It’s gotten to that point in the evening when someone suggests a strip-club run. It usually happens once the bill is paid, the bottles are empty and the conversation has petered out. Tonight, it doesn’t get past the idea stage, which is probably a good thing. “I want to lay down,” says Fabolous, who, minutes earlier, was the guy making the proposition. He’s now rubbing his belly like a pregnant woman. “The food and the wine got me in lay-down mode. If I’m not at a party, all drinks make me sleepy.”
Fabolous spent the last three hours in the wine cellar, which doubles as the VIP room, of Philippe, a posh Midtown Manhattan restaurant, entertaining his party of eight. And Fab was entertaining. He played pranks (sharing his appetizer, squab, with friends—only to inform them, after they’d declared it delicious, that squab is pigeon). He told stories (reminiscing about teenage days spent at Brooklyn’s Empire Skating rink). He cracked jokes. (When asked if he owns a pair of those $15 sneakers endorsed by New York Knick Stephon Marbury, he said, “Hip-hop ain’t dead like that. I ain’t doing that bad.”) Fully in his element, he was the life of the party.
If only the public could have seen it.
Fabolous has a bit of an image problem. Actually, the problem is that he doesn’t have much of an image. There are no shocking stories from his past. He doesn’t have a captivating presence. He’s not controversial. His real name is John Jackson, for Pete’s sake. He’s just a regular guy from Brooklyn who raps really well and makes good music. Sometimes great music. (His 2004 single “Breathe” is one of the best displays of pure mic skills in recent memory.) Unfortunately, that might not be enough. “It used to be just about the records,” says Fab. “Now, you have to make that connection imagewise, with charisma and personality. People have to buy into your brand… It’s a little stranger.”
“There are some artists who make that connection,” he continues. “I think I’m one of those artists where you don’t hate me, but people aren’t waving the flag like, ‘I fuck with Fab. I like Fab’s shit.’ They do like it. I mean, I have a fan base.”
That fan base, however, has never been clearly defined. Fab has spent his six-year career straddling the line between teenybopper pinup and serious street MC—rapping candy on R&B collabos for high school girls (“Can’t Let You Go” with Lil’ Mo), while spitting gristle for hard-rock hip-hop heads (“Keepin’ It Gangsta” with Styles and Jadakiss). His versatility, in this sense, has hurt him.
Compounding the matter, Fab has intimacy issues, lyricswise. He keeps his listeners at arm’s length. Yeah, there was “One Day” on his debut, Ghetto Fabolous, where he rhymed about the risks of hustling and the price of fame, but he’s never really bared his soul on a record. He’s never made a “Cleaning Out My Closet” or a “Regrets” or a “Many Men (Wish Death).” He’s not that type of artist. “I just don’t get personal on a lot of my records,” he says. “You see how Eminem makes a song about his mom? I don’t make personal music. I just try to make entertaining music… My personal story isn’t mundane, but it’s not spectacular. Everybody don’t want to hear your personal story.”
That’s debatable. There’s a reason why MySpace, Facebook and blogs are so popular: In 2007, people want to know everything about everyone. Especially their favorite rap stars. During our interviews, Fabolous frequently censors himself. Anecdotes about his family are preceded by, “This is off the record.” An admission to a recent two-year-long relationship is followed by, “I don’t want to let this personal stuff [be the focus of the article].” Even his age is confidential. Sort of. (“We can say late, late 20s,” he says with a smile.) But he realizes he has to make concessions. “In the last two years, I’ve grown a lot,” he says. “I’ve started to notice that you have to let people see who you are as a person.”
Like a lot of lessons, it was learned the hard way. Fabolous is opening up to the idea of opening up, in part because, while both Ghetto Fabolous and 2003’s Street Dreams were certified platinum, his last album, 2004’s Real Talk, barely scraped past gold. He faults his former label, Atlantic Records, for various mistakes: coming too early with “Breathe” as a lead single, not servicing the follow-up (“Baby”) until weeks after the album’s release, not releasing the Neptunes-produced “Tit 4 Tat” as a single (though they shot a video for it) and, finally, not “pushing” the video for “Do the Damn Thing,” which Fabolous shot out of his own pocket for $30,000. (That song, incidentally, gave an as-yet-unheralded Atlanta rapper named Young Jeezy his first major-label exposure.)
