Do you know who Fabolous is?

Maybe you do, you probably do because he's been a staple in hip hop since 2001. He's existed in his own niche throughout a time in hip hop where shit has changed faster than the trends we're all sucked in to. But you'd be forgiven for having no idea who 'Loso in case you didn't know so' is.

It's understandable, wrong, but understandable. It feels like Fab has drifted through the years, not doing anything to capture the minds or hearts of hip hop fans who are unaware but staying relevant. Fab dominates New York his home town and his style is pretty much the epitome of New York, there's a few different aspects of New York rappers but Fab perfectly captures it all. 

On The Young OG Project, Fab gives you word play and lyrics that allow him to stand alone as an MC. Right off the top, the first track 'Lituation' is like a buffet of witty little bars that, once you figure them out make you chuckle in admiration. While Fab doesn't have the flow of many other rappers, he makes up for it with his knowledge of the English language with a staple of his being using the same word in various ways. 

While technically you get your fill for Loso, the New York oozes out of him with his crisp, fly and flashy style. He's slick, with a confidence that comes from being a youngin' on the streets of New York. He never over steps the mark of being confident or cocky and being an asshole, he's always confident but you feel like he's a nice guy which isn't always a given with rappers who always look dressed to impress and always have multiple icebergs around their necks or on their fingers. You get this in a variety of forms with Fab rapping slickness all over tracks like 'She Wildin', 'Bish Bounce' and 'Rap & Sex' while 'Cinnamon Apple' tells the story of an early lovebird.

That slickness is coupled nicely though with Fab being a veteran and Fab knowing that it's the right time to reflect and provide wisdom. Tracks like 'All Good', 'You Made Me' and 'Young OG II' are rooted in realism and that realism could have put down to Fab having many years in the game to draw upon. For all the slick flashyness there's an appreciation of what really matters and I think we can put this down to Fab's experience.

My Bang Up Banger is 'Ball Drop', thanks largely to it being a bit of a new year anthem and it just gives you this vibe of getting up and get-getting it. French Montana dribbles all over the track, somehow adding to it with laid back bars. It's the perfect mix of a crisp song with a laid back feel yet inspiring and motivational.

What Is It? The Young OG Project is 2015 Fabolous ... despite it being made and released in 2014. It's Fab stamping his mark on the current game and reminding many a hip hop fan that he's still out here doing his thing. It shows that Fabolous sits on the throne of his own niche of smooth/flashy/street/technically solid hip hop which is a niche that doesn't have too many other rappers in it.