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FFOE
As artists achieve, its common for them to lose their edge. Especially in hip-hop. So after stepping out of big brother Kanye Wests shadow last year, dropping a solid debut album, and putting a few solo hit records up on the board, one might assume that Big Sean is too busy shining off one of his several necklaces to worry about what a hater has to say. Wrong. He hears the whispers, and is aware of the critics who clown his beloved ad-libs (Boi and recent favorite, Swerve) and his colorful, ornate raps. Hes going to change their minds, too.
Im going to make people respect it, Sean said of his grind when Complex pulled him aside at G.O.O.D. Music's cover shoot a few weeks ago. Everybody whos not respecting it, theyre going to see. I know they hear me eating up these records. People talk shyt like I cant rap. Thats the dumbest thing Ive ever heard.
With hits like My Last and Dance (A$$) from his 2011 debut, Finally Famous, hes got proof. The coming months will likely provide even more. Hell be a key player on Kanyes G.O.O.D. Music compilation album, Cruel Summer. And Seans dropping his second album in the fall. While at the shoot, he talked about growing as artist under Kanyes tutelage, when we can expect the single from his sophomore set, and the Cruel Summer album.
Interview by Brad Wete (@BradWete)
Complex: Lets talk about the spirit of competition. Where will Cruel Summer rank amongst the great hip-hop compilation albums?
Big Sean: I just feel like we're the best. Ive heard a lot of the collaborations. Ive heard what people have been doing. Of course youre going to listen to it and try to make your music the best, so thats what weve been doingmaking our music the best it can be. The best quality, the best raps, the best concepts, and its going to be unique.
As a crew, G.O.O.D. Music is taking it to levels that really havent been done collectively. Kanye is someone who knows how to make classic albums, a true thinker. He got me in the mindset of being a true thinker and always planning out every move you got going.
Your crew isnt a conventional rap set.
There are a whole bunch of songs on the album that I wonder what the world is going to think, but it really dont matter. We like it. Thats all that matters. You do what you want to do and if you like it, you like it. If you dont, you keep hating. Were going to keep getting this paper. Were going to keep getting this money, keep buying my mama new stuff, keep sending her those spas because thats what lifes about.
Whats it like to be around great talents all the time and not always be the top dog?
Its cool being around my fam, my crew. Everybody got different personalities. Everybody brings something different to the table. Me being from Detroit, I just bring that player aspect. That Detroit player. I always come up with new words, new ad-libs, that swerve or, you know, Oh, God or that SMDTMD [Suck my through my draws]. Its all fun. It just makes you a better artist when youre with people who are great artists themselves. Being around Kanye, soaking up all the knowledge, all the stuff he got. Pusha, Teyana, everybody do their thing. I cant even complain. Its a blessing to be a part of a group like that.
Is it true that your "Mercy" verse started out as a random freestyle for Kanye?
Yeah, I was really freestyling with Kanye backstage at the Watch the Throne tour and he was like, Man, you got to say this on the record. I was like, Man, I aint about to say that. I just put out A$$. I dont need to be talking about no ass-quake, ass-tate. But I just laid it to see how it sounded and then for a while, there were no other verses on Mercy.
It was just my verse and we were vibing to it, so it naturally fit on there. I dont really write any of my raps down. The same, Kanye dont write any of his raps down. Common. Its easy that way. For me, personally, I figure I will lose some of the inspiration in the time of me writing it down or Ill say it a certain way because I wrote it a certain way. When I go in there and do it, its easier for me.
It must be hard keeping all the ideas in your head. Do you have an iPhone full of recorded ideas?
Yeah, I record on voice memos. I got like 1000 something memos. If Im in the middle of something and I cant get it done, Ill jot it down, but I never write a rap out, ever.
Where did you Swerve ad-lib come from? Thats a fan favorite now.
I just feel like thats what Im doing. Im swerving around. Especially in the D-Town with whips everywhere in the city. Thats something my crew was saying a long time ago. I guess its something I brought to the forefront to where everybody can hear it. Thats what its all about, making new stuff up, making this elevated.
A lot of people criticize me because I be making up my own words sometimes in raps to rhyme, but I dont understand how you can criticize someone trying to bring originality to the game. I think thats really bytch-made to hate on somebody who rose up out their city and had a dream and made it happen and made their parents proud and supporting their family off of it too. You can hate, but Im going to keep making this paper, though.
When artists get signed by huge talent like Kanye, they sometimes get stuck in that dilemma of always being the little brother. Were you happy that your biggest hit, A$$, wasnt one that Kanye jumped on produced?