While he accepts some blame for the falloff (poor album cover, his choice), Fab “wanted to get away from that system.” In early 2006, he was let out of his contract and officially signed with Def Jam Records, after a de facto trade that sent Def Jam R&B singer Musiq to Atlantic.
So it’s a new day. But Fab knows his album From Nothin’ to Something is entering an industry environment significantly different from the one Real Talk was released into. Younger artists like Jeezy, T.I. and Lil Wayne have been anointed rap’s new superstars—a position once seemingly reserved for Fabolous.
“I’m not bitter about it at all,” he says. “I don’t feel like they are in my lane. If it was somebody who made music exactly how I made music, I would be like, ‘Okay, I dropped the ball. Someone put the jersey on and stole my spot.’”
Read the rest of our Fabolous feature in XXL’s May 2007 issue (#91) This entry was posted
on Tuesday, April 3rd, 2007 at 10:56 am and is filed under Features, Mag-Features, Main, XXL Magazine
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April 3rd, 2007
at 11:13 am
Holla says:
This is the best story in the new issue.
Reply
April 3rd, 2007
at 11:26 am
DYOUNG says:
1ST
Reply
April 3rd, 2007
at 11:38 am
ROBB says:
first
Reply
April 3rd, 2007
at 11:43 am
brendanc says:
FIRST, IM first
Reply
April 3rd, 2007
at 12:46 pm
YounGuttaAkaPaperBoy(LongliveDaking)BkaCuzzoDaKing,MW says:
Damn!da fuck is this man…faboulos is my nigga and he deserves more…shit , all his lyrics is banging wit glory, i mean da dude just don’t really do nuttin,But I like my nigga,just as long as this image and personality shit don’t take em out of character…Dis next cd gotta be tough or he going down,not for good,but as far as”who da fuck is fabolous…Im yo numba 1,2,3,4,5,6 fan,all day pimpin….much luv fab
Reply
April 3rd, 2007
at 12:53 pm
k swanga says:
Fab is one the best to come out since 2000…But unfortunately people want “theatrics” with there music.
Reply
April 3rd, 2007
at 1:44 pm
GAMA says:
Get em FAB fuck these wannabe’s show em how it’s done
Reply
April 3rd, 2007
at 1:47 pm
11kap says:
Fabolous does not need to change one bit. He’s an outstanding musician the way he already is. Keep up the good work, Fabolous!!
Reply
April 3rd, 2007
at 2:11 pm
f***this says:
Fabs mad good, but his jeezy song diamonds on my chains a sad attempt at sales, and it flopped
Know what i noticed? The real music like nas jayz and game that didnt have huge tv debuts sold from 800 to 1.5 million, yet songs like ballin and shit didnt go gold.
Fab, make a video for a real NY song, and trust me, you will sell.
Reply
April 3rd, 2007
at 2:36 pm
Holla says:
That Diamonds song is pure utter trash. Stop making Southern music - jesus. Plus, that beat is wack. Fab is a good lyricist but he can’t make a good album for his life. He’s gonna go down as one of the biggest disapointments in history. He’s never made an album over 3.5 mics.
Reply
April 3rd, 2007
at 2:47 pm
The DJ Formerly Known as N-CREDIBLE says:
I cosign Fabo all day…even back then my peeps use to clown me about listening to Fab (same with Weezy 500 degrees)…I told them and Im telling you…the boy got skills…
Fabolous
Weezy
TI
Juelz Santanna
Jeezy (not a fan of second album but he had some hits)
When they drop go get the album…oh boy!!!
