Big Sean is Finally Famous...boiiiii
By Cash
Being from Detroit, I was excited for the album release from a hometown kid. Sean shows a mature sound and style throughout the album with many of the songs focusing on his new found fame and fortune. He has dreams of being the greatest, and with the backing of mentor Kanye West, it appears possible:
With rhymes and samples reminiscent of ‘Ye and most of the album produced by No I.D, Big Sean appears to be in the game for the long haul. It is very early in his career and Sean already has heavy hitters on the track such as Pharrell, John Legend, and Lupe Fiasco. Representing G.O.O.D. Music and Detroit throughout the album, the fourth installment of the Finally Famous series is definitely the best.
1) Intro
Sean uses the beat from the original “Memories” track to introduce the album. Coming in at just over 16 bars, this is what an introduction is meant to be. He represents his hometown, Detroit, with some clever wordplay:
I put the city on my back
So that way if I fall
I’m crowd surfing the map
And he ends it by inviting the listener to get in on the journey of his life. He is simply stating that he will be fulfilling his G.O.O.D. Music duty by getting out his dreams. It is simple, straight to the point, and has a few great rhymes.
2) I Do It
Finally. Sean tells us what he means by his infamous adlib, and turns out it is pretty straight forward: he fucks hoes. “I Do It” is Sean’s second single for the album, and one of my least favorite tracks. Sean’s constant “boi”-ing in the background got to me. But i guess every great hip hop album needs a track or two completely devoted to sex.
I know what you’re saying, “This song sucks! I hear it on the radio all the time. It is so annoying…” Well you are correct, kind of. It is on the radio all the time (that is how a lead single on an album works, especially one with Chris Brown), but it isn’t that terrible. New, hardass, blond-haired Chris Brown is infectious on the hook, and Sean gives a fresh take on the only subject that seem to make it on the radio: partying. He clearly has many nights ahead of him, but “My Last” is Sean’s way of flexing his muscles. He is showing listeners that he made it and has worked to hard to be ballin' on a budget.
4) Don’t Tell Me You Love You
The fourth track is a nice change for Sean. His angry side comes out. He hates to love his girl, and he can’t get away from her. This song takes the listener deeper into Sean’s life, past all the patron and partying. It’s nice to see Big’s heartfelt, emotional side come out.
5) Wait For Me
With a guest verse from the Proust of Rap, Big Sean and Lupe Fiasco do their best to plead their case to get a girl back. Personally, this is one of my favorite tracks on the album because the upbeat piano-based instrumental works very well with the vocals of Sean and Lupe. Lupe displays is mastery of wordplay (obviously), and Sean has a few of his own puns to round out an excellent track.
6) Marvin Gaye and Chardonnay
Rumored to be the album’s third single, Sean teams up with his mentor, Mr. Kanye West, and Roscoe Dash. The men show off their understanding of the power of alcohol and the baby-making music of the late Marvin Gaye. I was not fond of this song initially, but after I listened to it a few times, I really began to enjoy it. This song is a jam, mainly because of Roscoe Dash on the hook. Sean and ‘Ye spit some good verses about fucking, but Roscoe gives it energy (reminiscent of “No Hands”). I just want to know how such a hype song can be inspired by white wine and the Prince of Soul.
7) Dance (A$$)
Sean doesn’t go too deep on this track, it’s simply all about the ass. The only thing saving this track, filled with a repetition of the word “ass”, from wackness is a sample of U Can’t Touch This by MC Hammer. Not my favorite song, but a really catchy beat nonetheless.
8) Get It (DT)
Sean collaborated with Pharrell and The Neptunes on this track. With Pharrell on the hook, Sean’s Donald Trump dreams are better than Mac Miller’s (sorry Mac, it’s tough to beat Skateboard P). Sean sounds inspired on the track, (Pharrell seems to do that to people) stating that he wants to be “the greatest of all Bigs, greatest of all Seans”. With ‘Ye as a mentor, it looks like Sean is setting himself up pretty well to “get it.”.
