Big Sean: The Dark Side of Fame

For the past 8 years, we’ve heard Big Sean talk about being “finally famous”. Not only was it the title of his debut 2007 mixtape, but it was also the name of his debut 2011 studio album. That album proved that he was still hungry and had a fire that’s still classic today on songs like seductive, Kanye West assisted “Marvin & Chardonnay”, “Dance (A$$)”, and “Don’t Tell Me You Love Me”. By the time his second studio album, Hall of Fame, rolled around, it seemed like he was off focus and unbalanced. It was his most inconsistent work to date, with “Fire” and the Nicki Minaj and Juicy J assisted “MILF” being a couple of just a few tracks that showed promise. But that was then and this is now. He’s grown musically since then and has also had some personal life changes as well. Most talked about of those personal life changes are his public breakup with ex Naya Rivera and new love connection with Ariana Grande. Dark Sky Paradise, his third album, is expectedly his most introspective work to date. It also includes some of the best work he’s ever recorded.

“IDFWU”, the album’s first single, featuring E-40 closed out 2014 with the most gut punching breakup song that year, or perhaps that decade. It transcends just relationships though (as it’s obviously directed at his ex) and fits for getting the party started or just being ticked off at someone. He has a knack for cool comedic elements in his rhymes and this song is just that, at its finest. “Dark Sky (Skyscrapers)”, the album’s intro, offers over two and a half minutes of Big Sean spitting bars and admitting that his success hasn’t exactly been overnight.

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