Reply
April 3rd, 2007
at 3:25 pm
John Cochran says:
I’m a fan, as long as continues to be himself. I dont wanna see his face everywhere like every other rapper. I think the song with jeezy was an attempt to sell, but if you look at the last year, all those big hits didnt even translate into sales. Fab, and artists in general, should just do the music they are comfortable doing.
Reply
April 3rd, 2007
at 3:45 pm
INTERSCOPE JACKSON says:
FabOlous dissapointed alot of his fan’s with that wack ass waterdown generic single “Diamonds” that’s prolly one of the wackest singles out this year & he deserves to FLOP
Fab ….step your game up kid your hella talented but your new project is in trouble & def jam knows it
fab gonna FLOP bigtime cos he’s not being original he’s dickriding the south like that wack ass nigga Fat Joe & following a trend atleast just try to make a song with some substance & no more south dickriding too faggot
mean LOSO is the man no doubt but this having to come out with a southern swagga and featuring southern rappers Fad is fuckin depressin man i don’t hate the south or nothin but we need New York, New Jersey, and Philly to sound how we sound all this actin and soundin like somebody else across the map shit gotta stop and “DIAMONDS IN MY DAMN CHAIN” What the fuck that shit is old and way too commercial damn is 2007 and we still talkin about iced out chains Man I ain’t got nothin else to say Niggas need to evolve……..
WE’VE FUCKIN’ HEARD ABOUT YOUR HALF WHITE/HALF CANARY CHAIN ALREADY!
Reply
April 3rd, 2007
at 4:19 pm
NIFTY says:
i respect fabolous as a great hip hop artist i dont know wht hes chattin above but it luks like waste 2 me lol
fabo n jeezy kill dat song in my books its a mint song!
Reply
April 3rd, 2007
at 5:18 pm
INTERSCOPE JACKSON says:
sorry loso I haven’t gotten any pussy in 4 months. again I’m sorry you mad nice I still bump “BREATHE”
Reply
April 3rd, 2007
at 6:18 pm
Bang says:
his music sucks now, no one gives a fuck about his image
Reply
April 3rd, 2007
at 7:43 pm
LakeShoreDriven says:
diamonds kinda sucked but just wait for Return of the Hustle
Reply
April 3rd, 2007
at 7:50 pm
brodel34 says:
I fuck with Fab. I like Fab’s shit.
Reply
April 3rd, 2007
at 8:45 pm
sick of people sayin first says:
whats up wit u niggas sayin first and all that. damn bloggers r fuckin whack! lol y would u admit to bein here first meanin u have no life and hang out on a magazine website. sad just sad
Reply
April 3rd, 2007
at 10:40 pm
DATATLBOY says:
Fab got love in the south too no doubt
a
t
l
a
n
t
a HOE
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April 3rd, 2007
at 11:52 pm
KILLABLACK says:
INTERSCOPE JACKSON, HIT IT RIGHT ON THE NAIL, ALL THESE NEWYORK NIGGERS DICK RIDING THE SOUTH LIKE THEY STARTED THE SHIT, AND IAM NOT HATING ON THEM,EVERYBODY GETS THERE TIME TOO SHINE, RAPP ALWAYS LEAVES N.Y,THEN COMES BACK, AND IT WILL COME BACK, SO THEN HOW SHOULD WE TREAT OUR TURN COATS, OH KNOWS, BUT IT WILL COME BACK. (myspace.com/blu-black)
Reply
April 4th, 2007
at 12:03 am
skizzle says:
Diamonds single is alright reminds me of Do the Damn thing. But hopefully he drop a street video for Return of the Hustle!
Reply
April 4th, 2007
at 10:07 am
mikenice says:
The Diamond joint was aiight when I first heard it now I’m knockin that shit crazy…I understand what everybody is sayin about tryin to cater to the south but look at the state of NY rap right now its boring, listen to every mixtape outta of Ny you have all these rappers tryin to spit like FAB and I know niggas got selective memories but hands down FAB was the first nigga spittin that puchline shit…in my opinion Fab and Lloyd Banks need to do an album or mixtape together that’ll bring some excitment back to NY if they bring they A game on it
Reply
April 4th, 2007
at 11:41 am
11kap says:
Keep it gansta, son. keep shining, yo.