Coming up, I used to always want Kanye to be more involved. I cant even say I did it by myself, because I had people like No I.D. that was there. I had other producers who were really there, too. Its all about finding your sound and finding your producers, finding someone to produce you and then just take it there yourself artistically. Im glad that Kanye didnt have to hold my hand through the entire process and Im just under him.
I feel like I stand on my own. I go, I shut down stuff myself. I shut down your Summer Jam, whatever shows around the world and its tight that I can do that on my own and I think that he respects that even more. Its a tight thing when you sit back and look at it and to think, a few years ago stuff was looking grim. Not knowing where to go with it. Not too many people believed. So to see how everything turned. Its a true blessing. I got my plaques on my wall at the crib and I look at them every morning. Its great.
Was that a conversation that you guys ever had to have where you as an artist were like, Kanye, for real, I need this help?
I used to be frustrated with Kanye all the time until I realized that he didnt sign me for me to be up under him. He signed me for me to be my own artist. I learned that in a way of putting out my own music, putting out my own mixtapes, which I still believe in, which I got plugged.
Thats when I figured I was moving on my own. I had my own movement. Everything I was doing was real. It was authentic. Its not like I was trying to come up with no gimmick. It was everything I believed in. It was all the music that was real to me, all the stuff Ive been through. I think thats the best way to do it. Like I said, he respects it.
Which rapper from G.O.O.D. is killing the raps on Cruel Summer the most?
Im giving them bars for sure. Pusha is like that beast that you let off the leash and he just tear everything up. CyHi. Common. Of course Ye always bring that fresh, new stuff to the game. The whole fam. True albums should be the soundtrack to your life and fit different moods.
What can we expect from Cruel Summer, topically?
I could tell you the topics were going to be hitting on, but I feel like thats going to be spoiling the album too much. What Im telling you is its going to be the freshest music out there. Its going to be topics we live to. I cant wait for yall to hear it. For real.
Whats the atmosphere like in the studio with all you guys? Pusha T said you all are night owls.
When Im in the studio, Im in there from like 3 p.m. until 5 a.m. Thats just how I work. Some people get in there, do their stuff, and get out. I like to get in there and even if Im not working on music, I like to listen to stuff, vibe, look at TV, in case I catch some inspiration. I know the Cruel Summer sessionsespecially the ones in London and the ones in NY and the ones in L.A.are probably the hardest Ive ever worked, and probably because I have a point to prove. A lot of the songs we did, I dont think even made the album.
Those are just extra songs you might hear on my album, maybe G.O.O.D. Fridays. I dont know whats going on, but I know I always work hard in the studio. Give it 110 percent. Its do or die. I was talking to one of my homies I grew up with, Ralph, and he called me. Hes in Tennessee now and has been one of my best friends since I was four year old. He was like, Yeah man, Im grinding. I got two jobs. Its do or die. He was like, Im just calling you remind you, youre doing well, but remember, its do or die. Im like, Man, youre super right. Its do or die everyday.
When you first started with Kanye, your skills were constantly being tested. Can you think of a time when he may have put you on the spot to perform or rap?
It used to be real nerve wracking to have Q-Tip around or Common and Kanye. I remember when we were in Japan and when Kanye first put me under his wing, he called Pharrell, he called the Teriyaki Boyz, and had a whole bunch of people over and was like, Alright, rap. It was one of the most nerve wracking things of my life. You dont get used to it but you step up to the plate and you got to remember why youre there.
Kanyes known for constantly critiquing and editing songs. Is it tough for you as a confident artist to take all his suggestions?
Im a confident artist. I wont say Im cocky. After I do a rap, and if it needs to be worked on, Ill listen to feedback. Im not the type to be tunnel visioning and not listen or look around to hear what anybody has to say. I always want to make it the best so Ill take any suggestions, even the people who arent even really into music or do music. Sometimes those are the people that have the best opinions. Its just like random girls or random people. I love valuing other peoples opinions but I do what I want to do when its all said and done.
You hit on an interesting point. Kanye has some interesting friends that fall through the studio sometimes. Who are some of the people youve bumped into while working with him?
You might see Kobe Bryant. I walked in the studio and saw Kobe Bryant in the corner just chilling. Ill be like, "Okay.
Whats your role in the Cruel Summer movie?
Im a young Denzel, so I could have had the lead role. [Laughs.] But we were just stealing cars, having fun. Cudi was the lead role in this one and he did a great job, too. Its fun and entertaining. Kanyes definitely going to be doing a lot more films, Im sure. Im glad hes pushing the society, to making movies to making music to showing what can be done. Hes expanding my imagination. Hes got me talking to producers in Hollywood like, Man, Im trying to make movies. He showed me it was possible and when I go back to the hood in the D, a lot of my old friends, my homies, theyll be like, You showed us it was all possible. Thats the most important part.
What can people expect from your upcoming sophomore album?
Well, we just got the first single. Im not going to tell you whos all on it. Dope ass artists on it, though, for sure. Its great. Its something that connects. When I was playing it for Common, he was losing his mind. J. Cole was blown away. It really is elevating, taking it to a different level. I dont even want to hype it up or talk too much like, Yeah, my album is the shyt! I just cant wait for everyone to hear what Ive been doing, what Ive been cooking up. Were figuring it all out. I dont know the title of the album. I know its coming out this year.
Is No I.D. playing a big role on this album like he did on your debut?
No I.D. is playing a role but the person who is playing one of the biggest roles is my new producer I signed myself, KeY Wane. He also did the Amen track for Meek Mill. He got stuff with Ye coming. He produced my first single thats about to come out of my album. KeY Wane is definitely an instrumental part. He kind of has like a vintage sound with a new spin on it, so Im excited to have him on the album. Of course, No I.D. is playing a big ass role in it with his beats, his input.
Thats the main thing I get from No I.D. Its not always just production, its his input a lot of times and thats a true producer. Thats the difference between a beat-maker and a producer. Young Chop is definitely on the album. Shout out to Young Chop from Chi-Town, bringing that new sound. Were just young guys with that new sound.
Over the years, Kanye has transitioned from being the producer who does the beat to more so an expert editor. Does anybody ever say we miss Kanye doing beats front to back?
As a fan, I want Kanye to make music from scratch. Im missing that like everybody else. Make more beats, Kanye! Hes doing what he do, though. He makes beats, though. Hes got a lot of tracks. To the world, it may look like hes been editing or co-producing a lot, but I feel like everything he does is elevated to another level whether its a co-production or whatever. I wish he would make more beats.
You give the best 'hood interview outros. Heres your chance for another.
Its Finally Famous over everything. G.O.O.D. Music! Act like you know. Shout out to my city one time. D-Town. West side. 6 Mile. 7 Mile. East side. I rep the D harder than anybody. Every day. Shout out to everybody holding it down. Shout out to everybody living their dreams, getting that paper. Anybody who turns their dreams into gold and everybody finally getting it. Shout out to your girlfriend, too. Shes a great one.
Interview: Big Sean Talks Second Album, "Cruel Summer," and Freestyling His "Mercy" Verse for Kanye | Complex
Im going to make people respect it, Sean said of his grind when Complex pulled him aside at G.O.O.D. Music's cover shoot a few weeks ago. Everybody whos not respecting it, theyre going to see. I know they hear me eating up these records. People talk shyt like I cant rap. Thats the dumbest thing Ive ever heard.
With hits like My Last and Dance (A$$) from his 2011 debut, Finally Famous, hes got proof. The coming months will likely provide even more. Hell be a key player on Kanyes G.O.O.D. Music compilation album, Cruel Summer. And Seans dropping his second album in the fall. While at the shoot, he talked about growing as artist under Kanyes tutelage, when we can expect the single from his sophomore set, and the Cruel Summer album.
Interview by Brad Wete (@BradWete)
Complex: Lets talk about the spirit of competition. Where will Cruel Summer rank amongst the great hip-hop compilation albums?
Big Sean: I just feel like we're the best. Ive heard a lot of the collaborations. Ive heard what people have been doing. Of course youre going to listen to it and try to make your music the best, so thats what weve been doingmaking our music the best it can be. The best quality, the best raps, the best concepts, and its going to be unique.
As a crew, G.O.O.D. Music is taking it to levels that really havent been done collectively. Kanye is someone who knows how to make classic albums, a true thinker. He got me in the mindset of being a true thinker and always planning out every move you got going.
Your crew isnt a conventional rap set.
There are a whole bunch of songs on the album that I wonder what the world is going to think, but it really dont matter. We like it. Thats all that matters. You do what you want to do and if you like it, you like it. If you dont, you keep hating. Were going to keep getting this paper. Were going to keep getting this money, keep buying my mama new stuff, keep sending her those spas because thats what lifes about.
Whats it like to be around great talents all the time and not always be the top dog?
Its cool being around my fam, my crew. Everybody got different personalities. Everybody brings something different to the table. Me being from Detroit, I just bring that player aspect. That Detroit player. I always come up with new words, new ad-libs, that swerve or, you know, Oh, God or that SMDTMD [Suck my through my draws]. Its all fun. It just makes you a better artist when youre with people who are great artists themselves. Being around Kanye, soaking up all the knowledge, all the stuff he got. Pusha, Teyana, everybody do their thing. I cant even complain. Its a blessing to be a part of a group like that.
