Born Stanley Cox in Oakland on January 23, 1982, Mistah F.A.B. came up in the late 1990s and became one of the defining voices of the Bay Area hyphy movement, often called its crown prince. Discovered early and featured across Mac Dre's Thizz Nation compilations, he broke through mid-2000s with “Yellow Bus” and a major-label bidding war, then bet on himself and launched his own imprint, Faeva Afta Music, in 2008.
The pen behind the hits
Beyond his own catalog, F.A.B. is an accredited multi-platinum songwriter and producer. He co-wrote Chris Brown's “Loyal,” named Best Hip-Hop Song of the Year at the 2014 Soul Train Awards, and co-wrote B.o.B's “Headband.” Over the years he has worked with Snoop Dogg, Too $hort, E-40, Chris Brown, and Eric Bellinger, and he is still releasing new music today.
Building in Oakland
F.A.B. turned his name into institutions. Dope Era grew from a streetwear line into a boutique and community hub, alongside a youth development effort, Dope Era Academy. Dezi's Lounge is the nightlife side of that vision: a downtown Oakland room for cocktails, culture, and late nights, and the home base for the community work below.
THUG Therapy and giving back
At Dezi's, F.A.B. convenes THUG Therapy, short for Teaching, Healing, Uniting, and Guiding, a mental-wellness forum built to make vulnerability safe for Black men. In June 2025, Oakland filmmaker Ryan Coogler joined a packed session at the lounge for a candid talk on burnout and healing. It runs alongside a long track record of giving back: annual Thanksgiving turkey giveaways, back-to-school backpack drives, and holiday toy events. In 2014, Oakland declared February 8 “Stanley Cox aka Mistah F.A.B. Day” and gave him the key to the city.
Hear the music, follow the movement
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Come see it in person
Dezi's is Oakland's living room. Pull up any night from 7, or book the space for your own.