Fabolous' recent streak of outstanding freestyles has made the rapper relive some of his humble beginnings, including his first freestyle with DJ Clue.

In an interview with MTV News, Fabolous opens up about his jitters during the '98 freestyle that launched his successful year. Heading to meet Clue at Hot 97 at the age of 21, the rapper says he didn't expect to be thrown onto the radio waves, as he dropped not only one, but two freestyles with N.O.R.E.

While he didn't think his first verse was on point, the rapper jumped back in the booth and busted out a memorable verse. So much so, that DJ Clue gave him the name "Fabolous" after hearing the line, "It's the F-A-B-O-L-O-U-S/ In a new S, circling the U.S."

"I didn't really have a set name yet, which was weird because I used to just use my initial," Fabolous said about his government name John Jackson. "But I didn't want to use J as my name because there was so many other Jay rappers. So when he thought that was my name and gave me that name — even though it wasn't the particular name I really wanted to stick with — it kinda just stuck," he said. "I was like, 'Alright, maybe it is Fabolous; that's my name."

Since then, the rapper has released platinum selling albums and singles, and has been paying homage to Dr. Dre, Mobb Deep and the Wu-Tang Clan with his latest freestyles.

Check out his recent "Quiet Storm Freestyle" here.

Source:  MTV | Photo Credit: Splash News