I Decided
Big Sean wrote this for college
students like me and probably you if you're reading this because who else cares
about rap music. This album is made up of easily forgettable songs that
probably will never see any radio air time except for a few flame songs but
luckily for Sean that’s not why this album matters. This album is a ‘I made it
to the top, let me see how far I’ve come’ kind of thing. Similar to Chance the Rapper’s
“Coloring Book”, Big Sean is reflecting on his path to success. These kind of
albums are great because you get a glimpse into the real life of rappers, the
fake front of “murdering gangsters” and “slaying hoes” comes down and their
soft fuzzy underside shows.
Even though Big Sean knows he’s on top this is definitely not a happy look on his path to getting there. In order to get where he is Sean has had to neglect a lot of important things in his life to get there, mostly his mom and loved ones. This is the biggest message Sean stresses in the album and also in interviews, he tells how his mom always had his back along the way to the top but he’s been selfish and hasn’t given enough back to her. The songs don’t speak much to you but at the end of the songs there are short sound bites from phone calls that really tug on your heart strings. This is a really unique way to include an underlying message into an album without affecting the music of the album. Sean left himself room to be as creative as he wanted to be the music but still hold the message he wanted to give to his audience. Hearing Big Sean talk to his mom and tell her he wishes he could’ve spent more time with her makes you want to call your mom right away. Just as you’re ready to call your mom and move back home because you miss her so much the next song comes on and it’s a banger.
The album has a good mix of storytelling songs and songs that you want to scream along to while you’re driving to the gym. Sean knew he couldn’t be all ooey gooey so he brought on rappers like Eminem and Migos to breathe life into this album. The balance between the two types of songs on this album is flawless, even though the two are so different. The songs with Eminem and Migos appeal to people who maybe arent as big of Big Sean and just want to hear good music, the other songs appeal to the people who appreciate hip hop and the meanings Big Sean puts into his songs. The first time you listen to this album try not to fall asleep because it kind of sucks and drags on. Once you understand that this is a slow meaningful album you can get into it and enjoy it.
The first time you listen to it you don’t pick up on the messages and the story behind the album but after you’ve heard it once or twice the meaning reveals itself and you feel connected to it. Big Sean’s other big purpose for this album is to talk about failure and how you can learn from it and do better the next time, I guess that why he named a song “Bounce Back.” In the album and interviews Sean talks about his hardships getting to the top and it is very relatable to anybody because nobody gets what they want out of life without failing a couple times first. This album honestly is great when you’re lying in bed hungover at 9:50 and have a class at 10:05, it gives you enough motivation to get up and seize the day even though you hate life. For college kids this album is great, it helps put everything into perspective sometimes you get too caught up in your life and think that all that matters is what’s going on here and now, but Big Sean is here to tell you otherwise. Take a breath buttercup you’re not that important, life can get overwhelming but meaningful albums like this help you get through it. Plenty of albums teach lessons or tell stories but for me and our generation I think this can be a perfect example of how music can do that. Sadly, this album will be greatly overlooked because looking at it song by song it sucks pretty hard but all together it is meaningful and impactful. Big Sean took an album and created a story in a way that I have never experienced before.
Although i've critiqued the hell out of Sean's work and said all the bad things about his album overall it was a very good album that deserves a lot of praise. Songs like Bounce Back will endure the test of time and stand as a testimonial to the work he put in. Not only will the song Bounce Back hold up, the rest of the album will be noted as an album that influenced rap and the culture surrounding it. Keep it up Big Sean you're the man.
Even though Big Sean knows he’s on top this is definitely not a happy look on his path to getting there. In order to get where he is Sean has had to neglect a lot of important things in his life to get there, mostly his mom and loved ones. This is the biggest message Sean stresses in the album and also in interviews, he tells how his mom always had his back along the way to the top but he’s been selfish and hasn’t given enough back to her. The songs don’t speak much to you but at the end of the songs there are short sound bites from phone calls that really tug on your heart strings. This is a really unique way to include an underlying message into an album without affecting the music of the album. Sean left himself room to be as creative as he wanted to be the music but still hold the message he wanted to give to his audience. Hearing Big Sean talk to his mom and tell her he wishes he could’ve spent more time with her makes you want to call your mom right away. Just as you’re ready to call your mom and move back home because you miss her so much the next song comes on and it’s a banger.
The album has a good mix of storytelling songs and songs that you want to scream along to while you’re driving to the gym. Sean knew he couldn’t be all ooey gooey so he brought on rappers like Eminem and Migos to breathe life into this album. The balance between the two types of songs on this album is flawless, even though the two are so different. The songs with Eminem and Migos appeal to people who maybe arent as big of Big Sean and just want to hear good music, the other songs appeal to the people who appreciate hip hop and the meanings Big Sean puts into his songs. The first time you listen to this album try not to fall asleep because it kind of sucks and drags on. Once you understand that this is a slow meaningful album you can get into it and enjoy it.
The first time you listen to it you don’t pick up on the messages and the story behind the album but after you’ve heard it once or twice the meaning reveals itself and you feel connected to it. Big Sean’s other big purpose for this album is to talk about failure and how you can learn from it and do better the next time, I guess that why he named a song “Bounce Back.” In the album and interviews Sean talks about his hardships getting to the top and it is very relatable to anybody because nobody gets what they want out of life without failing a couple times first. This album honestly is great when you’re lying in bed hungover at 9:50 and have a class at 10:05, it gives you enough motivation to get up and seize the day even though you hate life. For college kids this album is great, it helps put everything into perspective sometimes you get too caught up in your life and think that all that matters is what’s going on here and now, but Big Sean is here to tell you otherwise. Take a breath buttercup you’re not that important, life can get overwhelming but meaningful albums like this help you get through it. Plenty of albums teach lessons or tell stories but for me and our generation I think this can be a perfect example of how music can do that. Sadly, this album will be greatly overlooked because looking at it song by song it sucks pretty hard but all together it is meaningful and impactful. Big Sean took an album and created a story in a way that I have never experienced before.
Although i've critiqued the hell out of Sean's work and said all the bad things about his album overall it was a very good album that deserves a lot of praise. Songs like Bounce Back will endure the test of time and stand as a testimonial to the work he put in. Not only will the song Bounce Back hold up, the rest of the album will be noted as an album that influenced rap and the culture surrounding it. Keep it up Big Sean you're the man.
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