Big Sean – The Detroit MC Taking Over Mainstream Rap
Introduction to Big Sean
Big Sean is an acclaimed American rapper and singer known for a litany of RIAA-certified hits spanning over a decade. Hailing from Detroit, Michigan – Big Sean caught an early break getting discovered by Kanye West before exploding commercially thanks to melodic bangers like “My Last”, “Marvin Gaye & Chardonnay” plus “Beware”. Now one of hip hop’s most omnipresent voices across pop culture, Big Sean’s versatile style and crossover appeal solidify his brand transitioning smoothly from mixtape darling into digital streaming titan celebrated equally from radio programmers to tastemaker blogs worldwide.
Upbringing in Motor City Detroit
Born Sean Michael Leonard Anderson on March 25, 1988 – Big Sean grew up in Detroit’s lower middle-class neighborhoods. His parents divorced early as Sean regularly bounced between mom’s house struggling financially and dad’s comfortable suburban residence comparatively. These contrasting childhood dynamics shaped Big Sean’s adaptable mindset and work ethic tremendously according to later interviews.
Sean discovered music through his father’s soul, funk and hip hop record collection originally. Detroit icons like Eminem, Royce Da 5’9” and Slum Village also heavily inspired him writing raps during high school as an outlet questioning larger purpose beyond oppressive street hustles he saw friends falling victim towards frequently. Winning a local radio station talent contest led to Big Sean boldly approaching Kanye West’s visiting entourage at a local radio station eventually – setting epic career wheels in motion years thereafter.
Getting Signed to G.O.O.D Music & Rise to Fame
After brazenly rapping for Kanye West personally around 2005, Sean’s precocious fearlessness earned Ye’s manager’s business card for staying in touch. What followed became a 3 year mission tirelessly working towards a guest verse onto Kanye’s 2008 album amidst college struggles continuing locally in Detroit.
Big Sean’s persistence finally prevailed though after his breakout mixtape Finally Famous Vol 3: BIG captured Kanye’s ear directly through ingenious remixing of West’s own “Good Morning” smash. Thoroughly impressed beyond Sean’s confidence alone, Kanye signed Big Sean officially by late 2007 – later crowning him among the first acts recruited for G.O.O.D Music imprint eventually housing John Legend, Pusha T, 2 Chainz and others.
After mixtape trilogy Finally Famous stoked buzz considerably, Big Sean dropped studio debut Finally Famous in 2011 through Kanye’s stewardship. Fueled by undeniable bangers like “My Last” and “Marvin Gaye & Chardonnay”, the album moved nearly 500K copies as Sean successfully embedded himself commercially into mainstream pop rap stratosphere for the next decade-plus.
Album Discography & Notable Songs
Beyond a BET Award winning debut, Big Sean discography expanded to mid-2010s heights many peers envied mightily. Sophomore album Hall of Fame elevated Sean’s profile further in 2013 thanks to megahit “Beware” reaching #11 on Billboard charts and follow-up Dark Sky Paradise shooting #1 behind beloved bangers “I Don’t Fuck With You”, “Paradise” and “Blessings” containing absolute fire from Drake.
During these years, Sean also dropped two retail mixtape/EP projects Detroit plus Twenty88 alongside girlfriend Jhené Aiko previewing versatility many peers lacked. Epic 2017 LP I Decided kept momentum thriving thanks to 4x platinum “Bounce Back” and subtle personal/artistic growth displayed on compelling deep cuts.
After 2018 effort Double or Nothing with producer Metro Boomin, Big Sean seemed determined further perfecting album construction and thematic execution on impressive 2020 concept album Detroit 2 – succeeding massively both critically and commercially via bubbling singles “Wolves” ft Post Malone and “Deep Reverance” exposing lifelong vulnerabilities.
As of 2023 amidst recording next LP What You Expect, Big Sean’s catalog brims with radio staples and streaming hits thanks to insatiable knack crafting sticky choruses and slick quotable verses fans admire mightily. From RIAA certifications to billions of streams and views – at just 34 years old Sean’s stats already approach rarified rap air reserved for icons.
Style, Influences & Musical Legacy
As a versatile MC with equal capabilities destroying punchline heavy freestyles or crafting arena sized anthems layered subtly, Big Sean’s talents accommodated nearly any beat styles thrown his way since Kanye West first took interest back around 2005. With nimble flows, pop culture centric bars and natural charismatic presence – songs like “Blessings”, “My Last” or “Marvin Gaye & Chardonnay” highlighted instinctive mainstream appeal separating Big Sean from regional stars unable connecting globally.
In terms of direct influences, Big Sean regularly cites fellow Detroit titans like J Dilla or Eminem before name-checking previous legends Tupac Shakur, The Notorious B.I.G, Jay-Z and Andre 3000 as pivotal inspirations growing up. By injecting their teachings plus studious examination what modern listeners craved into own hit making formula, Big Sean emerged during blog era mixtape hype commanding multi-Platinum status still today as streaming metrics expanded hip hop’s actual reach further.
For these reasons and masterful showmanship honed through years intense touring – Big Sean’s eventual musical legacy seems destined for “Hall of Fame” status down road as new rap fans discover his decade-plus of Bhillboard smashes and beloved deep album cuts.
