Stanley Petey Cox (born January 23, 1982), better known by his stage name Mistah F.A.B. (backronym for Money Is Something To Always Have–Forever After Bread), is an American

rapper Rapping (also rhyming, flowing, spitting, emceeing, or MCing) is an artistic form of vocal delivery and emotive expression that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and ommonlystreet vernacular". It is usually performed over a backing ...

, songwriter, entrepreneur,

community organizer Community organizing is a process where people who live in proximity to each other or share some common problem come together into an organization that acts in their shared self-interest. Unlike those who promote more-consensual community buil ...

and activist. F.A.B.'s music career began in the late 1990s when he was discovered by Jazzy Jim and Gary Archer. He was featured on a number of

Mac Dre Andre Louis Hicks (July 5, 1970 – November 1, 2004), known artistically as Mac Dre, was an American rapper, record producer and songwriter from Vallejo, California. He was an instrumental figure in the emergence of hyphy, a cultural movement ...

's Thizz Nation mixtape compilations and quickly gained prominence in the San Francisco Bay Area

hyphy The term hyphy ( ) is an Oakland, California, slang meaning "hyperactive". More specifically, it is an adjective describing the hip-hop music and the culture associated with the Oakland area. The term was first coined by rapper Keak da Snea ...

movement. With burgeoning national interest in Bay Area hip-hop around 2005, his single in December "Yellow Bus" shortly followed by the album ''Yellow Bus'' in January 2006, F.A.B. became the subject of a major-label bidding war, signing with

Atlantic Records Atlantic Recording Corporation (simply known as Atlantic Records) is an American record label founded in October 1947 by Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson. Over the course of its first two decades, starting from the release of its first recor ...

that September, under subsidiary, Thizz Entertainment. Howbeit F.A.B., who had deep independent ties with the music business in North Oakland, decided to forgo his major label deal and ventured out to launch his own imprint Faeva Afta Music in 2008. F.A.B. is known as one of the most prominent and colorful figures of the hyphy scene since the late 2000s, and is sometimes hailed as the scene's "Crown Prince". He quickly become a central figure of the hyphy movement, a musical and cultural offshoot of hip-hop from the Bay Area that carries a bass-heavy beat, blaring synthesizers and an emphasis on having fun. When F.A.B. boasted of doing "the dummy retarded" in "Super Sic Wit It," he was describing an emerging aesthetic and philosophical ideal evolving within the Rap culture at the time. F.A.B. garnered worldwide recognition on other fronts as well particularly as a battle rapper. F.A.B. defeated many MCs in the niche genre, including Clyde Carson of The Team, Jin of

Ruff Ryders Ruff Ryders Entertainment is an American hip hop record label and management company founded by siblings and record executives Joaquin "Waah", Darrin "Dee" and Chivon Dean in 1988. It operated as a subsidiary of Universal, and distributed by Int ...

and

Royce Da 5'9 Royce may refer to: Places Physical geography * Royce Brook, a creek in New Jersey, USA * Royce Peak, a mountain in California, USA Settlements * Royce, Alberta, Canada; an inhabited locality Facilities and structures * Royce Hall, on the ca ...

Slaughterhouse In livestock agriculture and the meat industry, a slaughterhouse, also called an abattoir (), is a facility where livestock animals are slaughtered to provide food. Slaughterhouses supply meat, which then becomes the responsibility of a mea ...

. In October 2011, Mistah F.A.B. was featured in a mobile battle rap game, Battle Rap Stars by Jump Shot Media. In 2015, F.A.B reemerged in the competitive battle rap circuit and went up against Arsonal Da Rebel in the Battle of the Bay 7. F.A.B. is an accredited multi-platinum songwriter and record producer, who has collaborated with major acts such as

Snoop Dogg Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. ( ; born October 20, 1971), better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg (previously Snoop Doggy Dogg), is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Rooted in West Coast hip-hop, he is widely regarded as one of t ...

Too $hort Todd Anthony Shaw (born April 28, 1966), better known by his stage name Too Short (stylized as Too $hort), is an American rapper. A pioneer of West Coast hip-hop, Shaw was among the first acts to receive recognition in the genre during the late ...

