soulful sound. He has said this tape will be totally separate for his TINC series. Let’s get into the music.
1. Pain
Produced by Santana & P-Thought
Fabolous starts off the mixtape by recreating on of 2Pac’s classic songs. I know the Fro’s own P-Body probably didn’t enjoy this, but I was very pleased with the project that Fabolous was able to deliver.
2. Wolves In Sheep Clothing
Featuring Paul Cain
Fabolous and his homie/brother Paul Cain jump on Kanye’s “Devil In A New Dress” track. Fabolous goes first and obliterates the beat.
They say they out for dead presidents, never respect it
First of all Ben Franklin was never elected
That means that them and big checks are never connected
They just say it because they think it sounds clever on records
He isn’t done there.
I’m on my A game never on no B Shit
You on your B shit, Never gon Be shit
thats just how I C shit
Cus I am D shit
True story on some Hollywood E Shit
I say F niggas cus I’m on some G shit
Yeah that red and green stripe double G shit.
Paul Cain had a nice verse too, but it was not anything compared to Fabs verse.
3. Really Tho
Produced by Teddy Da Don
This is the first track with original production. Teddy Da Don really gives Fab a jewel with a smooth but tough instrumental. I’m kind of torn on this song. I get where he is trying to do, but it isn’t appealing to me much. I do believe that a lot of people will like this track though. Loso attacks the subject of people living their lives fake and how absolutely disgusted he is with that.
4.Thats Not Love
Featuring Lil’ Wayne; Produced by StreetRunner
Wayne starts this track off whispering, “I can’t feel my face”. Automatically I assumed that this track was intended to be on Weezy and Juelz’s album that never came out. Although Fab apparently takes the place of Juelz the song doesn’t sound forced. I think that Fab gets Wayne on this StreetRunner track. I actually think Fab gets Wayne on every track they have done together at this point.
5. Leaving You
Produced by Sonaro
I’m really feeling this one. Sonaro does a great job sampling a classic. The first verse could be taken two ways. The first thing that popped into my mind was Fab decided to use this song as away to address his feelings to his baby mother, who has been doing her reality TV show thing. The second was maybe Fab was speaking to one of his homies who left him with lines like, “Show yo ass to yo nigga, that’s a bitch move”. The entire song is great, definitely a highlight.
6. In The Morning
Loso hops on J. Cole and Drake’s hit “In The Morning”. I thought Fab would kill this song and I was right. The only thing I didn’t like about the track is the girl at the beginning of the track has the most annoying voice.
7. Drugs (Do This To Me)
Featuring Paul Cain & Broadway; Produced by Broadway
I actually think that Paul Cain stole the show on this song. His rhyme game has always been on point, but Fab is such a beast most look at him as a Robin to Fab’s Batman.
8. Y’all Dont Hear Me Tho
Featuring Red Cafe; Produced by Cardiak
This sounds like a left over from his album From Nothin’ to Somethin’. Still Fab demolishes the track and Red comes in a has a nice verse as well.
9. Phone Numbers
This is so laid back that you can just sit and vibe to it. Although the hook is a little weak, the overall feel of the track makes up for it.
10. Mo Brooklyn, Mo Harlem, Mo Southside
Featuring Vado & Lloyd Banks
This sounds like they were trying to make a New York anthem, but it doesn’t really accomplish the goal. I like the song but I don’t get excited about it.
11. Riesling & Rolling Papers
This beat is from “Like Father Like Son” by Game off of Documentary. This is one of my favorite instrumentals, but outside of Game no one has ever done the beat justice, until now. Fab starts off the song with a nice witty line, “This is why they fuck with me/ right after the head, I tell em I gotta leave because I’m trying to stay sucka free”. He makes the track his own. Really a nice track.
12. Slow Down
Featuring Trey Songz; Produced by DJ Swivel
I was wondering when these two would get back on a track together. Although this is the complete opposite from “Say Ahh” when Trey and Fab first got together, it is still an outstanding piece of work. The song is a slow vibe and is a cautionary tale, slow down and don’t live life so fast. Trey comes on at the end and does what all R&B males do well, talk that shit!
13. Pay Back Music
Featuring Freck Billionaire
Not a fan of Freck Billionaire. I really like this though. Simply said, the best way to pay the haters back is by succeeding. Damn I hope someone tells LeBron that.
14. Look At Her (You Be Killin’ Em Pt. 2) [Bonus Track]
Produced by Ryan Leslie
Remix! I don’t like this as much as the original. Still a radio friendly song though.
Bottom Line:
I really like when Fab takes soulful beats to rhyme over. I know this tape hasn’t been appreciated as much as hi No Competition tapes. I think this is one of Loso’s best outgoings, and hopefully this is the direction that Loso takes with his upcoming album.
Sidenote #1: Originally I gave this 4 stars but as I let it grow on me I noticed that it doesn’t age as well a 4 star body of work does.
Sidenote #2: This mixtpe reminds me a lot of J. Cole’s Friday Night Lights. Fab takes three of the same instrumentals from that tape (“Pain”, “Wolves In Sheeps Clothing”, & “In the Morning”) and rhymes over them on here
