There Is No Competition 3: Death Comes in 3's
Fabolous · 2011
46 min · 15 tracks · gangsta rap
A hard-hitting blend of street narratives and slick wordplay underscored by minimalist beats and infectious hooks.
Top tracks — play these first
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Death Comes in 3's Start here — This track serves as the thematic anchor of the mixtape, blending introspective lyrics with a haunting beat that encapsulates the underlying tension throughout.
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Unfuckwitable — Demonstrating Fabolous's confident swagger, this track features clever wordplay and punchy delivery, making it an instant standout that showcases his lyrical prowess.
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Lord Knows — The closing track is an expansive reflection on Fabolous's career journey, combining personal storytelling with a powerful beat, leaving a lasting impression.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong lyricism and solid production but lacks a cohesive flow across its length.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album features tracks that maintain a consistent mid-tempo pace, while the second half introduces more varied tempos and styles.
- Several tracks incorporate minimalist beats with heavy bass lines, allowing the lyrics to take center stage without overwhelming production.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- wave-like pacing with intensity
- braggadocio mixed with introspection
- dynamic flow with gradual climax
- catchy hooks for easy engagement
Maybe skip if you
- prefer lengthy, immersive tracks
- seek straightforward, consistent themes
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Fan Favorite — Beloved mixtape that showcases Fabolous's lyrical prowess and street narratives.
- Themes
- East Coast competition· mortality reflections· braggadocio storytelling
- Career context
- Released in early 2011, 'There Is No Competition 3: Death Comes in 3's' marked Fabolous's return to the mixtape circuit following his last studio album, 'Loso's Way,' in 2009. At this point, he was firmly established in the East Coast hip-hop scene, leveraging his previous successes while showcasing a more aggressive lyrical approach.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Joe Budden· Jadakiss· Cam'ron
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Death in the Family
The shift from recounting loss to expressing determination evokes a deep emotional response as he navigates personal tragedy.
This transition highlights Fabolous's ability to weave vulnerability into his narrative, contrasting personal pain with an unwavering resolve.
Tracklist
- 1 Intro 1:22
- 2 Death Comes in 3's Start here 2:43
- 3 You Dont Know Bout It 3:39
- 4 Swag Champ 3:28
- 5 The Widows 0:24
- 6 She Did It 2:59
- 7 Spend It 3:43
- 8 Black City 1:53
- 9 Got That Work 2:56
- 10 B.E.T. 2:45
- 11 Get Down or Lay Down 3:14
- 12 Unfuckwitable 3:52
- 13 Death in the Family 4:01
- 14 Dram's on Time 0:46
- 15 Lord Knows 9:09
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Good Kid, M.A.A.D City
Kendrick Lamar
Shares introspective storytelling and a blend of braggadocio wrapped in polished production.
2014 Forest Hills Drive
J. Cole
Combines personal reflections with confident lyricism over smooth, engaging beats.
Take Care
Drake
Merges introspective themes with catchy hooks and a slick, atmospheric production style.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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