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
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Best Male For Hip Hop
Lil' Wayne
Nominated
Groups
Day26
Nominated
Best New Artist
Keri Hilson
Nominated
Best Gospel Artist
Mary Mary
Nominated
Best Video
Beyonce - Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)
Nominated
Best Collaboration
Jamie Foxx & T-Pain (Blame It)
Nominated
Best Actor
Taraji P. Henson
Nominated
Lifetime achievement Award
O'jays
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Producers: Swizz Beatz, J.R. Rotem, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, Just Blaze, Dangerous LLC, GQ Beats, Scott Storch, Nard & B, Mista Raja , Chris Styles & Maino.
New York City will always be associated with producing Hip Hop greats - after all, they are the originators of this music. Go back to the late 70's, throughout the 80's and all of the way through the 90's, NYC was the heart of Hip Hop. To just name some of the greatest from the boroughs, is like naming a who's who of Hip Hop. Jay-Z, Nas, Busta Rhymes, 50 Cent, Ja Rule, Wu-Tang Clan, Diddy, Dipset, Jadakiss, DMX, Fabolous, Big Daddy Kane, Rakim, Fat Joe, LL Cool J, Mobb Deep.... In fact, I will stop there because I could go on and on.
But lately, NYC has been critisised for not producing the quality of music it did. In a new era of Hip Hop of dance routines, catchy hooks, auto-tune and ringtone sales, some are starting to question NYC's stance as the heart of Hip Hop, and perhaps give that title to the South, which has come up so fast in the past decade. Many fans are waiting for someone to take NY back to the forefront of Hip Hop.
Then along came Maino. Those in the know, will know that to make it big on the NY scene, you will need to be big on the mixtape circuit, and that was exactly what Maino has been doing in the last couple of years, following in the style of 50 Cent - and we all know how big he became.
If Tomorrow Comes refers to Maino's time in prison. He served a 10 year prison sentance for his involvement in a drug related kidnapping, and upon his 2003 release, he turned his attention to a music career. It would not be long before the rapper, better known as Jermaine Coleman, would feature at the 2008 Summer Jam Festival, onstage with Alicia Keys, with whom he was introduced to by ex husband, and music producer Swizz Beatz.
The album has an autobiographical feel to it. By kicking off with the lead track, Million Bucks, featuring the familiar upbeat production of Swizzy himself, as well as his trademark hooks to go with it, the song deals with money, material objects, and emotions of getting out of the hood. This is then followed by one of the many interludes on the album, Scene 1: If Tomorrow Comes. The interlude takes you back in time, before the money, success of music, and while he was still locked down. The album then follows a story from here on, with the next song Back To Life dealing with adapting back into his original life, after a long sentance.
Overall, there are 5 interludes, rather reminiscent of an Eminem CD. But to many, Maino's story will be something many people who have experienced the ups and downs of living in the NY ghettos will be able to relate to.
The production from some of Hip Hops big name producers, Scott Storch, Swizz Beatz, Just Blaze, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, and J.R. Rotem, and a feature track from T-Pain, along with an all-star remix of another single, is something even established artists in the game would be flattered by, never mind for your debut studio album. However, without any big singles, you can forget putting Maino in the same league as Jay-Z or 50. Hi Hater and All The Above have had moderate success on the Billboard chart, but nothing that will catapult him to the forefront on mainstream rap. The remix of Hi Hater featured Fabolous, Plies, T.I., Jadakiss, & Swizz Beatz, and this gained a lot of radio airplay, especially in NY.
The album has a quality feel to it. It is not just something which circulates around a couple of hype singles, and it is not often I can say that in 2009. Notable album tracks which stand out, are Here Comes Trouble, and the sexually explicit Lets Make A Movie, which talks about doing the same thing that made Paris not just a city. This album is a must for Hip Hop fans. Maino will be a a rap great, perhaps to the size of moderate artists such as Jadakiss, Jim Jones or Joe Budden, but that push for a massive mainsream breakthrough wont come from this CD.
8/10
