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Fabolous
Fabolous at Sirius Satellite Radio in 2007
Background information
Birth name	John David Jackson
Born	November 18, 1977 (1977-11-18) (age 32) Brooklyn, New York, United States
Genres	Hip hop
Occupations	Rapper, songwriter
Years active	1998–present
Labels	Desert Storm, Def Jam

John David Jackson (born November 18, 1977), better known by his stage name Fabolous sic, is an American recording artist. Growing up in Brooklyn in New York City, he was among the first East Coast rappers influenced by Southern hip hop sounds. Part of his early popularity arose from his hit single "Can't Deny It" in 2001, from his debut album Ghetto Fabolous. Fabolous has released five albums, which have collectively sold over three million copies in the United States.¹

Life and career

Early life and career beginnings

Fabolous was born John David Jackson on November 18, 1977, of African American and Dominican descent.²³⁴ He grew up in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York.⁵⁶ While in high school in twelfth grade, Fabolous began to pursue a rap career.¹ He was invited to rap live on DJ Clue's radio show and on WQHT Hot 97, where he was signed to Desert Storm Records.¹⁷ He was featured on several DJ Clue mixtapes and mixtapes with Roc-A-Fella artists.^{citation needed} This earned Fabolous and Desert Storm a distribution deal with Elektra Records.⁴

Before receiving mainstream popularity, Fabolous released a press statement confirming allegations of attempted murder before releasing his "coded" single in 1998 titled "If They Want It" under his moniker,"Fabolous Sport". It was released by Def Jam Recordings on the album DJ Clue? The Professional and as a bonus track on his debut album Ghetto Fabolous. It is also available on the DJ Kool Kid mixtape, Pound For Pound featuring Fabolous and Jadakiss. In 2000, he released a second single through Elektra Records titled "Gotta Be Thug", which was put on DJ Clue Presents Backstage Mixtape (soundtrack).⁸

2001–2002: Ghetto Fabolous

Fabolous released his debut album, Ghetto Fabolous, in September 2001. It debuted at number four on the Billboard 200, selling over 143,000 copies in its first week.⁹¹⁰ The album's first single, "Can't Deny It", was produced by Rick Rock and features a chorus by Nate Dogg interpolating Tupac Shakur's song "Ambitionz Az a Ridah".¹¹ It charted on the Billboard Hot 100, along with two of the subsequent singles.¹² The other charting singles were "Young'n (Holla Back)", which is produced by The Neptunes and "Trade It All", which features vocals from Jagged Edge and is produced by DJ Clue and Duro.

2003: Street Dreams

Fabolous released his second album Street Dreams on March 4, 2003. Powered by a Just Blaze beat and guest vocals from Lil' Mo and Mike Shorey, "Can't Let You Go" reached number one on the Rhythmic Top 40 chart and number four on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. "Into You" with Tamia also reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100. Also released on Street Dreams was the lead single club banger "This Is My Party" and "Trade It All Pt. 2" which featured Jagged Edge as it did on the Ghetto Fabolous version, as well as Diddy.

Exactly seven months later, on November 4, 2003, Fabolous dropped his official mixtape, More Street Dreams, Pt. 2: The Mixtape. It was an official release by his record label, Elektra. The album featured remixes and tracks not originally slated on Street Dreams. This album was also an outlet for his three man crew, known as the Triangle Offense, consisting of himself, Paul Cain, and Joe Budden. The album actually features a remix to song Fire, which was originally on Joe Budden's self-titled debut album.¹³

2004–2006: Real Talk

Fabolous' third album Real Talk was released on November 5, 2004. It debuted at number six on the Billboard 200 with 179,000 copies and had two charting singles, the lowest in his career. The two charting singles are his street anthem "Breathe" and "Baby," which features Mike Shorey, and shows his more sensitive side that he has shown on many songs in the past. His second single was not promoted until weeks after the album's release. "Tit 4 Tat" was his third single. Pharrell of The Neptunes produced it and did the hook. Fab feels that the single didn't hit it as big as it should have due to poor advertising. Making the music video for his fourth single, "Do the Damn Thing" cost Jackson $30,000. The song featured Young Jeezy, who became known to the public through the video.¹⁴ The same year, Fabolous was nominated for a Grammy Award for his collaboration on the "Dip It Low" remix by Christina Milian. In early 2006, Fabolous moved to Def Jam and left Atlantic Records who received Musiq in return.¹⁴

2007–2008: From Nothin' to Somethin'

His fourth studio album, From Nothin' to Somethin, was released in June 2007. Fabolous took the number one spot on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and Top Rap Albums charts for the first time in his career and it debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, selling 159,000 copies in its first week.¹⁵ The album was certified Gold in July 2007. It is his first album on Def Jam Recordings.

The first single and video, "Diamonds", features Young Jeezy who also appeared on the Real Talk track "Do the Damn Thing". Lil Wayne and Remy Ma are featured on the remix. His second single was "Return of the Hustle" which featured Swizz Beatz, also came out before the album release, to some acclaim, but little airplay. His third single though, "Make Me Better," which features fellow Def Jam artist Ne-Yo, and is produced by Timbaland, was his biggest hit to date, spending 14 weeks at number one on the Hot Rap Track Billboard Chart. The fourth single was "Baby Don't Go." Jermaine Dupri produced it and T-Pain sings the hook. However, in music video version of the song, Jermaine Dupri sings the hook. This song also found success, reaching number four on the Hot Rap Track Chart.¹⁶

