Right out of the gate in 2001, Fabolous scored a bit hit, "Can't Deny It," that established him as a rising East Coast rap star, and the song's combination of street-savvy toughness and pop-crossover appeal was representative of the rapper himself. Streetwise and hardened yet young and graced with poster-boy looks, the Brooklyn rapper (born John Jackson) was one of the first East Coast MCs to embrace the bling 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.. more ....