Music career

Before receiving mainstream popularity, Fabolous released a single in 1998 titled "If They Want It" under his moniker, Fabolous Sport. It was released by Def Jam Recordings on the album DJ Clue? The Professional. It is also available on the DJ Kool Kid mixtape, Pound For Pound featuring Fabolous and Jadakiss. In 2000, he released a second single through Elektra Records titled "Gotta Be a Thug", which was put on DJ Clue Presents Backstage Mixtape (soundtrack). He was nominated for Grammy for his collaboration with Christina Milian for Dip It Low.

Ghetto Fabolous

Fabolous was teamed with Nate Dogg to produce his first single "Can't Deny It". The song charted in the Billboard Hot 100, and the subsequent album, Ghetto Fabolous, achieved platinum certification. It reached number four on the Billboard 200 with 143,180 copies sold and had three singles which charted on Rhythmic Top 40 and Billboard Hot 100 charts. The first of those singles is "Can't Deny It" which is produced by Rick Rock and features a chorus by Nate Dogg that alters lyrics from Tupac Shakur's song "Ambitionz Az a Ridah". The other charting singles are "Young'n (Holla Back)", which is produced by The Neptunes and "Trade It All", which features vocals from Jagged Edge and is produced by DJ Clue and DURO.

Street Dreams

Jackson 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.

Real Talk

Jackson's third album Real Talk was released on November 9, 2004. It debuted at number six on the Billboard 200 with 179,000 copies and had two charting singles, the lowest in his career. The two charting singles are "Breathe" and "Baby". His second single was not promoted until weeks after the album's release. Making the "Do the Damn Thing" music video 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. In early 2006, Fabolous moved to Def Jam and left Atlantic Records who received Musiq in return.

From Nothin' to Somethin'

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. It is his first album on Def Jam Records. The first single and video, "Diamonds", features Young Jeezy who also appeared on the Real Talk track "Do the Damn Thing". Although Lil Wayne was originally featured on "Diamonds", however, Young Jeezy made the final album. The album was certified Gold in July 2007.

The second single, "Make Me Better", features fellow Def Jam artist Ne-Yo. The third single was "Baby Don't Go" originally featuring T-Pain singing the hook, but Jermaine Dupri sang the hook in the music video instead.

Featured Songs

Fabolous has been featured on several popular R&B artists' songs. He has also collaborated with South Korean singer Se7en in his American debut single "This is My Year" which has been leaked on Myspace and YouTube before the official release. He recently appeared on the remix and video version of singer The-Dream's debut single, Shawty Is Da Sh*! (10).

Feuds

Ma$e

According to Fabolous, Ma$e approached him in Philadelphia and commented on how he "appreciated" Fab as an artist. The two artists then shook hands and went their separate ways. But some time later, Ma$e quipped on his song "I Don’t Know Officer": "I don’t know why Loon and Fabby won’t just say I’m their daddy", implying that both Fabolous and rapper Loon stole their laid back style from him. He made a diss track "Murda (We Don’t Believe You)". Fabolous uses 50 Cent's hook from "Life’s on the Line" saying: "Murda, I don’t believe you / Murda, f*ck around and leave you / Murda, we don’t believe you / Murda Murda, your life’s on the line."

In the past, critics have compared Fabolous', Loon's and Ma$e’s rhyme styles, noting similarities in flow and vocal cadence. But Fabolous has never revealed any animosity towards Ma$e until now.

Fabolous even rapped alongside Ma$e as Fabulous Sport on "That's The Way", a track on DJ Clue's 1998 studio release The Professional. Foxy Brown also appeared on the track.

Personal life

Fabolous was raised in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. 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.

Fabolous was shot in his right leg on the morning of October 17, 2006 in Manhattan. The police saw the rapper and three other men accompanying him rushing through a red light and found unlicensed, loaded guns in their car leading to their arrest. After they found the weapons, Fabolous was treated at a local hospital.

In an interview with XXL, Fabolous revealed that he has been in a long-term relationship that began in 2005.

Fabolous came forward to deny reports that he was involved, or present, the evening a childhood friend—Shamel McKinney—was stabbed to death inside of a New York nightclub.