Reply
April 4th, 2007
at 12:19 pm
Retro says:
Fab been hott! Before he was shot..now he on Def Jam screamin “Show me what you got”….
Reply
April 4th, 2007
at 12:23 pm
Retro says:
hkhkknknkl
Reply
April 4th, 2007
at 4:30 pm
816_KC_Killa says:
My boi Fab is wassup right now!!!The single is crazy and it dont sound like nuthin else on the radio…the beat is hot!! and like Fab said ” They Gotta Love It, If Not then I guess They Hatas”…lol
Reply
April 5th, 2007
at 10:14 am
yadadafeelme? says:
fabolous never fell off, he is still a hella good rapper, atleast top 5 in new york. he has crazy punchlines, always comes hard on every song, even though SOME have waccass beats. even on the song “diamonds” fab came hard as fucc; even though it’s a commercialized song, another one of those jewelry-braggin’ songs, he still came hard: “you can call me carrot jeter or maybe canary bonds…” props to big fabo, lookin’ out for that new album it’s gonna be fire…by the way, “diamonds” beat was hella sicc too, i don’t know why niggas be hatin’ on it…
Reply
April 5th, 2007
at 4:22 pm
heltaskelter says:
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
OHshit fabulous brawt a song out and it was…ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
get the fuk outta here
Reply
April 6th, 2007
at 9:57 am
RO says:
FUCK ALL YOU NIGGAZ TALKIN DOWN ON THE SOUTH DONT HATE CUS WE IN NOW ACCEPPT THE FACT AND ADJUST BITCHES AND BIG SHOUTS TO FAB THE BOI AS ALWAYS BEEN A TALENTED DUDE KEEP DOING WUT U DO 100
Reply
April 6th, 2007
at 11:40 am
Hip-hop is on the phone says:
this guy always made songs with catchy hooks and crazy punchlines, he was here before there ever was a lloyd banks or papoose, fab has had somewhat of longevity in this game, he’s from the same place as biggie and Jay, u know he’s nice, look out for fab.
Reply
April 6th, 2007
at 1:09 pm
peezee the jeteye says:
so basically he is a borien rapper!!!! I love fab but he got to relize swagg can only get u so far, u gotta dig deep for those lyrics bra……u get wat u put into it! and that single is jus not gon cut it(except if he would of kept wayne’s verse!)
Reply
April 6th, 2007
at 1:21 pm
$tack$ says:
i liked this article alot but fab as an artist he in my top 5 he always has been since he 1st came out you jus gotta really listen to his lyrics and he has his own style he mad laid-back and cool wit his flow and his swag s just sick and my nigga is also fly as fuck but i dont care what anybody say he could rap wit the best of them and i respect that he likes to keep his personal life personal he dont want no strangers in his buisness i wouldnt either but fab just need to keep doin his thing cuz he got some hot as punchlines and he could freestyle and make a good track
Reply
April 9th, 2007
at 2:46 pm
south duval904 says:
interscope jackson stopin hatin on da south. we runnin da rap shit. fab nice so dont get me wrong. FLA stand da fuck up
Reply
April 11th, 2007
at 8:52 am
Bad Newz Brizz says:
Fabo fell off !!!>>>.!!!>!!!!!!!!1
Reply
April 11th, 2007
at 5:36 pm
Sky says:
Maan Loso dddddddammmm! You know you been spittin da ill shit from Street Dreams and really represented that “BK style, see Big how” but you let Real Talk throw you. Don’t dumb down ya lyrics like these other wack ass NYers to bring it back. You, Jay, Nas, Ja Rule and even cokehead DMX can bring NY back to some state of conciousness. Shit even Fat Joe can throw in some single hitters. Hit ‘em with another “Breathe” and knock da wind outta these busters. I hope I don’t gotta wait till Redman decides to let the monkeys back out.
