Sean Michael Anderson, now better known as Big Sean, received his first car at the age of 16 from his grandmother. He would drive to the WHTD radio station every week to compete in weekly rap battles, which he won handily. One day the living legend Kanye West was visiting the station for an interview, when Sean snuck into the back office and started spitting for him. Kanye allotted the teenager 16 bars, but Sean wound up rapping for well over ten minutes.
Those ten minutes led to a deal with West’s GOOD Music record label, four professional mixtapes, and three studio albums. Big Sean has become Detroit’s hip-hop ambassador du jour, but there’s no way he’s going to let that get to his head. We’ve already heard his Kanye/Drake collaboration “Blessings,” a “bona fide banger” that is both humble and pompous. Now we’re being treated to three more selections from the upcoming full-length Dark Sky Paradise.
“Win Some, Lose Some” enlists the help of underground chanteuse Jhene Aiko, who lays down a silky hook to complement the track’s dark overture perfectly. Sean rides a skittish yet steady hi-hat for most of the song (courtesy of Boi-1da), which closes with a minute-long lecture from the artist’s father. The spoken word sample feels like a mission statement, affirming Big Sean’s message of integrity and modesty.
On “One Man Can Change the World,” the rapper opts for a more organic, piano-driven production. The track’s inspiring energy is further elevated by the presence of John Legend’s soulful voice and Kanye West’s earnest cooing. The song turns from positive to haunting, with Sean recounting the many struggles he’s encountered in his young life and paying tribute to his late grandmother, who passed away just months ago. With lines like “Standin’ next to Jim Carrey, we traded stories then laughed/ I said you not the only one I know got rich wearin’ masks,” it’s clear we can expect an even deeper look into the emcee’s psyche on his forthcoming album.
“All Your Fault” also features Kanye West along with in-house GOOD Music producer Travi$ Scott. This cut features Sean and ‘Ye trading verses over hard drums and an uplifting soul sample. The two rappers tackle the last verse together, trading bars a la Watch the Throne. As arguably the strongest track we’ve heard since “Blessings,” Dark Sky Paradise is shaping up to be the most impressive release of Big Sean’s career and one of the best hip-hop release this year.
Dark Sky Paradise is due out February 24 via GOOD Music and Def Jam Recordings. Listen to “Win Some, Lose Some,” “One Man Can Change the World,” and “All Your Fault” below: