Mistah F.A.B.’s breakout album, 2005’s Son of a Pimp, established the North Oakland emcee as a rising star and a major factor in a resurgent Bay Area rap scene, which would demand national attention from hip-hop’s cultural gatekeepers. A decade later—older, wiser, and more resilient—FAB returns with Son of A Pimp 2, a no-holds-barred, 21-track extravaganza he considers the truest representation of his artistic talent to date. The list of features is sure to raise eyebrows, as is the fact that FAB more than holds his own against some of the rap world’s most celebrated artists from practically every region in the United States. Just as impressive as the tracks themselves is the fact that FAB assembled his all-star roster of talent from his friends list, leveraging the networking he’s been doing for years as a go-to guy for out-of-town artists visiting the Bay, as well as his solid rep within Oakland.
“My evolution as an artist is basically expanding and expounding on where I was. 10 years is a long time, a person goes through a lot,” he explains.
Don’t call Son of a Pimp 2 a comeback album; call it a ‘triumph over adversity’ album. Among the many challenges FAB endured was a diminished spotlight following the dissolution of his major-label deal, and ownership changes and legal issues for two other indie labels he’d released records. FAB went through personal issues as well – his mother (who’s featured on the album’s cover) passed from cancer, and his long-incarcerated brother was briefly released from jail, only to be sent back. “My rock was my mother,” he says. “That was basically my balance. Between losing her and my brother getting out of jail and going back to jail for a life sentence, and many friends and family members in the course of these 10 years who are no longer here, it definitely shapes and shifts your mindset.”
In the midst of hardship, there was also joy, as the birth of his daughter caused young “Fabby Davis Jr.” to mature into a grown-ass man. “Having a daughter, watching your daughter grow, being very involved with her upbringing… that molds you into such a different person,” he says.
Despite being unsigned, FAB stayed hype. He continued to maintain a presence in the rap scene, dropping mixtapes, doing shows and tours, hosting events, recording features, and launching his own clothing company, Dope Era. He also found success as a ghostwriter, penning platinum hits like B.O.B.’s “Headband” and Chris Brown’s “Loyal.” Long a fan and practitioner of battle-rap, he crushed several well-received freestyle sessions on “Sway in the Morning,” then re-emerged on the competitive battle circuit in 2014, going up against New Jersey’s Arsenol in the “Battle of the Bay.” He was even honored by the city of Oakland for his humanitarian efforts –over the years, he’s given back to the community by sponsoring Thanksgiving turkey giveaways, backpack drives, and other fundraisers for charitable causes—with the naming of February 8 as “Mistah FAB Day.”
Oakland’s own Kev Choice—pianist, producer, composer, and one of Hip-Hop’s most trusted and versatile Music Directors—returns to Yoshi’s to lead a powerful live set for Oakland icon Mistah F.A.B.
A master at transforming Hip-Hop classics into full-scale musical experiences, Kev brings a top-tier band to elevate F.A.B.’s catalog with creative arrangements and the unmistakable Oakland spirit. His direction blends live instrumentation and deep Hip-Hop roots to create a performance that’s both elevated and authentic to the artist.
Kev’s MD résumé spans some of the biggest names in the culture—Too $hort, E-40 (Tiny Desk), Richie Rich, Souls of Mischief, Zion I, and Ms. Lauryn Hill—making him the go-to architect for artists seeking to bring their music to the stage with power, precision, and creativity.
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