E-40 Earl Tywone Stevens (born November 15, 1967), better known by his stage name E-40, is an American rapper. Stevens is a founding member of the rap group The Click (band), The Click and the founder of Sick Wid It Records. He has released 27 stud ...

, B.o.B,

Chris Brown Christopher Maurice Brown (born May 5, 1989) is an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and actor. A Pop music, pop and hip-hop-influenced contemporary R&B, R&B musician who works in a variety of genres, he has been called the "Honorific nic ...

, and

Eric Bellinger Eric Aldwin Bellinger Jr. (born March 27, 1984) is an American R&B singer and songwriter. He began songwriting in 2010, and has co-written singles including " Lemme See" by Usher, "New Flame" by Chris Brown, " Right Here" by Justin Bieber, " O ...

. He co-wrote and published record charting platinum lead single Headband, off of B.o.B third album '' Underground Luxury'', released in December 2013. F.A.B. went on to co-write "Loyal" by Chris Brown, and the single was rewarded "Best Hip Hop Song of the Year" by the 2014 Soul Train Awards. F.A.B.'s community activism and philanthropic efforts have been highly visible throughout the years. Most notably, he hosts and organizes annual Thanksgiving turkey giveaways, backpack and school supply drives, holiday toys event and various charitable events benefiting Cancer and Domestic Violence. In August 2013, Mistah F.A.B. was named one of "10 Great Rappers With Great Charities" by Green Label a Mountain Dew Venture. In 2014, Mistah F.A.B. was recognized by Oakland Mayor Jean Quan, who declared Saturday, February 8, 2014 "Stanley Cox aka Mistah F.A.B. Day" in recognition of the multi-talented hometown hero's efforts to give back to the community.

1982–2000: Early life and career beginnings

Stanley P. Cox was born on January 23, 1982, in Oakland, California, the son of Stanley Cox Sr. and Desrie A. Jeffery. He was raised by his mother and grandparents. F.A.B.'s father was incarcerated for much of his childhood. His father died of AIDS-related complications when F.A.B. was twelve years old. He is the cousin of NFL running back

Marshawn Lynch Marshawn Terrell Lynch (born April 22, 1986) is an American actor and former professional American football, football player who was a running back for 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). Nicknamed "Beast Mode", he spent the majori ...

. He attended

Oakland Technical High School Oakland Technical High School, known locally as Oakland Tech or simply "Tech", is a public high school in Oakland, California, United States, and is operated under the jurisdiction of the Oakland Unified School District. It is one of six compre ...

and transferred to Emery High School where he later graduated. As a teenager, F.A.B. was an avid basketball player and point guard of his high school team. F.A.B. was forced to quit basketball after he sustained an injury on the court. Soon after, he began to enter local freestyle rap competitions and earn a reputation as a formidable rapper and freestyler.

Musical career

Mistah F.A.B., began his musical rise in Oakland, CA, as a young artist signed to Straight Hits Entertainment, where he dropped his debut album, '' Nig-Latin'' in 2002. Although this album garnered some success and recognition, F.A.B.'s recognition came from his skills as a battle rapper. F.A.B. won battles against the likes of Clyde Carson from The Team and

. His popularity lead to F.A.B. getting signed to

's Thizz Entertainment in 2004. Under Thizz ENT, F.A.B. blossomed as a front runner in the

Bay Area The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a region of California surrounding and including San Francisco Bay, and anchored by the cities of Oakland, San Francisco, and San Jose. The Association of Bay Area Governments ...

movement. With songs like "Super Sic Wit It," "N.E.W. Oakland," and "Kicked Out The Club," F.A.B.'s '' Son of a Pimp'' album was an instant success around the Bay Area, with featured collaborations Dre, E-40, Turf Talk, and G-Stack of Oakland heroes the Delinquents—as well as Kanye West. However, a series of obstacles staggered F.A.B.'s career momentum. KMEL-FM, the Bay's top urban station, imposed an unofficial but crippling blacklist of F.A.B.'s songs and guest appearances, due to petty personal grievances as well as the perceived slight of his successful show on a rival station, thereby significantly undermining his hometown visibility. Later, his breakout single, "Ghost Ride It," was the subject of controversy on two fronts – a national clamor over the hyphy practice of "

ghost riding , frequently used in the context of "ghost riding the whip" (a "whip" being a vehicle) or simply , is when a person exits their moving vehicle, and dances beside and around it. American rapper E-40's 2006 song "Tell Me When to Go" produced by ...