Is it true that your "Mercy" verse started out as a random freestyle for Kanye?
Yeah, I was really freestyling with Kanye backstage at the Watch the Throne tour and he was like, Man, you got to say this on the record. I was like, Man, I aint about to say that. I just put out A$$. I dont need to be talking about no ass-quake, ass-tate. But I just laid it to see how it sounded and then for a while, there were no other verses on Mercy.
It was just my verse and we were vibing to it, so it naturally fit on there. I dont really write any of my raps down. The same, Kanye dont write any of his raps down. Common. Its easy that way. For me, personally, I figure I will lose some of the inspiration in the time of me writing it down or Ill say it a certain way because I wrote it a certain way. When I go in there and do it, its easier for me.
It must be hard keeping all the ideas in your head. Do you have an iPhone full of recorded ideas?
Yeah, I record on voice memos. I got like 1000 something memos. If Im in the middle of something and I cant get it done, Ill jot it down, but I never write a rap out, ever.
Where did you Swerve ad-lib come from? Thats a fan favorite now.
I just feel like thats what Im doing. Im swerving around. Especially in the D-Town with whips everywhere in the city. Thats something my crew was saying a long time ago. I guess its something I brought to the forefront to where everybody can hear it. Thats what its all about, making new stuff up, making this elevated.
A lot of people criticize me because I be making up my own words sometimes in raps to rhyme, but I dont understand how you can criticize someone trying to bring originality to the game. I think thats really bytch-made to hate on somebody who rose up out their city and had a dream and made it happen and made their parents proud and supporting their family off of it too. You can hate, but Im going to keep making this paper, though.
When artists get signed by huge talent like Kanye, they sometimes get stuck in that dilemma of always being the little brother. Were you happy that your biggest hit, A$$, wasnt one that Kanye jumped on produced?
Coming up, I used to always want Kanye to be more involved. I cant even say I did it by myself, because I had people like No I.D. that was there. I had other producers who were really there, too. Its all about finding your sound and finding your producers, finding someone to produce you and then just take it there yourself artistically. Im glad that Kanye didnt have to hold my hand through the entire process and Im just under him.
I feel like I stand on my own. I go, I shut down stuff myself. I shut down your Summer Jam, whatever shows around the world and its tight that I can do that on my own and I think that he respects that even more. Its a tight thing when you sit back and look at it and to think, a few years ago stuff was looking grim. Not knowing where to go with it. Not too many people believed. So to see how everything turned. Its a true blessing. I got my plaques on my wall at the crib and I look at them every morning. Its great.
Was that a conversation that you guys ever had to have where you as an artist were like, Kanye, for real, I need this help?
I used to be frustrated with Kanye all the time until I realized that he didnt sign me for me to be up under him. He signed me for me to be my own artist. I learned that in a way of putting out my own music, putting out my own mixtapes, which I still believe in, which I got plugged.
Thats when I figured I was moving on my own. I had my own movement. Everything I was doing was real. It was authentic. Its not like I was trying to come up with no gimmick. It was everything I believed in. It was all the music that was real to me, all the stuff Ive been through. I think thats the best way to do it. Like I said, he respects it.
Which rapper from G.O.O.D. is killing the raps on Cruel Summer the most?
Im giving them bars for sure. Pusha is like that beast that you let off the leash and he just tear everything up. CyHi. Common. Of course Ye always bring that fresh, new stuff to the game. The whole fam. True albums should be the soundtrack to your life and fit different moods.
What can we expect from Cruel Summer, topically?
I could tell you the topics were going to be hitting on, but I feel like thats going to be spoiling the album too much. What Im telling you is its going to be the freshest music out there. Its going to be topics we live to. I cant wait for yall to hear it. For real.
Whats the atmosphere like in the studio with all you guys? Pusha T said you all are night owls.
When Im in the studio, Im in there from like 3 p.m. until 5 a.m. Thats just how I work. Some people get in there, do their stuff, and get out. I like to get in there and even if Im not working on music, I like to listen to stuff, vibe, look at TV, in case I catch some inspiration. I know the Cruel Summer sessionsespecially the ones in London and the ones in NY and the ones in L.A.are probably the hardest Ive ever worked, and probably because I have a point to prove. A lot of the songs we did, I dont think even made the album.
Those are just extra songs you might hear on my album, maybe G.O.O.D. Fridays. I dont know whats going on, but I know I always work hard in the studio. Give it 110 percent. Its do or die. I was talking to one of my homies I grew up with, Ralph, and he called me. Hes in Tennessee now and has been one of my best friends since I was four year old. He was like, Yeah man, Im grinding. I got two jobs. Its do or die. He was like, Im just calling you remind you, youre doing well, but remember, its do or die. Im like, Man, youre super right. Its do or die everyday.
