Fabolous From Nothin To Somethin Review
Fabolous’ fourth album, “From Nothin To Somethin,” hits stores tomorrow June 12th. While people will complain the album is feature heavy, I think it is Fabolous’ best album yet. Check below for the review by Samir Siddiqui and leave your thoughts on the album.
Fabolous
From Nothin’ To Somethin’
Desert Storm Records/Def Jam
3.5/5
by Samir Siddiqui
Considering the up and down career Fabolous has had for the past seven
years, the fact that ‘Loso is one of the few notable rappers under 30 is
sometimes overlooked. Trying to overcome a reputation for delivering albums
that don’t reflect his great potential, Fabolous released the worthwhile
Real Talk in 2004, but unfortunately, the album yielded disappointing sales.
More than two years later, having overcome label problems and a serious
wake-up call in the form of a New-York shootout, Fabolous returns with his
anticipated fourth effort, From Nothin’ To Somethin’.
Let’s get one thing straight- Fabolous knows where his sales are coming
from, and doesn’t steer far away from what his been successful for him in
the past. Blending a mix of street-bangers and female-friendly duets with a
couple of fresh collaborations, From Nothin’ To Somethin’ is Fabolous’
closest attempt at satisfying his diverse audience. Cue two of the lead
singles, the Swizz Beatz collabo “Return of the Hustle,” and the
Ne-Yo-assisted “Make Me Better”- Fab calls upon Just Blaze and Timbaland to
provide the backdrops for the two cuts, the first, an infectious anthem made
catchy by an old-school Wu sample, the latter, is yet another example of
‘Loso’s ability to make “love tracks” which aren’t painfully corny. The
aforementioned songs are just two of a whopping 13 collaborations on the
album. Excessive, yes, but Fabolous makes good on many of the tracks,
connecting with Junior Reid on the reggae-flavored “Gangsta Don’t Play,” and
then rapping confidently alongside the chopped flow and wordplay of
President Carter (Jay-Z) and newcomer Uncle Murda.
But everything that glitters isn’t platinum, and in Fab’s case, several of
the hip-hop/r&b pairings fail to impress, from the horrible T-Pain duet
“Baby Don’t Go” to the under-whelming pairing with Def Jam princess Rihanna
on “First Time,” where Fab drops some suspect rhymes, “Come on, look at the
patience that I’m demonstrating, after a week or two, I usually start
eliminating…..and I’m a good player, I listen to the coach, she showed me
the playbook, and said: this is the approach.” This type of overly casual
lyricism might come as a shock to fans waiting on a punch-line clinic (not
to say he doesn’t drop some clever bars), but more surprisingly, this
indicates that this might just be as good as Fabolous gets as an emcee…and
it isn’t exactly the top-level lyricism expected by some.
However, what Fabolous lacks in original lyrics, he makes up for with a
expectedly strong flow, a general sense of confidence, and excellent
production choices throughout the album. On From Nothin’ To Somethin’, Loso
takes a page from T.I.’s book and delivers an album sure to entertain
virtually any hip-hop fan, even if it isn’t a lyrical masterpiece. In seven
short years, Fab has gone from nothing to something, and it’ll be
interesting to see what he does now that he’s officially made it.
Suggestion Box
June 11th, 2007 at 2:33 pm
this album is not that good….i expected way betta….fab just dont seem like he’s trying……whole bunch of love songs…….trying to put evrything on the album that is supposedly “hot” right now……wat happened to the keepin it gansta fab flow
June 11th, 2007 at 2:36 pm
fab has always been one of the best rappers for me. i thought his last album ‘real talk’ was hot although most disagree. ‘from nothin’ to somethin” i would agree is his best effort yet. he has his usual sappy love joints wit lloyd, rhianna, and lil mo.. but besides those the rest of it is fire. change up wit akon is the best song off it followed by the red cafe record, the pusha record, and the t-pain joint is pretty hot too.. not to mention the hov track which ive been waitin forever to hear both of them together. and the family track at the end is crazy. jump off joey kills it. 8/10
June 11th, 2007 at 2:39 pm
@the kid……..please stop it
June 11th, 2007 at 2:43 pm
Finally, it’s FABtime !!
waited long for this album but definetly gonna cop this one.
no reason to hate on him because of the lovesongs, that’s what he does best. and songs like gangsta don’t play, Brooklyn & return of the hustle are just insane!!
i’ll be blowing up my speakers tomorrow ahaha
cash rules everything around me C.R.E.A.M.
