[Review] Fabolous - Loso's Way

Artist: Fabolous

Album: Loso's Way

Label: Def Jam
Release Date: July 29th 2009

Featured Guests: Jerimih, Kobe, Keri Hilson, The Dream, Jay-Z, Lil' Wayne, Red Cafe, Paul Cain, Ryan Leslie, Ne-Yo, Trey Songs & Marsha Ambrosious.

Producers: StreetRunner, The Runners, DJ Khalil, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, Ryan Leslie, Jermaine Dupri, Christopher 'Tricky' Stewart, Blackout Movement, Miguel for 'The Council', Sid V for 'Duo Live', The Alchemist, Just Blaze, Sean C & L.V.

In a time when rappers depend on dance routines, ringtone sales and fancy autotune effects to be able to sell records, it is sad to say that there are very few real' rappers out there, and by real, I mean traditional lyricists, who use wordplay, punchlines and complex rhyming technique to impress fans.

Sure Jay-Z will continue to make songs for the time being, after all, he has a new album lined up for later this year, and Nas dropped his 'Untitled' album just last year, but they are artists that began their careers when MC'ing was what gave you the answer whether you were going to make it or not. Minus all of the old heads of rap - the Jay-Z, Nas, Method Man, Busta Rhymes, Pharoahe Monch and so on, the list of artists that got to where they now, in the recent era of hip hop by real lyrical skill is very minimum. In fact, I am counting them now with my fingers....as the other hand types.

Sure, Eminem has a complicated rhyming technique that wows even those that want to hate, and Cassidy delivers clever punchlines, that leave listeners of his music like they've just seen a magic trick - they wonder how he does it, Lil' Wayne plays around with words meanings to create tricky (and sometimes hidden) metaphors, T.I. and Ludacris also have impressive rhyming techniques as does Juelz Santana in his own style, but one has always stood out to me, and that is Fabolous.

While other rappers look for words that rhyme, Fabolous is looking for sentances that rhyme, also known as multi-syllabic to those who have studies English at school. On top of that, Fab's rhymes are powerfull in the street, and he has such as style that can be adapted for the radio, and for the club. And as if we just see 'Loso' everytime a single drops, he is also featured on many remixes of other songs that come out, meaning he has countless amounts of versus out there.

However, when it was announced that Fabolous was going to put out a concept album, similar to American Gangster by Jay-Z, which was based on the film under the same name, I was a bit doubtfull that it would work. Rumours circulated the internet as to which film the album would be based around, until finally, it was announced that the album would be called Loso's Way, a take on the 1993 Al Picino film, Carlito's Way. There was also talk that the album would have no guests at all, which again gave me doubts, as Fabolous' best songs come when somebody else sings the hook. However, severall months down the line, I have the album right here in front of me, and I have heard Ne-Yo's voice, Keri Hilson's voice, Jeremih's voice as well as Jay-Z, The Dream and so on.

Already, after only one listen through of the album, songs are beginning to stand out and become favourites of mine. Track 3, 'Imma Do It' which features Kobe, and produced by DJ Khalil - the song delivers a catchy beat with hook, as well as probably one of the best verse on the CD (the 2nd verse).

The same can also be said for Track 5, 'Everything, Everyday, Everywhere' with Keri Hilson and Ryan Leslie. Ryan is a producer whom has impressed me lately, since he produced 'Precious' for Jim Jones earlier in the year. However, if your looking for something for the street, then that is also on this disc - 'Salute' with Lil' Wayne draws comparisons of the street life with working in the army. There is the usual Fabolous use of money music, as well, as well as a Ne-Yo featured love song.

Anyone who may have been worried that this album would not be the traditional Fabolous album, will be wrong. If may not be the commercial success that From Nothin' To Somethin' was, but then again, T-Pain is not on this CD.

Real Fabolous fans won't be disappointed, but the only way to describe the feel of this album is to say that it is not as 'street' as the first couple of Fabolous' discography, but not as 'RnB' as the last - if that makes sense? For me, I've been waiting on this for months and months, and I'm considering it as being my favourite so far in 2009.

9/10