" described in the song (throwing a car in neutral, then jumping out and walking alongside or riding on the roof as it continues to move) and Columbia Pictures' threatened legal action over the use of the Ghostbusters logo in the video (the track samples the movie's theme song). This caused the video to be first heavily censored and then pulled from television altogether. Da Yellow Bus Rydah, F.A.B.'s debut studio album for Atlantic, originally scheduled for spring of 2007, was delayed by over two years (and most recently slated for a 2009 release under the revised title The Bus Ride). However, thanks to an unusually liberal contract, he was able to keep busy with work on independent labels, instead releasing a Thizz full-length album, Da Baydestrian, in May 2007, and continuing his steady stream of mixtapes and album-length collaborations with G-Stack, Turf Talk, the Alchemist, and Glasses Malone through 2015 (including Hyphy Ain't Dead, a collaboration with Turf Talk). In October 2011, Mistah F.A.B. was featured in a mobile battle rap game, Battle Rap Stars by Jump Shot Media.

MC Hammer Stanley Kirk Burrell (born March 30, 1962), better known by his stage name MC Hammer (or simply Hammer), is an American rapper known for hit songs such as "U Can't Touch This", "2 Legit 2 Quit", and "Pumps and a Bump", flashy dance movements, e ...

released "Raider Nation (

Oakland Raiders The Oakland Raiders were a professional American football team based in Oakland, California, from its founding in 1960 to 1981, and again from 1995 to 2019 before Oakland Raiders relocation to Las Vegas, relocating to the Las Vegas metropolitan ...

Anthem)" along with a video in late 2013 and " All In My Mind" (which samples " Summer Breeze" by

The Isley Brothers The Isley Brothers ( ) are an American soul group originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, that began as a vocal trio consisting of the brothers O'Kelly Isley Jr., Rudolph Isley and Ronald Isley in the 1950s. With a career spanning over seven decades, ...

) in early 2014 with his newly formed group called Oakland Fight Club which features Mistah F.A.B. In 2014, F.A.B co-wrote and published two record charting platinum lead singles Headband, off of B.o.B third album Underground Luxury, and Loyal by Chris Brown. In 2015, F.A.B reemerged in the competitive freestyle circuit in a lyrical exchange with Arsonal at the Battle of the Bay 7

Discography

Studio albums

*2002: '' Nig-Latin'' *2005: '' Son of a Pimp'' *2007: '' Da Baydestrian'' *2016: '' Son of a Pimp Part 2'' *2018: ''Thug Tears'' *2018: ''Thug Tears 2'' *2018: ''Year 2006'' *2018: ''Thug Tears 3'' *2019: ''Thug Tears 4'' *2019: ''Gold Chains & Taco Meat'' *2019: ''Cuban Cigars & Rose Champagne'' *2020: ''Gold Chains & Taco Meat 2: Skinny Jeans & Designer Shoes'' *2020: ''Brickphones & Beepers'' *2021: ''I Miss Hyphy'' *2021: ''Trippy Drippy'' *2021: ''Bedroom Lies'' *2022: ''Black Designer'' *2022: ''Lambos & Mazi's'' *2022: ''Key to the City'' *2022: ''Jupiter'' *2023: ''Hey Baby Say Baby'' *2023: ''45th and Artic: Ice City Cold Vibes'' *2023: ''Gold Chains & Taco Meat 3: Rolexs & Championship Kings'' *2023: ''Brickphones & Beepers 2'' *2023: ''Welcome to da Dope Era 2''

