Fabolous

1977–2000: Early life and career beginnings

Fabolous was born John David Jackson on November 18, 1977 and is of Dominican and African American descent. He grew up in Breevort Houses in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of the Brooklyn borough of New York City.

While in his senior year of high school, Fabolous began to pursue a career in hip hop music. He was invited to rap live on American record producer and music executive DJ Clue's radio show, then on New York City radio station Hot 97. DJ Clue subsequently signed Fabolous to his record label, Desert Storm Records. Fabolous was then featured on several DJ Clue mixtapes, as well as mixtapes with Roc-A-Fella artists. This earned Fabolous and Desert Storm a distribution deal with Elektra Records. In a September 6, 2001 interview with Hot104.com, Fabolous said he never planned on becoming a rapper and told the website: "I was just trying to make some money, ya know? I got tired of being broke. This was something where I could make some money. It just happened for me."

2001–03: Ghetto Fabolous and Street Dreams

Fabolous released his debut album, Ghetto Fabolous, on September 11, 2001. It debuted at number four on the Billboard 200, selling over 14,000 copies in its first week. 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". It charted on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, along with two of the subsequent singles. The other charting singles were "Young'n (Holla Back)", which was produced by The Neptunes and "Trade It All", which features vocals from Jagged Edge and was produced by DJ Clue and Duro.

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 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.

2004–08: Real Talk and From Nothin' to Somethin'

Fabolous' third album Real Talk was released on November 5, 2004. It debuted at number six on the Billboard 200 with 10,000 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. The same year, Fabolous was nominated for a Grammy Award for his collaboration on the "Dip It Low" remix by Christina Milian. Fabolous stated in 2004 that he wanted to release his own clothing line. The line called "Rich Yung Society" was launched in 2006.

In early 2006, Fabolous was let out of his contract with Atlantic and officially signed a recording contract with Def Jam Recordings, after a de facto trade that sent Def Jam artist Musiq, to Atlantic.

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. The album was certified Gold in July 2007. It is his first album on Def Jam Recordings. He was featured on the cover of video game Def Jam: Icon.

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.

2009–10: 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. 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 restaurant 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. In September 2009, Fabolous was ranked number eight on MTV's Hottest MC in the Game list. In an interview on December 10, 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 his fans. He then pushed back the release date multiple times via Twitter before he and DJ Drama finally released the mixtape online on March 4, 2010.

2010–14: There Is No Competition series and The Soul Tape series

On March 5, 2010, Fabolous released There Is No Competition 2: The Funeral Service, his fourth solo mixtape and the sequel to 2008's There Is No Competition. Due to the popularity of the mixtape, Fabolous released the mixtape for retail, in the form of an extended play (EP) titled There Is No Competition 2: The Grieving Music EP. The EP, which was preceded by the Ryan Leslie-produced single "You Be Killin Em", was released on August 29, 2010. The single peaked at number 68 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. The S.O.U.L. Tape was inspired by Fabolous' freestyle over the production of Kanye West's "Devil in a New Dress".

After it was announced that his sixth album would once again be delayed, Fabolous chose to release a project titled The S.O.U.L. Tape. The mixtape was released on April 22, 2011 and features Fabolous rapping over soul-sampling production. On Christmas Day 2011, Fabolous released There Is No Competition 3: Death Comes in 3's, the third installment in his There Is No Competition mixtape series. On November 22, 2012 Fabolous released his seventh mixtape, The S.O.U.L. Tape 2. He would also announce his sixth album, then-titled Loso's Way 2: Rise to Power, would be released in 2013. The S.O.U.L. Tape 2 features guest appearances from Trey Songz, Pusha T, Cassie, J. Cole, Wale and Joe Budden. The mixtape's production was handled by Streetrunner, Treddy da Don, AraabMuzik and Cardiak, among others.

The first official single from Loso's Way 2 is "Ready" which features singer Chris Brown. The second single "When I Feel Like It" featuring 2 Chainz was released on July 9, 2013. In an interview Fabolous revealed that Loso's Way 2 would also include several features with musicians such as Trey Songz, Ne-Yo, FYUTCH, Rick Ross, and Young Jeezy and mentioned that the album was about him "evolving and growing as a person, as a man, as an artist, as a father, as a friend." Huffington Post online. Retrieved October 15, 2014. Loso's Way 2 was scheduled to be released in 2013 by Desert Storm and Def Jam. However the album had been delayed all year long and was scheduled for release in 2014. On July 30, 2014 Fabolous announced that the lead single from the album would drop soon by the end of summer and would feature Chris Brown. He stated that "Ready" was just a warmup record for this song and that it would be very melodic.

2014–present: The Young OG Project series

On August 22, 2014, Fabulous announced that his next studio album will now be titled Young OG. On December 1, 2014, Fabolous announced the release date for The Young OG Project to be December 25, 2014, with the announcement posted on his new Keek page. Speaking to MTV, Fabolous says the album will be "very '90s-inspired and '90s themed.". On the same day of his album release announcement, Roc Nation posted on their website welcoming Fabolous to the Roc Nation Family. In October 2015, Fabolous stated that he has two projects coming before the end of 2015. First, he revealed that a mixtape is coming shortly, but left no indication how close it is. He'll follow the mixtape up with another project on Christmas. In November 2015, Fabolous announced the second installment of The Young OG Project to be released on Christmas Day of 2015, but is now delayed for a February 2016 release date.

On February 29, 2016, Fabolous and Jadakiss announced they were releasing a mixtape titled, Freddy vs. Jason. On April 2, 2016, They released a freestyle to Future's "Wicked" that will appear on the album. Instead of a mixtape, it will be released as an album. On April 29, 2016, Fabolous stepped into the K-pop sphere, where he became a featured artist and a co-writer on a track titled "Fly", which is the lead single for K-pop singer Jessica Jung's first mini album, With Love, J.

Street Family Records

Street Family Records is a record label imprint, founded by Fabolous in 2006, in Brooklyn, NY.

Family

In an interview with XXL, Fabolous revealed that he has been in a long-term relationship with stylist Emily Bustamante (since 2002), who recently appeared in VH1's Love & Hip Hop, that began in 2011. He and his girlfriend had a son in February 2008 named Johan Jackson. In 2014, Fabolous and Bustamante announced that they were expecting their second child together. On June 2, 2015, the couple gave birth to their second son Jonas Jackson.

Legal issues

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.

He was shot in his right leg on the morning of October 17, 2006, in Manhattan after exiting Justin's, a restaurant owned by Sean "Diddy" Combs. Fabolous was treated at a local hospital and was released eight days later.

Discography

Awards and nominations