Together at BB King's on Friday April 26th, 2013 are two of our best rappers around. Despite heavy mainstream rap affiliates and big time props from more popular rappers both Fabolous and Pusha T are second tier rappers for heavy duty rapping abilities. You know, old school stuff like voice and flow.
I got into Fabolous really early, with his first album Ghetto Dreams. "Can't Deny It", featuring the late very great indeed Nate Dogg, the much missed West Coast rapper.I then kind of lost interest till Loso's Way, with the excellent "Imma Do It" ("everybody and their mother call the Feds on me"!). He is about to release a sequel to Loso's Way .
I came to Pusha T late when he rapped a verse of "Runaway" and signed to GOOD MUSIC. A track with Tyler The Creator, "Trouble In Mind" cemented the deal although I found his first solo album Fear Of God II: Let Us Pray, ordinary even if "Amen" wasn't.
Pusha T was featured on Fabolous' Soul 2 "Life Is So Exciting" and paved the way for the 35 year old rappers performing together. Both of these guys are better than just posse players but both seemed to have missed out on the big time. The thing is, they haze little crossover appeal, while absolutely having the essence of the genre down to an art form their g men rhymin' and rhythm the real deal but it is narrower in scope, he doesn't break white. Certainly, Pusha "never could take the intimacy" T seems to not quite know how to deal with his skills while Fab is happy with his.
Any which way, if you are a rap fanatic this is a great chance to see a couple of major players in a smaller venue (at a reasonableish time!)