June 11th, 2007 at 2:49 pm
Fab gettin kinda lazy…
when he first came out i was willing to buy anything he dropped, now its like… im buying a cd to hear hot beats…
on sum songs he go hard no lie, but im kinda waiting for ghetto FAB to return.
like on the intro track.. he dont even sound enthused to rap.. sound like he in a lazy boy jus chillin like “wtf ever im paid”..lol
June 11th, 2007 at 3:08 pm
man the album is hot and y’all know it stop hating or go snap to t-pain
June 11th, 2007 at 3:11 pm
dwillz said go snap to t=pain .. t-pain is in fab’s album so stop cracking on him.. lol.. that album is hott.. he got a song called “gangsta” with junior reid .. thats fire
June 11th, 2007 at 3:17 pm
Change up, This is family, and real playa like are my fav tracks…def. coppin this album
June 11th, 2007 at 3:22 pm
FOR BEING AWAY THAT LONG THIS ALBUM SHOULD HAVE BEEN 4 1/2 MICS. ILL BUY HIS FIRST ALBUM AGAIN BEFORE I BY THIS ONE. THE ORIGINAL TRACK LISTING HAD LIKE 25 TRACKS. FABOLOUS FEAT. ASHLEE SIMPSON (PROD. BY KANYE) WHERE THE HELL IS THAT RECORD. THATS AN ILL COLLABO. REMEMBER TRACKS LIKE MA BE EASY OR THE BAD GUY. GO BACK AND LISTEN TO THEM TRACKS AND THEN COMMENT.
June 11th, 2007 at 3:24 pm
I like the album man. Everyone keeps talkin like they can do betta. Put yourself in the artist shoes. Everyhing cant be about blowin holes in backs and shit.
June 11th, 2007 at 3:28 pm
joe budden has the best verse on this cd….too many love songs…only lil wayne is allowed to make corny songs cuz he’s funny lol ….fab is dope and then annoying ….up and down dude
June 11th, 2007 at 3:41 pm
Yo 2 keep it a hunnet the album doesn’t have any wack tracks….. some fire… some average but it is a complete album i feel he should have added the tracks that didn’t make it 2 the album on there 2 but the album is good money……… some people had 2 many high expectations!!!!!! take it 4 what it is a complete album ya digg!!! but really you can say it doesn’t have any fire tracks on it keep it hunnet!!!!GO GET THAT ALBUM AND I’M OUT
June 11th, 2007 at 3:44 pm
O YEA HE ONLY GOT 4 FEMALE JOINTS ON THERE SO STOP SAYING HE GOT MAD LOVE JOINTS ……… THAT’S BRAZY!!!!!!!!!
June 11th, 2007 at 3:58 pm
Man people seem to forget Fab a Platinum selling artist, Ghetto Fabolous, Street Dream, when he finally decide to get respect from ya nigga and make the Breathe he go GOLD.cmon fab stick to what you do
June 11th, 2007 at 4:35 pm
I meant coppin the album online tho…whatup fab!
June 11th, 2007 at 5:58 pm
i expected more this album really disapointed me :’(
there was no “breath” type banga i love that song
June 11th, 2007 at 6:12 pm
niggas desperate for sells. It’s sad. I get that you gotta sell to live but you can’t live to sell!!!!!
This is Hip Hop, Realness …remember? if we don’t feel you put your balls on the table in some way how you gonna be a leader.? And if you no leader how will event the ladies follow u? some might but not as much as if niggaz was really feelin you.
Fb is a smart cat and talented as well but he’s prisoner of comfort.
Nigga’s so scare to flop. It’s sad because he could just be cocky and confident and do his things regardless. That Jay type attitude (”I know they gon’ criticise the hook on this song like I give a fuck I’m just a crook on his own!”).
But still when I look around I don’t feel there’s way better out there so I support the man and the music but hey! MAN UP NY!
And fuck all that industry oriented interview all these rappers be giving nowadays! We don’t give a fuck. Just rep your lifestyle and history and be nice on the mic. Build your legend. don’t wait for approval!
June 11th, 2007 at 6:15 pm
Wasn’t feelin the album at all.
I wont say I’m a Fab fan, but I do like a few of his songs from the past.
This album didn’t really have anything I can see myself playing for a long period of time.
Oh well.
June 11th, 2007 at 6:27 pm
Im buying this album.. New York is back !!!!!!
June 11th, 2007 at 6:31 pm
Why u want fab making hood song is ya dont buy the album anywayssssssss???
June 11th, 2007 at 6:32 pm
THE ALBUM IS STRAIGHT TRASH PEOPLE.I CAN’T BELIEVE PEOPLE R SAYING DIS IS HIS BEST.HIS LAST ALBUM BUMPED A LITTLE SUMTHIN BUT NOT THAT MUCH.THIS IS NOT A GOOD LOOK 4 BROOKLYN.IM GLAD I BOOTLEGGED DIS.I CAN SEE Y PEOPLE DONT BUY ALBUMS N E MORE.CAUSE OF WACK JUICE LIKE DIS
June 11th, 2007 at 7:09 pm
I liked old Fab…as in Ghetto Fabolous. I don’t think he’s ever dropped a decent record compared to his first. But like Sheek said “Jigga didn’t blow ’til his 3rd”, I can’t stop getting hyped up for every album he puts out, I’m just waiting for Fab to put out a classic.
