Fabolous Speaks On The Downfall Of Mixtapes, “There’s Nothing Really Special”

Written By S. Samuel

As an artist who jump-started his career with the help of DJ Clue and the mixtape circuit, Fabolous recently spoke on the status of the overly popular market.

Fabolous
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While he believes mixtapes are declining in popularity, Fab also feels there are ways to help strengthen them.

“That game is really saturated,” Fab said in an interview about the mixtapes. “I feel like you really have to do something special now, but there’s not really anything special you can do on a mixtape besides trying different things musically or with the way you distribute it…There’s nothing special to me about a mixtape now…There’s pretty much one coming out every five minutes. Right now, I think the dopest thing is to have a mixtape online–don’t even have a hard disc, because even that’s slowed down. When was the last time someone went somewhere and bought a hard copy of a mix CD? So maybe the next step is to release something digitally and tie it in with that.” (Hip Hop DX)

Fab’s hip-hop career took off nearly a decade ago with the help of mixtapes.

Fabolous’s grand entrance into the rap world began with some impromptu flow outside the PJ’s, which led to a hastily arranged audition for music-biz mogul, mixtape king DJ Clue in early 1998. The only catch was that the laid back linguist would have to impress Clue while kicking it live for thousands of New York radio listeners tuned in to Clue’s Monday-night Hot 97 show. Add the fact that CNN‘s Noreaga was in the studio, and you’re probably looking at more game than you can handle. (Sing365)

Like 50 Cent, Fab’s mixtape rhymes generated a strong fan base.

Fabolous was one of the first East Coast MCs to embrace the bling mentality of the South as well as the gangsta swagger of the West Coast, all the while incorporating a subtle undercurrent of pop-rap into his music. He was among the first of a new breed of New York City rappers, later to include 50 Cent most notably, who were able to crossover well among multiple markets without losing street credential. His youth was key, but so was his bravado, and when Fabolous could balance this persona optimally and find himself a production formula to fit, commercial success resulted. (All Music)

With his upcoming album Loso’s Way nearing, SOHH spoke with F-a-b-o about a recently leaked audio clip from his project which features Jay-Z.

“Actually, it got leaked and it was a version with Jay only rapping on it and it’s called, ‘When The Money Goes,’ Fabolous said. “Jay had recorded something to it, I guess what you hear on the leak, for American Gangster and I don’t think it made the final cut so he had reached out to me, knowing that I was working on this project and knowing the theme of what I was trying to put together and said, ‘Yo, I got a record that might fit in to play.’ So, when he brought the record to the table it did. I re-vocaled it. Jay is just on the hook as far as that, it was his idea for the hook.” (SOHH)

[For more on your favorite rappers from the Big Apple peep SOHH NYC]

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Written by S. Samuel

Steven Samuel is the co-founder of SOHH.com.

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