9) Memories (Part II)
When I saw “Memories” on the track list and saw a (Part II) next to it, I expected a few new verses on a remastered version of Part I. I felt a little let down when I heard the same two verses (and a new third one) over a new beat. Though the track focuses on the past, Sean does discuss his future with one of the best lines of the album:
I swear I’ve been through everything in life but a coffin
They say sky’s the limit, how bitch? I’m moonwalking!
With the addition of John Legend on the hook, this track is leagues above the first take.
10) High
Last time Big Sean worked with Chiddy Bang, it resulted in “Too Fake”, one of my favorite songs in a long time, so when I saw Wiz Khalifa and Chiddy on this Xaphoon Jones produced track, I expected big things. And they all came through on one of the best songs on the album. Of course the song is called “High,” do you think Wiz, the official rapper of kush marijuana, would rap about anything else? The electronic beat that Xaphoon is notorious for makes this song a banger even though the guys are too high to remember anything.
11) Live This Life
Big Sean describes the “Finally Famous” lifestyle with a little help from The-Dream. Though he does describe a lavish life, he admits it comes with negatives too:
Stress turned me into a weed-head
And parties into an alcoholic
And money turned me into a workaholic
I’m not sure a large excess of money, booze, and weed is a real problem though. Another solid track from the kid who calls himself a young Tupac.
12) So Much More
On the last track of the regular version of the album, Sean represents his hometown throughout. “So Much More” has some of Sean’s finest rhymes, and even eight bars that he calls verse of the year:
Man, I wake up to a wet dream
Every day’s a Friday and every night’s a sex scene
Every week is Fashion Week and every day I’m pressed clean
Detroit’s angel, I even got red wings
Headed to the ball, me and three prom queens
It’s prom night, and guess who’s the prom king?
They having a kissing fight and I’m Don King
Everybody know I’m coming soon like Lebron’s ring
Lebron didn’t quite get his ring this year, but by the fire Sean spit on this song, it looks like he is here, and here to stay.
13) What Goes Around
The first bonus song on the deluxe edition of the album was also released on itunes as a promotional single. While this is Sean’s shout out to karma and a way of telling his ex-girls (both of them) “told ya, bitch,”, it is also a toast to his Finally Famous lifestyle. Overall, one of Sean’s better tracks, I’m just confused as to why it isn’t on the normal version of the album.
14) Celebrity
Sean describes his love for the celebrity life. over yet another No I.D. produced beat. Dwele sings backup vocals in his signature high-pitched tone, while Big Sean puts down quite a few good rhymes, including a few great homophone rhymes:
Jewelry all gold call me C3PO
Smoke so much, I gotta see 3PO
Cause I’m worldwide tour with me and my nigga Zeno
Most comfortable behind the mics like T.O
So I hate to lose my Mike like Tito
Sean uses great wordplay to not so concisely say that he loves being rich. Similar to his buddy Kanye West, eh?
15) My House
Yet another track that Sean spends talking about his riches, but his time around he focuses on his house. With an annoying chorus focused around a strange pronunciation of the word “shit” and two mediocre verses, this is not one of Sean’s better tracks on the album.
16) 100 Keys
On the last track of the deluxe edition, Big brings in Pusha T and Rick Ross for a little Cocaine Music. Sean shows off his ability to rap about the white stuff with some clever wordplay:
Cause everybody knows keys open doors, but bricks open windows
Ross and Pusha help make this song a jam, but hearing a cocaine flow from Big Sean is a little weird; he just seems out of place. It’s more natural hearing Sean with people like Wiz and Chiddy, talking about the greenery.
Sean’s wordplay and flow are refined far beyond his years, and this album confirms that he should be in the game for years to come. He calls himeself Detroit’s angel, and he is exactly what the struggling city needs. He loves Detroit and expresses it frequently; he is a success story coming from a town that has begun to forget what success means. Sean has done all the right things to make a very solid first album. He worked hard to get here and truly is finally famous..
Lyrics to all of Finally Famous explained:
