The term underrated is an underestimation of Detroit’s rapper and fellow G.O.O.D. Label mate, Big Sean. Born as Sean Michael Leonard Anderson, Big Sean has been rapping consistently ever since high school. Skip a little years, Big Sean signed to G.O.O.D. Label with Kanye West after one freestyle. After much deliberated hype, Sean finally put out his much hyped mixtape after signing with Kanye, Finally Famous Volume 1: The Mixtape. It was a subpar album. He had a decent flow, catchy delivery, and unforgettable punch lines.
Skip a few more years, Sean releases Finally Famous Volume 2: UKNOWBIGSEAN. In this mixtape, any critic can recognize Sean’s improvements. His flow was becoming smoother, his deliveries actually had personality to them, and his punch lines were more clevar. Now fast forward to recent times-Sean drops his much anticipated Finally Famous Volume 3: B.I.G. Hands down, this was Sean’s best mixtape when it came to flow, delivery, and punch lines. Everything seemed perfected and second nature to him. He was not trying to be someone else. He just spit his bars with ease. The only critique I can say for Finally Famous Volume 3 is that he had guest artists on it. I am a fan of having guest artists on mixtapes and albums because the features keep the album alive. It is not like someone is listening to one artist and brand throughout the whole album. However in this case, Sean should have done the mixtape all by himself with no features. That’s how good he was on Finally Famous 3.
With Big Sean, any critic can take the time to appreciate how he matured as an artist. They can notice how Finally Famous 3 had more depth than his previous two mixtapes. They can notice how Finally Famous 3 was not only about the generic material things, but how Sean covered his lifestyle, emotions, and etc. To give credit when it is due is right. Deservedly, Wiz Khalifa and Drake deserve all the credit they have gotten off their success, but Sean deserves his share as well. If it was not for Sean, Drake definitely would have had the weakest verse on Forever next to Kanye West and Eminem. When someone associates the flow that Drake used on Forever, he or she always associates it with Drake even though Drake paid homage to Sean for he was the one who invented it on Finally Famous 2. When it comes to the Drake bandwagon, I have been on it ever since Comeback Season. When it comes to the Wiz Khalifa bandwagon, I have been on it ever since Prince of the City 2. Wiz Khalifa is still and always will be my favorite artist ever since he dropped Flight School but talent wise, Big Sean is way more cleaver and wittier than Wiz Khalifa including Drake.
Why Kanye has not urged the labels to push Sean’s album to the market quicker, it makes no sense. Sean has the talent and star power to go big, how ironic (pause). The label needs to stop pushing Consequence and Fonzworth Bentley’s album because it seems like they keep flopping, and they need to give Sean a chance. All in all, if credit should be given when it’s due, why isn’t Big Sean getting any? If you’re one of those people who do not like to listen to a whole cd of one person, listen to a Big Sean feature of Wiz Khalifa, Drake, and especially Kanye West GOOD Friday’s features, and then answer who had the best verse.
Skip a few more years, Sean releases Finally Famous Volume 2: UKNOWBIGSEAN. In this mixtape, any critic can recognize Sean’s improvements. His flow was becoming smoother, his deliveries actually had personality to them, and his punch lines were more clevar. Now fast forward to recent times-Sean drops his much anticipated Finally Famous Volume 3: B.I.G. Hands down, this was Sean’s best mixtape when it came to flow, delivery, and punch lines. Everything seemed perfected and second nature to him. He was not trying to be someone else. He just spit his bars with ease. The only critique I can say for Finally Famous Volume 3 is that he had guest artists on it. I am a fan of having guest artists on mixtapes and albums because the features keep the album alive. It is not like someone is listening to one artist and brand throughout the whole album. However in this case, Sean should have done the mixtape all by himself with no features. That’s how good he was on Finally Famous 3.
With Big Sean, any critic can take the time to appreciate how he matured as an artist. They can notice how Finally Famous 3 had more depth than his previous two mixtapes. They can notice how Finally Famous 3 was not only about the generic material things, but how Sean covered his lifestyle, emotions, and etc. To give credit when it is due is right. Deservedly, Wiz Khalifa and Drake deserve all the credit they have gotten off their success, but Sean deserves his share as well. If it was not for Sean, Drake definitely would have had the weakest verse on Forever next to Kanye West and Eminem. When someone associates the flow that Drake used on Forever, he or she always associates it with Drake even though Drake paid homage to Sean for he was the one who invented it on Finally Famous 2. When it comes to the Drake bandwagon, I have been on it ever since Comeback Season. When it comes to the Wiz Khalifa bandwagon, I have been on it ever since Prince of the City 2. Wiz Khalifa is still and always will be my favorite artist ever since he dropped Flight School but talent wise, Big Sean is way more cleaver and wittier than Wiz Khalifa including Drake.
Why Kanye has not urged the labels to push Sean’s album to the market quicker, it makes no sense. Sean has the talent and star power to go big, how ironic (pause). The label needs to stop pushing Consequence and Fonzworth Bentley’s album because it seems like they keep flopping, and they need to give Sean a chance. All in all, if credit should be given when it’s due, why isn’t Big Sean getting any? If you’re one of those people who do not like to listen to a whole cd of one person, listen to a Big Sean feature of Wiz Khalifa, Drake, and especially Kanye West GOOD Friday’s features, and then answer who had the best verse.
Download finally famous 3 (tagless) here.
I know I'm gonna sound lazy, but can one of you dudes post up the mixtapes to download or samples of the songs that are mentions above???
ReplyDeleteThere you go, you lo life.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to the article-good recap of Sean's career, he should be paying you for quality PR such as this.
With that said, I think Big Sean is a high quality artist with almost just as much potential as Drake in the mainstream (I say almost because he doesn't sing and isn't gonna break into that 13-18 year old teen heartthrob market). As you chronicled, he has been maturing and developing from someone that just spits a clever 16 to being able to make full songs. Also agree that GOOD Music is wasting money by pushing Consequence-he's not as fresh (read, popular with the kids) and at this point does not have as much potential to garner album and ticket sales.
With that said, I'm dreadful that Kanye may fall into the same "cliche head honcho who strengthens his roster with quality artists but never drops them" role...he seems to be focused on his next album already, on top of putting out a joint album with Jay Z. Mind you, the GOOD Music album was supposed to drop last September, then it got pushed back to December, and now no one even seems to remember it anymore. So, if the whole roster is getting neglected, Big Sean should unfortunately will receive the same treatment.
So much of cracking into the mainstream has to do with perfect timing just as much (and if not more) as talent. Drake had the perfect timing-the label saw his gigantic buzz from a mixtape and capitalized quickly with endorsement deals and putting out an album. The album's release coincided with Weezy F Baby (F is for felony) being incarcerated, so the machine put all of its strength behind Drake (pause).
In conclusion, Big Sean has all the talent in the world but his situation is not favoring him currently.
btw, "with that said" was said repeatedly because it's a curb your enthusiasm reference.
ReplyDeleteKeep bringing the news on the music scene, it's much needed.
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting the Vid you Heat lover!