Real Talk (by Fabolous, Rap)

Fabolous is given a lot of credit for his writing, and there are flashes of brilliance in the lyrics on REAL TALK -- along with occasional instances of creative production. But for the most part, this is a stunningly tedious album. Fabolous does one beat well, and he does it over and over and over again.

There are no "edited" or "explicit" versions sold; instead, the CD is edited in such an obvious way that there is no doubt which words are being omitted. The best moments are the most unguarded and emotional. "Can You Hear Me," a refreshing change of pace, is a cautionary tale about drug use with a haunting background track. But intriguing moments are few and far between.

Some soulful tracks and guest cameos try hard to help, but don't do nearly enough. There's not enough substance here to make it worth the trouble. The only reason to buy this album would be to put it on the next time your kids tell you that your music is boring.