Fab Plans Concept Album

[Mumbo Sauce]

Right about now, Fabolous says he's "working hard and playing harder," but all that is about to be reversed. He's going in on his next LP and wants to have it out by August. He expects to drop a single or a warm-up record by May.


"I usually go around and just get with producers I feel I wanted to work with. This time I'm going off a theme," he said. Fab's concept for the project may sound a bit familiar. He's been inspired by a film.


"I'mma put a theme together and just go off of that theme," he said. "Sometimes producers get lost trying to figure out what they think is the best type of sh-- for Fab. [They say,] 'I got this commercial joint for you.' So what I'm doing now, I seen a movie I want to theme the album after. Even take certain lines, different scenes out of the movie and make music behind that. At the same time, I can have the producer check the movie out, and he'll have something he can take away from the movie and come back with some joints. I wanted to try that this time."


"What Jay-Z did [with 'American Gangster'] ... he took that Frank Lucas character and put it in the frame of his Jay character," Fab opined. "That's what I wanna do. I don't wanna say I that I'm actually the character, but take some of his scenarios or some things I went through and tell it in my tone."


Fab refused to disclose the movie he was patterning his album after, but he said it isn't too old, though it is classic. He doesn't anticipate too many cameos, and producers on Loso's radar include DJ Toomp, Kanye West, Just Blaze and Polow Da Don. With a structure in place, he feels he can complete his opus at a more expedient rate than usual.


"I think it will make me a little faster for some reason," he declared. "When I just go in with producer and just make music, I'm really going in. I don't know what they are gonna play me. I don't know what I'm gonna get off the beat. It's pretty much whatever comes up. But this time I watched the movie myself, wrote some things that stuck out in my head and tried to make songs off that. This time it should be easier. Well, not easier, but faster."


A single for Fab's yet-untitled (at least to us) album should arrive sometime in May. But for now, he's remixing himself into a frenzy. He just did new versions for Janet Jackson's "Feedback," Rocko's "Umma Do Me," Red Café's "Paper Touchin' " and Britney Spears' "Break the Ice."


"I didn't get to kick it with [Britney], but the people from her record label was on top of that," he said of the collaboration. "I don't know what condition Britney is in right now. Hopefully — more power to her — she'll get in a better space and position.


"Somebody needs to sit her down, let her know what the deal is," he added.


Loso may also be getting a call from Ne-Yo soon, to work on the singer's upcoming Year of the Gentleman. Fab disclosed to us that he would love to do more with his "Make Me Better" co-star.


"I been telling him we need to do the Best of Both Worlds for young, fly n---as," he said, referring to the 2004 Jay-Z/ R. Kelly tour that derailed over problems between the two artists. "I don't think [a clash of the egos] would happen with us. [We're] two good humble brothers. If we make some great music, people would love it and the demographic we would hit ... It would be great for us too. I think we can pull off a Best of Both Worlds."


Fab does have a myriad of other fellas to get in the studio with for an album. His crew, the Street Family, is making a compilation project, and singer Deemi is the newest member.


"Sometimes working alongside somebody else can help better their situation," he said of the addition. "[It'll] give her more looks, so when it's time for her to do her solo thing, that'll progress [her situation] too.


"We was gonna do it independent, but Def Jam has taken an interest in what I'm doing," he added, saying that the project will include Freck Billionaire, Red Café and Paul Cain. "I would love to keep the business all in the family. We got the avenue to do it independently or with Def Jam. We're weighing our options and seeing what the better choice is. I'mma let that one marinate."


Fab and DJ Drama's There Is No Competition installment of Gangsta Grillz is out now and Loso promised that "there will be some viral videos coming from that soon."