Reply
April 12th, 2007
at 1:15 pm
ITSME says:
LOOK OUT FOR DAT LOSO’S WAY PART 2!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FAB IZ GONNA KILL IT
1
Reply
April 14th, 2007
at 5:26 am
chillin mayne says:
dis foo LOSO, is sick wid it mayne…homie wreckin erry single line dat he spit…i know, i been down since ghetto fabolous…dat boy make u say DAYUMMMM, wen he flip his punchlines…talkin bout jacob spent more time makin da band dan diddy did hahaaaaaaaaaaaa…mayne dis foo is sick..diamonds he wrecks,new album, he finna go platinum, den get dem XXL, 5 mics, win sum prizes, and cum back even harda on da next one…now DAS wat i call a good chain of events HAHAAAAAAAAAA
Reply
April 15th, 2007
at 9:37 am
Zee Productions says:
Tupac & Biggie - Deadly Combination Zeemix
Nas - Hope Zeemix
Eminem ft 50 Cent - You Dont Know Zeemix
Eminem - Jimmy Crack Corn Zeemix
Nasty Nate - Piece Of Me
Produced by Zee…Hottest Production coming from a 16 year old in the UK
http://WWW.MYSPACE.COM/ZEEPROD
Reply
April 16th, 2007
at 8:26 am
TariQ - force 1 solider!! says:
Hands down, Fab is hot, he just gots to build up an image thats suits the indust and reflects his persona…. he´s one of the illest rappers in the states, but needs the right promo… Hot article XXL!! Force 1…
Reply
April 18th, 2007
at 10:51 am
Aint That Somethin? says:
So according to the posters here..Fabolous is the first to bring out punchlines? rofl….At least the Southern Fans no the history from they city
Reply
May 1st, 2007
at 8:39 am
JABU says:
LOSO
Reply
May 5th, 2007
at 11:17 pm
M.C says:
Hope he does hes numbers or more…I’m feeling the kidd”but fucking with Jeezy –unnnhhh, well that’s another story… STick to the script at the end of the day it should pay off–don’t switch your style kidd.
Reply
May 7th, 2007
at 2:07 am
killa the dawn says:
noone gives a *uck about his lyrics? Fab weezy & wayne is the best out…and lyrically aint to many dudes that can mess with em, Loso my fave rapper he should of kept weezy in the diamonds song….jeezy didnt kill that
Reply
June 13th, 2007
at 1:39 pm
Vendetta says:
man fab real, niggas is dumb they think to be real you gotta bring it like the next nigga, thats why niggas got they own style and fab style right..niggas aint ever gonna forget “breathe” and his new shit nice i got it..man “breathe” was some shit tho…lol damn
Reply
June 18th, 2007
at 1:35 am
Dread says:
New York will be fine. Aint nothing going to be able to stop New York’s future success. Just in case no one is paying attention, slowly but surely the south is starting to lose its grip of the crown. Who really from the south is making a long term impact anyway besides, TI, Ludacris and Outkast. That’s only 3 people/groups that’s really saying anything anyway. And you ask these people who inspired them, they aint just gonnas say UGK in their list. You gonna hear some NYC artists thrown in there. Besides New York getting some fresh blood now. Folk like Papoose, Jae Millz, Joel Ortiz and cats like that. YHou really can’t say anything bad about thse people. My thing is, if you can listen to shop boyz, you can listen to these people too.
Reply
June 18th, 2007
at 1:36 am
Nyc's finest says:
It’s funny how pwople say that New York rap is dead when sells are at a low level right now. I mean think about it. How many records do you think that shop boyz are gonna sell. Riddle me that.
Reply
July 8th, 2007
at 10:58 am
Knowledge says:
My nigga Fab is one of the illest MC’s 2 eva do it. And in my opinion no 1 can fuck wit him as of right now. 2 me he’s “THE GREATEST IN THE GAME RIGHT NOW.” If I’m wrong please tell me how.
Reply