June 11th, 2007 at 7:12 pm
r i p stack bundles sssssssssssqqqqqqqqqqqqqqquuuuaaddddddd upp vray!!!1
June 11th, 2007 at 7:32 pm
nigga got more duets then that biggie album
June 11th, 2007 at 8:08 pm
dis album banggggsssss i want dis cd in ma ride…LOSO!
June 12th, 2007 at 12:19 am
comon guys, what the hell u thinkin about?
sometimes a rapper like fab is no ghetto fab anylonger… he did it, his hustle made him rich as hell. why should he rap about the projects in bk or gettin shot and shyt… we all heared dat on ghetto fabolous, street dreams and real talk…
i like dis album very much, ahh ok yeah could be way better but i think they did a good job.
brooklyn,this is family, the joint with lloyd and junior reid are really hot, and i like the other songs, too.
for me its a 8/10
One
June 12th, 2007 at 2:29 am
The album is good. all u hating children need to tuck ur balls in and appreciate.
The Junior Reid collabo was nuts, I bump that daily. The Rihanna track was heat(i say this although I think Rihanna should burn in 6 circles of hell). The Lloyd track was fire. The last track uncontested.
Jeez. the only 2 disappointments i got really with this album is 1) he took out the joint with cassidy, 2) that brooklyn track, no offense to Murda(Bullet, bullet) but he coulda put Papoose or….anyone on that. Mos, Kwe….somebody to solidify a Jigga collab.
I aint a fan of the luv songs, but u kids need to stop acting like u dont NEED one rapper holding that side of the game down. and he does that. coz so many of these other pretentious fucks out now just wanna be gangstas thru and thru. Good for them. Fab’s a playa. I say good for him.
8.5/10….early!
June 12th, 2007 at 4:42 am
I love Fab but this is this album is his worst. He has to many collaborations. He only has 2 or 3 songs by himself. Im not hating but keepin it real this album is trash.
June 12th, 2007 at 4:54 am
I thought I was buggin when I got it last week. Album is weak. Evverything that is hot at the moment is the best way to describe it. I support the game, I don’t support a dude’s hu$tle. That’s out.
June 12th, 2007 at 5:36 am
This is his 4 album and not I am not counting that street dreams mixtape album. Just a lil edit to the post. -1-
June 12th, 2007 at 6:53 am
Black has the best post out of this whole thing…..numbers 26 and 27 are obviously Fabs female fans so there gonna like him regardless because of looks…..album is trash and he stole a style from T.I., a hook from 50, a concept from AZ and on that joint with jr. reid he didn’t say anything deep but hey he never has.
June 12th, 2007 at 7:16 am
What did you expect? Fab’s always been a rapper with a commerical appeal.
@17. All that’s cool but that doesn’t pay the bills.
June 12th, 2007 at 9:23 am
I dont even wanna listen to it.. i can just sense it’s gonna be another clone.
June 12th, 2007 at 11:10 am
this is the 4th Fab album
June 12th, 2007 at 11:35 am
how can u tlk bout 2 many love songs wen one of the first tracks he blew up on was superwoman?
June 12th, 2007 at 12:46 pm
[...] Liiisteeen!! DJ Khaled annoys me and appeared on Rap City yesterday. His album ‘We The Best’ drops today as well as Fabolous ‘From Nothin’ To Somethin’. [...]
June 12th, 2007 at 3:19 pm
Fab is one of the greatest to do it, did u hear his rap city freestyle that was on of da best i heard in a min his album is one of da hottest dat cam out in a min and sum of tha songs he TOOK OFF WAS NEVER SUPPOSED TO BE ON THERE THEY ARE 4 LOSOS WAY PART @
June 12th, 2007 at 6:14 pm
just for the fact that the album has more than just two good songs..(which is rare these days) i gotta ..say big it up
i had to buy it though… so much trash coming out, gotta support somethin halfway decent
June 13th, 2007 at 7:33 am
Fab is one of my favorites i grew up wit him but this album is a huge dissapointment. its not totally trash but fab shouldve made a classic this is his worst album yet
June 13th, 2007 at 11:09 am
Album is hot listen to the lyrics. Yall complaining bout mad features, mostly only for singing hooks wtf. Intro is crazy, give fab credit listen to all his albums and notice how he gets better lyrical. No matter what he does or anyone else ppl always gone want something different.
June 13th, 2007 at 7:54 pm
ALBUM BANGS..
FAB KILLED IT!
June 15th, 2007 at 9:29 pm
the album was good 2 me. I didn’t like the song with Junior Reed and I didn’t like “Change Up”. All the features didn’t bother me 2 much, but I think that he could put more excitement n 2 his voice and he could try 2 rap on new topics. I think Fab needs 2 step out of his shell and take chances. I think it shouldve been more tracks like “This is family”. My fav songs r “Brooklyn, From Nothin to Somethin intro, Real Playa like, and Jokes on you”