Unreleased albums

*2012: ''Da Yellow Bus Rydah''

Collaborative albums

*2005: ''The Tonite Show with Mistah F.A.B'' (with DJ Fresh) *2008: ''The Tonite Show with Mistah F.A.B Part 2: The Sequel'' (with DJ Fresh) *2012: ''Face Off'' (with I-Rocc) *2016: ''The Tonite Show with Mistah F.A.B Part 3: Live from 45'' (with DJ Fresh) *2023: ''The Hyphy Era'' (with

Droop-E Earl Tywone Stevens Jr. (born February 18, 1988), better known by his stage name Droop-E, is an American rapper and record producer. He is the son of the Bay Area rapper E-40. Biography Droop-E was born Earl Tywone Stevens Jr. on February 18 ...

)

Compilations

*2005: ''Thizz Nation, Vol. 8'' *2006: ''Slappin' in the Trunk Vol. 1'' *2006: ''Slappin' in the Trunk Vol. 2'' *2006: ''Smoke-N-Thizz (CD/DVD)'' (with Kuzzo Fly) *2007: ''Thizz Nation, Vol. 18'' (with G-Stack) *2007: ''Hyphy Ain't Dead'' (with

Turf Talk Demar Bernstine, known professionally as Turf Talk, is an American rapper. He is involved with the hyphy movement. He is a cousin of Bay Area rapper E-40, and is signed to his record label Sick Wid It Records, Sick Wid It Records. Growing Up Tu ...

) *2008: ''All Star Season''

Mixtapes

*2004: ''It Was Never Written'' *2006: ''Recess'' *2008: ''The Realest Shit I Never Wrote'' *2008: ''No Pens, No Pads'' *2008: ''The Guillotine: Off with His Head'' *2008: ''Play Time Is Over'' (Hosted by Demolition Men) *2008: ''Better Than Your Favorite Rapper'' (Hosted by DJ Rah2K) *2009: ''The Realest Shit I Never Wrote Part 2'' *2009: ''The Grind Is a Terrible Thing to Waste'' (Hosted by DJ Scream) *2009: ''I Am the Bridge'' (Hosted by DJ Racks) *2010: ''Prince of the Coast'' (Hosted by September 7) *2010: ''The Realest Shit I Never Wrote Part 3'' (Hosted by DJ Ill Will & DJ Rockstar) *2011: ''I Found My Backpack'' (Hosted by DJ Rah2K and The Empire) *2011: ''The Grind Is a Terrible Thing to Waste Part 2'' (Hosted by DJ Scream) *2011: ''The Realest Shit I Never Wrote Part 4'' *2011: ''I Found My Backpack 2'' *2012: ''The Realest Shit I Never Wrote Part 5'' *2012: ''Beast Mode'' (Hosted By DJ Skee) *2012: ''The Realest Shit I Never Wrote Part 6'' *2013: ''I Found My Backpack 3'' *2013: ''Hella Ratchet'' *2014: ''Stan Pablo – Welcome 2 da Dope Era'' (Hosted by DJ Scream & DJ Holiday) *2014: ''Love, Lies & Alibies'' *2015: ''STFK'' *2016: ''STFK 2'' *2017: ''Stan Pablo – 4506'' *2018: ''STFK 3'' *2019: ''Hella Ratchet 2'' *2020: ''Field Mode'' *2021: ''El Negro'' *2021: ''Hella Ratchet 3'' *2021: ''Stan Pablo: 4506, Pt. 2''

Video games

*2011: '' Battle Rap Stars'' for iPhone and Android

References

External links

* Mistah F.A.B. on SoundClou
MistahFAB
* Mistah F.A.B. on Instagra
MR.DOPE ERA (@fabbydavisjr1) Instagram profile • 24.7k photos and videos
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mistah F.A.B. 1982 births Living people African-American male rappers 21st-century American male rappers 20th-century American male rappers Rappers from Oakland, California West Coast hip-hop musicians Atlantic Records artists 21st-century American rappers 21st-century American male musicians 21st-century African-American musicians 20th-century African-American musicians Oakland Technical High School alumni