Fabolous – этакий Jay-Z в миниатюре: бруклинское происхождение, характерное флоу, умелая игра словами, цепкие панчлайны, сильные метафоры, но масштаб деяний и достижений все же поменьше. Что ж, если бы гиганты рождались всякий день, нам пришлось бы оставить все дела, а только слушать, слушать, слушать рэп. Наличие середнячков вроде Fabolous упрощает ситуацию, впрочем, кто сказал, что Fab однажды не раскроется с новой стороны и не поднимется по карьерной лестнице на высшую ступень? Все приходит с опытом, было сказано однажды!
Появлению рэппера Fabolous мир обязан не только его афро-американским и доминиканским родителям (Fab – один из самых заметных рэпперов доминиканского происхождения наряду с Juelz Santana и Cam'Ron), но и дуэту Desert Storm – известнейшей в ди-джейском мире личности DJ Clue и его менее засвеченному напарнику, менеджеру по артистам и репертуару Skane. Именно они несут славу первооткрывателей самородка, они же ответствены за его дальнейшую огранку.
Fab попался в сети DJ Clue в 1998 году, после того, как общий приятель привел его показать свои способности фристайлера. Услышанным Clue оказался доволен. Дебютом F-A-B-O-L-O-U-S стал трек "If They Want It", который вошел на "The Professional" – официальный микстейп DJ Clue, выпущенный через дистрибьюцию Roc-A-Fella и высоко задравший планку продаж. К тому времени Fab уже мог показывать друзьям и маме контракт с Desert Storm. "Король микстейпов" DJ Clue, за десять лет до этого собственноручно толкавший болванки на известной всем поклонникам 50 Cent улице Jamaica Avenue, распихивал фристайлы Фэба на один свежий диск за другим.
Позажигав на микстейп-рынке, Fabolous утвердил DJ Clue в мнении о своих выдающихся способностях и необходимости найти им более достойное применение, нежели запись недоальбомов. Первый релиз заинтересовал сначала лейбл Elektra, подписавший Fabolous, а затем и более широкую публику – благодаря хиту "Can't Deny It". Летом 2001-го Fab без преувеличения проснулся знаменитым. Припев Nate Dogg подчеркивал обаяние юного постер-боя из Бруклин Бед-Стай, который традиционному нью-йоркскому пуризму предпочел южный блинг-стайл и западную гангста-тематику. Такой симбиоз был признан жизнеспособным; кажется, никто даже не шипел по поводу переиначивания в этом произведении оригинального текста Тупака. Как итог – альбом "Ghetto Fabolous" стал платиновым.
Сделав в 2002-ом перерыв (очевидно, на столь любимые им баскетбол и Playstation), Fabolous затем исправно издавал по альбому в год. В 2003-ем это был "Street Dreams", также заработавший платиновый статус. Год спустя вышел "Real Talk", всего лишь золотой, критиками обруганный, зато с великолепным синглом "Breathe", а также клипом на "Do The Damn Thang", где широкой публике предстал неизвестный рэппер из Атланты Young Jeezy. После чего пришло время больших перемен.
Первой из них оказался натуральный обмен между лейблами – Atlantic отправил Fabolous на Def Jam, а в обратном направлении проследовал неплохой R&B-исполнитель Musiq Soulchild. Случилось это в начале 2006-го: Jay-Z заполучил в свои ряды еще одного бойца, представляющего Бруклин. А Fab вернулся туда, где по сути и начинал: вспомните, кто издавал его дебютный трек "If They Want It".
Четвертый альбом "From Nothing To Something" вышел после трех лет молчания и представил публике изменившегося, чуть более мягкого Fabolous. Релиз выглядит по хорошему тяжеловесным мэйнстрим-альбомом. Негромкий и убедительный Fab предстает в ожерелье только из самых горячих певцов-певиц сегодняшнего дня: Akon, T-Pain, Rihanna, Ne-Yo, плюс герои Бруклина Jay-Z, Red Café, Uncle Murde, плюс возвращающий должок Young Jeezy, плюс продюсеры топ-класса Timbaland, Just Blaze, Jermaine Dupri, Akon. Начал он с того, что занял второе место в чарте альбомов Billboard. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.
John David Jackson (born November 18, 1977 in Brooklyn, New York), better known by his stage name Fabolous, is a Grammy award nominated American rapper, actor and designer signed to Def Jam Records. He released his debut album, Ghetto Fabolous in 2001 and has since released 2003's Street Dreams, 2004's Real Talk and 2007's From Nothin' To Somethin', all of which have collectively sold over four million copies in the United States. His fourth studio album, Loso's Way, was released in July of 2009 and debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart.
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." Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.