When you first started with Kanye, your skills were constantly being tested. Can you think of a time when he may have put you on the spot to perform or rap?
It used to be real nerve wracking to have Q-Tip around or Common and Kanye. I remember when we were in Japan and when Kanye first put me under his wing, he called Pharrell, he called the Teriyaki Boyz, and had a whole bunch of people over and was like, Alright, rap. It was one of the most nerve wracking things of my life. You dont get used to it but you step up to the plate and you got to remember why youre there.
Kanyes known for constantly critiquing and editing songs. Is it tough for you as a confident artist to take all his suggestions?
Im a confident artist. I wont say Im cocky. After I do a rap, and if it needs to be worked on, Ill listen to feedback. Im not the type to be tunnel visioning and not listen or look around to hear what anybody has to say. I always want to make it the best so Ill take any suggestions, even the people who arent even really into music or do music. Sometimes those are the people that have the best opinions. Its just like random girls or random people. I love valuing other peoples opinions but I do what I want to do when its all said and done.
You hit on an interesting point. Kanye has some interesting friends that fall through the studio sometimes. Who are some of the people youve bumped into while working with him?
You might see Kobe Bryant. I walked in the studio and saw Kobe Bryant in the corner just chilling. Ill be like, "Okay.
Whats your role in the Cruel Summer movie?
Im a young Denzel, so I could have had the lead role. [Laughs.] But we were just stealing cars, having fun. Cudi was the lead role in this one and he did a great job, too. Its fun and entertaining. Kanyes definitely going to be doing a lot more films, Im sure. Im glad hes pushing the society, to making movies to making music to showing what can be done. Hes expanding my imagination. Hes got me talking to producers in Hollywood like, Man, Im trying to make movies. He showed me it was possible and when I go back to the hood in the D, a lot of my old friends, my homies, theyll be like, You showed us it was all possible. Thats the most important part.
What can people expect from your upcoming sophomore album?
Well, we just got the first single. Im not going to tell you whos all on it. Dope ass artists on it, though, for sure. Its great. Its something that connects. When I was playing it for Common, he was losing his mind. J. Cole was blown away. It really is elevating, taking it to a different level. I dont even want to hype it up or talk too much like, Yeah, my album is the shyt! I just cant wait for everyone to hear what Ive been doing, what Ive been cooking up. Were figuring it all out. I dont know the title of the album. I know its coming out this year.
Is No I.D. playing a big role on this album like he did on your debut?
No I.D. is playing a role but the person who is playing one of the biggest roles is my new producer I signed myself, KeY Wane. He also did the Amen track for Meek Mill. He got stuff with Ye coming. He produced my first single thats about to come out of my album. KeY Wane is definitely an instrumental part. He kind of has like a vintage sound with a new spin on it, so Im excited to have him on the album. Of course, No I.D. is playing a big ass role in it with his beats, his input.
Thats the main thing I get from No I.D. Its not always just production, its his input a lot of times and thats a true producer. Thats the difference between a beat-maker and a producer. Young Chop is definitely on the album. Shout out to Young Chop from Chi-Town, bringing that new sound. Were just young guys with that new sound.
Over the years, Kanye has transitioned from being the producer who does the beat to more so an expert editor. Does anybody ever say we miss Kanye doing beats front to back?
As a fan, I want Kanye to make music from scratch. Im missing that like everybody else. Make more beats, Kanye! Hes doing what he do, though. He makes beats, though. Hes got a lot of tracks. To the world, it may look like hes been editing or co-producing a lot, but I feel like everything he does is elevated to another level whether its a co-production or whatever. I wish he would make more beats.
You give the best 'hood interview outros. Heres your chance for another.
Its Finally Famous over everything. G.O.O.D. Music! Act like you know. Shout out to my city one time. D-Town. West side. 6 Mile. 7 Mile. East side. I rep the D harder than anybody. Every day. Shout out to everybody holding it down. Shout out to everybody living their dreams, getting that paper. Anybody who turns their dreams into gold and everybody finally getting it. Shout out to your girlfriend, too. Shes a great one.
Interview: Big Sean Talks Second Album, "Cruel Summer," and Freestyling His "Mercy" Verse for Kanye | Complex
Said he was gonna release it when he's ready. Already shot a couple of visuals for some of the songs already.
Status
i get so much ASS ASS ASS ASS from this man songs he the type of pimpin i fukks with good read 