2009–present: Loso's Way

Fabolous released his fifth studio album, Loso's Way, in July 2009. The album is based on the 1993 film Carlito's Way, similar to Jay-Z's American Gangster. The first official single is "Throw It in the Bag", featuring The-Dream, and is produced by Christopher "Tricky" Stewart. The second single is "My Time", featuring Jeremih, and is produced by The Runners and Kevin "KC" Cossom. The third single is "Everything, Everyday, Everywhere", featuring Keri Hilson, and is produced by Ryan Leslie. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling 99,000 copies in its first week. It became Fabolous' first album to top the chart.¹⁷ In its second week of sales, the album dropped 8 spots from #1 to #9, selling 37,000 copies. A deluxe album was released on the same day as the standard release. The edition features a bonus DVD, ("Loso's Way" the movie). The movie features Fabolous (and three other of his friends). Fabolous is leaving a restaurent when he is shot. His three friends quickly rush Fabolous to the hospital, but are stopped by the police after running a red light. Fellow rapper Styles P has a role in the movie. DJ Clue, DJ Khaled, Jadakiss, Swizz Beatz, DJ Envy, and Ryan Leslie make cameo appearances. The movie "Loso's Way" runs for 33:03 minutes. In order to view "Loso's Way", the deluxe album "Loso's Way" must be purchased.¹⁸ In September 2009, Fabolous was ranked number eight on MTV's Hottest MC in the Game list.¹⁹. In an interview on December 10th, 2009 with MTV, he announced that he would be releasing part two to his mixtape series with DJ Drama entitled: "There is No Competition - Part 2: The Funeral Service". Fabolous announced that it would be released on christmas day as a gift to the fans.

Personal life

In January and March 2003, Fabolous was arrested for possessing an unlicensed gun in his car. His bodyguard later showed proof of ownership for the gun.²⁰²¹

Fabolous put his career on hiatus for much of 2005 and 2006.³

Fabolous was shot in his right leg on the morning of October 17, 2006 in Manhattan after exiting Justin's, a restaurant owned by Diddy.¹ The police saw the rapper and three other men accompanying him rushing through a red light and found unlicensed, loaded guns in their car leading to their arrest. After they found the weapons, Fabolous was treated at a local hospital.²²

NYPD linked Fabolous to a crew of robbers who targeted champion boxer Zab Judah twice. According to police reports, the Street Fam Crew is made up of 20 members, all former drug dealers from Fabolous's Brooklyn neighborhood. In 2006, three men tried to rob Judah as he stood next to his yellow Lamborghini on West 27th Street at 10th Avenue in New York City. The three men rolled up in a minivan at about 5 AM, and hopped out. One pulled a black handgun on Judah and told him to put his jewelry on the hood of his car. Judah ran instead. The muggers followed in their van, but crashed into a tree a block away. All three scattered, but one was captured by a Homeland Security agent on his way to work, and another was grabbed by a nearby cab driver. "A bunch of idiots that didn't have no control over what they were doing; they messed with the wrong guy," said Judah.²³ Fabolous came forward to deny reports that he was involved.

On the evening of November 22, 2007, a childhood friend—Shamel McKinney—was stabbed to death inside of a New York nightclub.²⁴ Police say that McKinney may have been stabbed after trying to steal jewelry off the neck of another clubgoer, Anthony Taylor (who has since the incident been arrested and has to face second-degree murder charges). The rapper further explained that despite reports, McKinney was not part of a robbery crew connected to the rapper. Fabolous stated, "On Thanksgiving, I think I came out of the house one time - to go get eggnog. And there wasn't any eggnog at Club Duvet."²⁵

On February 24, 2009 Arkansas police seized 500 pounds of marijuana from Fabolous' tour bus as it returned from the NBA All-Star Game. Fabolous was not on board the bus at the time and has not yet been charged in connection with the incident.²⁶

In an interview with XXL, Fabolous revealed that he has been in a long-term relationship that began in 2005.¹⁴ That long-term relationship produced a son in February 2008.²⁷

Clothing line

Fabolous stated in 2005 that he wanted to release his own clothing line in the coming years. Without publicizing detail, he went into a search for designers and manufacturers for his line to accomplish the task. After finding qualified staffing, Fabolous announced the name for his line is Rich Yung Society Clothing. Which has clothes in selected stores worldwide and are currently working on relaunching their website richyungsociety.com²⁸

Discography

• Ghetto Fabolous (2001)
• Street Dreams (2003)
• Real Talk (2004)
• From Nothin' to Somethin' (2007)
• Loso's Way (2009)
• Loso's Way 2 (2010)²⁹

Awards and nominations

• American Music Awards
  • 2007, Favorite Rap/Hip Hop Male Artist [Nominated]

• ASCAP Rhythm and Soul Music Awards
  • 2008, Top Rap Song, "Make Me Better" [Won]

• BET Hip Hop Awards
  • 2009, Viewer's Choice, "Throw It in the Bag" with The-Dream [Won]
  • 2007, Best Hip Hop Collabo, "Make Me Better" with Ne-Yo [Nominated]

• Grammy Awards
  • 2010, Best Rap Performance by a Duo or a Group, "Money Goes, Honey Stays" with Jay-Z [Nominated]
  • 2005, Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, "Dip It Low" with Christina Milian [Nominated]

• The Source Awards
  • 2003, Best Rap/R&B Collabo, "Can't Let You Go" with Lil Mo and Mike Shorey [Nominated]
  • 2003, Trendsetter of the Year [Nominated]

• Teen Choice Awards
  • 2007, Best Choice: Rap Artist [Nominated]
  • 2003, Choice Rap Track, "Can't Let You Go" with Lil Mo and Mike Shorey [Nominated]
  • 2003, Choice R&B/Hip Hop Track, "4Ever" with Lil Mo [Nominated]

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Fabolous

• Official Def Jam Site
• Rich Yung Society Clothing site
• Fabolous Clothing Line