On this day in 2001, Brooklyn’s own Fabolous officially stepped onto the scene with his debut album Ghetto Fabolous. Unfortunately, the release landed on one of the darkest days in New York City history, September 11. Despite the tragedy that shook the world, Fab’s first project managed to cut through, establishing him as one of hip hop’s sharpest new voices.
The album debuted strong, peaking at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 with over 143,000 copies sold in its opening week. Fueled by Fab’s laid-back delivery and slick punchlines, Ghetto Fabolous produced a string of singles that kept his name buzzing: “Can’t Deny It” featuring the late Nate Dogg, the Neptunes-crafted “Young’n (Holla Back),” and “Trade It All” with Jagged Edge.
Behind the boards, the album boasted a stacked lineup of producers, including DJ Clue, Timbaland, Rockwilder, Just Blaze, Rick Rock, and DJ Envy, among others. Their collective sound provided Fab the perfect mix of radio appeal and street grit…