Artist: Fabolous Album: Street Dreams

Year: 2003
Duration: 0:0-1

Street Dreams by Fabolous - A Critical Review

Street Dreams is the second studio album by Brooklyn rapper Fabolous. It was released in 2003 by Desert Storm Records and Elektra Records, and it's regarded as one of Fabolous's best albums to date. The album features collaborations with industry heavyweights like Lil'Mo, Pharrell Williams, and Tamia. The album's commercial success alone can attest to its relevance, as it peaked at No. 3 on the US Billboard 200 chart and was certified platinum by the RIAA. In this blog post, we dive into the details of Street Dreams, analyzing the album's genre, background, top tracks, and what sets it apart, accompanied by our personal critic.

Genre & Background:

Street Dreams is a classic early 2000s hip-hop album, blending East Coast's gritty rap with smooth R&B. The album's sound is inspired by the mid-1990s hip hop, but Fabolous's polished flow and sharp lyrics set it apart. The album's title follows in the footsteps of Nas's album It Was Written, which had the hit single Street Dreams. In some ways, Fabolous claims that his album pays homage to the tradition of painting pictures of his Brooklyn neighborhood, much like Nas did with Illmatic. Overall, the album is on a more celebratory and romantic side of hip hop, but there are some dark moments along the way.

Top Tracks:

The standout tracks on Street Dreams are plentiful, but two of them can't go unmentioned. Into You is a timeless love song where Fabolous raps about the woman he loves. Lil Mo's hook is a cherry on top, and enough to make the song soar above other tracks on the album. Can't Let You Go is a seductive banger with a nostalgic sound produced by Just Blaze. This track features musings of complicated relationships, and the chorus, sung by Mike Shorey, is just plain catchy.

Innovative Parts:

Street Dreams is not necessarily innovative per se, but it's a well-executed album that captures the essence of early 2000s hip hop and urban R&B. The beats are elaborate and diverse, but there's a sense of unity throughout the album as well. Damn mixes a Billy Joel sample over snares and kicks, while Ghetto features a sample from Taana Gardner's Heartbeat. Trade It All Pt. 2 uses jazz samples and a sample from the Yo-Yo by The Jackson 5. All in all, this album is a perfect example of revisiting the template of the golden era and innovating one's sound while also staying classic.

Criticism:

Criticism:

Fabolous's lyrical content and delivery are solid. However, the album's structure is repetitive, dragging down some of the more generic tracks. A couple of tracks have prototypical early 2000s hip-hop production, so while they're not bad per se, they're forgettable tracks that don't stand out. Additionally, while the album is polished and modern, its romantic and celebratory themes could lack authenticity to some listeners who prefer a more straightforward approach.

Street Dreams is seen as an exemplary album of early 2000s hip hop that still has relevance today. Even with a couple of missed moments, songs like Into You and Can't Let You Go make this album worth your attention. Its production is stylistically innovative and cohesive, making the most of guests' contributions. Fabolous's rapping is excellent and, together, this creates an enjoyable hip hop ride. So if you're looking for some throwback hip hop that blends East Coast rap with R&B smoothness, Street Dreams by Fabolous could be the perfect album for you.