Collaborations & Features Over the Years
Between flagship singles off his own blockbuster LPs or scene stealing verses as coveted featured artist, Big Sean built immensely respected reputation for delivering enticing guest verses elevating almost any song since his national debut. On top of legendary tracks next to mentor Kanye West, Big Sean collab highlights include:
- “Blessings” (with Drake & Kanye West)
- “My Last” (with Chris Brown)
- “All Your Fault” (with Kanye West)
- “On Everything” (with DJ Khaled, Travis Scott, Chris Brown)
- “Right Now” (with Ty Dolla $ign)
Riding early mixtape buzz in Detroit/Midwest scenes initially, Big Sean secured pivotal looks from regional stars like Currensy to Wiz Khalifa beforeucked by then-buzzing Drake and Kanye West. Soon as the blogs/charts validated his solo strides though, practically every pop/rap contemporary began recruiting Big Sean’s talents realizing his Midas touch making hits transferring onto their own singles seamlessly.
Everyone from Justin Bieber, Pharrell, Calvin Harris, Katy Perry, Mike Posner to Miguel tapped Big Sean’s killer pen game elevating smash after smash since the early 2010s. Factor those monster collaborations atop previous Door features alongside rap juggernauts like Eminem, Lil Wayne, J. Cole, DJ Khaled or Kendrick Lamar and the evidence cements Big Sean as a universally respected hitmaker in hip hop holding creative “GOAT” potential if his winning streak persists moving forward.
Relationships & Personal Life Off Stage
Regarding public personal life early on, Big Sean has past ties dating pop singers Rita Ora, Naya Rivera and Ariana Grande for various durations. However surrounding third LP Dark Sky Paradise in 2014, romantically Sean got involved with singer/rapper Jhené Aiko – even releasing 2016 joint album Twenty88 under shared moniker.
Regrettably that relationship ended somewhat publicly after several years prompting Internet gossip blog fodder. Yet both artists deftly sidestepped messy fallouts or excuses by simply stating they’re focused re-centering creative passions individually for the interim.
Since splitting from Jhené Aiko, Big Sean has avoided high profile relationships or oversharing personal vulnerabilities beyond the occasional cryptic Instagram caption that fans inevitably dissect seeking clues into his state of mind. Lyrically though starting on LP I Decided through compelling 2020 album Detroit 2, Big Sean has grown substantially more comfortable exposing insecurities and innermost feelings engulfed previously – making his music resonate deeply through openness and humility rarely associated with mainstream rap historically.
Big Sean’s Estimated Net Worth
Commercially, Big Sean discs and singles sales exceeded collectively over 25 million units for RIAA since 2011 debut album Finally Famous. Including lucrative headlining tours, endorsements plus entrepreneur endeavors like clothing line Aura Gold – most industry pundits estimate Big Sean’s current net worth somewhere between $26 to $30 million as of late 2022.
At just 34 years old with presumably another decade (or more) dominating airwaves and streaming charts conceivably, his eventual career earnings could certainly double if not triple beyond $70-100M eventually as music/fashion revenue sources compound. Especially once foraying into acting or business ownership on larger scales, Big Sean should feel quite proud witnessing current agent portfolios appreciating so tremendously already.
Official Big Sean Website & Social Media
Top 5 Big Sean Songs by Streams
Boosted massively by the streaming boom launching as Big Sean entered his commercial prime, various singles and featured verses now tally streams numbering in billions across all digital platforms. His current most streamed songs (via Spotify metrics) include:
- “My Last” ft Chris Brown – 284M+
- “Bounce Back” – 279M+
- “I Don’t Fuck With You” ft E-40 – 218M+
- “Blessings” ft Drake/Kanye West – 217M+
- “Mercy” (with Kanye West, Pusha T) – 202M+
Top 5 Big Sean FAQs
Understandably with immense fame and notoriety spanning 10+ years dominating rap alongside mentor Kanye West, some questions commonly arise for newcomer fans curious learning more context about Big Sean’s overall journey and career since Detroit beginnings:
Q: Is Big Sean signed to G.O.O.D Music still?
A: Yes indeed! Although launching his own label ventures lately, Big Sean has remained signed to Kanye West’s G.O.O.D Music imprint (via Def Jam) throughout his entire recording career since getting discovered circa 2005.
Q: How tall is rapper Big Sean?
A: Estimates place Big Sean’s height around 5ft 8in – average for a male but perhaps misleading some originally expecting physical stature rivaling literal nicknamesake.
Q: What race is Big Sean?
A: Big Sean has described his ethnicity as a quarter black, a quarter Italian and half white mixture accordingly.
Q: Who shot Big Sean?
A: Thankfully just a dangerous rumor – Big Sean has never been shot or victim of any crime violence thus far (knock on wood). There was an April 2022 home burglary attempt while Sean was working in studio late though.
Q: Is Big Sean related to Sean Kingston?
A: Lol no pure coincidence with both first names. Big Sean is not actual family or blood related to reggae-pop hitmaker Sean Kingston despite similar stage names.
Conclusion
In closing, at just 33 years old, Big Sean has already logged a potential Hall of Fame career eclipsing nearly all 21st century rap peers beyond Drake or Kendrick Lamar. Between chart ubiquity, streaming omnipresence and esteemed lyricism earning reverence from influences and newcomers alike – clearly Big Sean’s blossoming trajectory shows zero signs slowing 13 years deep after getting discovered by icon Kanye West himself.
As collaborations and solo singles continue racking plaques and billions of plays still, its getting harder imagining mainstream rap sphere existing without Big Sean embedded firmly following additional accolades surely destined in next decade. Surely legends recognize future greatness unfolding – meaning everyone else ought pay just props towards Detroit prodigy cementing icon status right before our eyes. Stay tuned…