Fabolous at the US Open Women's Semifinals Blue Carpet held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 04, 2025 in Queens, New York.
Music

Fabolous Recalls Dropping His Debut Album on 9/11: 'We Was Not Really Thinking About the Album Anymore'

The Brooklyn hip-hop star reflects on how his career milestone instantly faded into the background on one of America's darkest days.

By Nina BrooksPublished Updated 1 min read

Releasing a debut studio project is usually the biggest milestone in a rising musician's life. But for Brooklyn rapper Fabolous, the arrival of his first LP *Ghetto Fabolous* on September 11, 2001, instantly shifted from a personal achievement into a day of national tragedy. In a preview from an upcoming episode of *The Debut Live*, the hip-hop veteran looked back at how the catastrophic events of 9/11 completely reshaped what should have been his grand entrance into the music industry. He recalled waking up on release morning to frantic phone calls urging him to turn on his television, only to watch the horrifying attack on the Twin Towers take place in real time. ## Did Fabolous drop Ghetto Fabolous on 9/11? *Ghetto Fabolous* was set to establish the New York artist as rap's next big hitmaker, backed by heavy radio momentum and high expectations. However, as the world watched the disaster unfold in New York City, all promotional plans came to a sudden halt. Fabolous explained that the moment he saw the devastation on screen, his album launch immediately lost all priority for him and his team. Interestingly, Fabolous was not the only hip-hop star delivering a major project that morning. Brooklyn legend Jay-Z also dropped his classic record *The Blueprint* on the exact same date. Before grasping the true emergency taking place, Fabolous admitted he briefly wondered if Jay-Z had somehow pulled strings behind the scenes to disrupt scheduled promo calls and clear the field for his own release. ## What did Fabolous say about 9/11 album release? The surreal timing forever linked Fabolous' music career to one of the most memorable dates in modern history. Although the horrific tragedy dominated global news and shifted public focus, *Ghetto Fabolous* still managed to achieve commercial success, cementing the rapper's presence in early 2000s hip-hop despite the overwhelming circumstances of its release date.

More like this

Get the pop news brief

One daily email. The biggest celebrity, music and TV stories, no filler.

Reader reaction

Loading comments…

People also ask

When did Fabolous release his debut album?
Fabolous released his debut studio album, 'Ghetto Fabolous,' on September 11, 2001.
Which other major rap album released on 9/11?
Jay-Z released his landmark studio album 'The Blueprint' on September 11, 2001, the same day as Fabolous' debut.