Fabolous – Interview [2001]

Fabolous is on top, find out why!

How long did you work on the album?

About a year or two, but I was really working on it before I got the deal and all.

When you were working with Lil’ Mo, did you have your stuff done?

We were still working on my stuff.

When her single blew up, did you wish your album was out?

No, not really. I just knew I had to keep working and it’ll stay out there until I get the album out.

Has life changed a lot?

It’s been changing in the last six months. It’s changed dramatically, I can’t do as much stuff, I have less time, and everything is a little more busy now.

Have you been adding new material over the last few years?

We didn’t really go back. Some of the things we did at the beginning we didn’t use. We just ran with it.

What do you think about working with other artists compared to doing it solo?

It’s all the same. It’s work whether it’s with an artist or not.

Growing up did you want to be a rapper?

I wasn’t trying to be a rapper. Rap was a hobby. I wasn’t even rapping to be a rapper. I was scribbling raps as a hobby. So I was trying to write little raps and people would hear them and they’d think they were alright. I wasn’t trying to do demos. I was just writing things down.

In the studio do you go from paper?

I just write to the tracks so it goes with the beat.

Rap has changed so much in the past few years. What do you think about the categories?

It’s cool and some has changed for the good and some for the bad. There is a lot more money involved so it’s become more political, which there is good and bad in that too. With any change you have to adjust, you can’t still have old school ways to new school rules.

Growing up who did you look up to?

I didn’t really have rappers I looked up to, but I liked LL, Big Daddy Kane, Rakim. The first rap album I had was Run-Dmc.

So you really like the old school styles?

Yeah, I used to hear that walking down the street on people’s radio. I asked my mom to buy me this album and she came home with a Run-Dmc album.

Do you hear your influences in your music?

It’s changed. That was the sound back then, music has changed a lot. I think music changes every few years. Like LL, he’s lasted because he knows how to make the changes. Not everyone can do that so they disappear.

How important do you think beatmasters like Dre and Timbaland are to the changes?

I don’t think people realize how important they are. They just hear the rapper, but it’s a marriage. I don’t think no producer or rapper alone does it, it’s a marriage of the track and the vocals. Without those beats you wouldn’t have a song, but without the vocals it’d just be beats.

Who do you think is on top of their game?

The rap game to me, everyone has their peak. Each coast has someone who peaks. Sometimes the West Coast is on top, sometimes it’s the East. There is always good music, but some just jump on top.

Do you have a master plan?

I’m just focused on making good music. I don’t look way out because then you lose focus on what you need to do today.

+ charlie craine