Since his 2017 album — as far as we know — he’s done a lot of introspective work. In 2017, Sean released I Decided., an album that is a clear indication of Sean’s realization that money cannot solve everything.
As heads into releasing this next body of work, it will be interesting to see what route Sean takes. His beloved Detroit mixtape was released in 2012. 8 years later and we’re on the second installment.
On August 12, 2013, Big Sean released his single “Control.” The song (featuring Kendrick Lamar and Jay Electronica) was initially meant to be a single for Sean’s Hall of Fame album, but due to sample clearances, the song remained as a promotional single for the album.
“Control” sampled “El Pueblo Unido Jamás Será Vencido” by Quilapayún and SergioOrtega and Jay-Z‘s 1997 “Where I’m From” track.
Kendrick’s standout bars from “Control:
” I heard the barbershops be in great debates all the time Bout who’s the best MC? Kendrick, Jigga and Nas Eminem, Andre 3000, the rest of y’all New niggas just new niggas, don’t get involved And I ain’t rockin no more designer shit White T’s and Nike Cortez, this is red Corvettes anonymous I’m usually homeboys with the same niggas I’m rhymin’ wit But this is hip hop and them niggas should know what time it is And that goes for Jermaine Cole, Big KRIT, Wale Pusha T, Meek Millz, A$AP Rocky, Drake Big Sean, Jay Electron’, Tyler, Mac Miller I got love for you all but I’m tryna murder you niggas
In retrospect, the song was one of the biggest moments of the year and within the decade of hip-hop. “I knew what it was for the culture of hip-hop,” Sean told Vibe Magazine in an interview. “You see how excited people are, and I wanted to do that for music—make that play happen. It gave me like the feeling of how hip-hop was. How it used to be. When I heard that verse I wasn’t about to go back and change my verse—that’s cheating. That ain’t the way of an O.G. That ain’t how G’s move. I wanted to [release the song] for the culture of hip-hop as opposed to myself.”
Kendrick called in to Rosenburg at Hot 97 a few weeks after the verse was released.
“A the end of the day, if you listen to the line, I feel like these are cats that can inspire the game. They aspire to be the best just how I feel. I aspire to be the best. If they’re competitive and respect the culture of hip-hop, I don’t feel there should some ill-feel.”
As the years went on, Sean would go on to say that his verse was better than Kendrick’s. “I put that work in,” Sean told The Breakfast Club. “You not gonna disrespect me. I’ll hop on any track with anybody, and I will not only stand on my own but you’re gonna know that it’s my verse.”
Sean would go on to say that the song didn’t fit what he was trying to do for the album anyway, so it all worked out. The song would then go on to shift the energy of the culture — in a competitive way. There was always tension that would listeners would try to figure out between Sean and Kendrick, but Sean would go on to deny any beef between the two.
Big Sean‘s grandmother Mildred Virginia Leonard, was born in Detroit and she was one of the first African-American female captains in the U.S. Army and she later became one of the few black female police officers in the city of Detroit.
He revealed his grandmother’s accomplishments during a 2015 interview with NY Post saying “All my life, I grew up hearing about the things she had done.” He dedicated his song “One Man Can Change the World” off his album 2015 album Dark Sky Paradise to his grandmother Mildred V. Leonard. At a listening session, he cried saying “She deserved that song.”
Big Sean’s grandmother passed away in December 2014 and he made an Instagram post with the caption: “My grandma passed away a couple days ago. I haven’t said anything to anyone because honestly I feel like she’s still here. I definitely can feel her consciousness. Im having a hard time accepting her death, but I must acknowledge my grandma’s life, a true hero. She was a black female Captain in World War 2 (one of the 1st), got her degree at West Virginia State University, and her Masters degree at U of M.After school she became a police officer in Detroit, which at the time was very rare for women to be officers in Detroit. Then she became a caring teacher and counselor. She was the best grandma anyone could ever ask for. From the Sunday Dinners, home cooked meals, and how special she made us feel on our birthdays by baking us the cakes we loved most. She put her heart and more into anything she was involved in. She gave as much as she could to her family and the world! She completely made something out of nothing.When I was growing up, there were people interviewing my grandma about her life because she’s done and seen so many amazing things. She supported me so much in every aspect and part of my life, even when I went against what was becoming traditional in our family, and didn’t go to college to pursue music. She made a better life for me and the rest of my family, and I will forever be grateful I got to know and be loved by such an amazing woman! I’m so proud of her. She was truly a treasure to this world and everyone she came in contact with. She’s the reason why I’m so passionate about giving back. Her spirit will live through her family. We miss and love u so much Grandma!“
Big Sean became the first rapper to rap at the White House on April 21, 2014, during Easter weekend, when he joined Ariana Grande for the 2014 Easter Egg Roll on The White House lawn performing their collab, “Right There.” Big Sean’s rap performance marked the first hip-hop performance in White House history but he was not the first rapper to visit.
After Big Sean’s performance, more rappers have performed at the White House; Wale performed two songs in the White House prior to President Obama’s final State of the Address and MC Lyte performed at the 50th anniversary of the legislation that created the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts in the White House.
Plenty of rappers like Chance the Rapper, Run-DMC, N.W.A, J. Cole, Pusha-T, and more, have been to the White House and Former President Barack Obama has also personally invited many hip-hop artists to the White House.
Big Sean is celebrating his birthday the right way, making the big announcement of his forthcoming album ‘Detroit 2.’
‘Detroit 2’ will serve as a follow-up to his fan-favorite mixtape ‘Detroit.’ As a gift to himself and his fans, Big Sean broke the news of his new album ‘Detroit 2’ by way of an Instagram trailer.
Fans have patiently waited for the highly-anticipated news since last summer. Big Sean dropped a few loose singles last year like “Berzerk,” “Overtime” and “Single Again” but nothing ever came of them. Now fans have a new album to look forward after a 3-year hiatus since his last album release ‘I Decided.’
Big Sean featured Jhené Aiko on “Single Again” and now Jhené features Big Sean on “None of Your Concern.”
As the track plays, it feels like the second coming of “Single Again,” just slowed down bpm. Is this leading up to Twenty88’s album? Is this song for Jhené’s album? Hopefully, more details will spew out.
