His debut album, Finally Famous, was released in June 2011 and featured guest appearances from hip hop superstars Kanye West, Chris Brown, Pharrell Williams, The-Dream, Wiz Khalifa, and Lupe Fiasco.
He was raised by his mother and grandparents who worked steadfastly to instill in him the principles of hard work and determination. Sean attended the Detroit Waldorf School, a school of art, from Kindergarten to 8th Grade where he was in 102.7FM, a local radio station in Detroit where he displayed his rhyming skills weekly. There, he met Kanye West after a radio interview in 2005 and got a chance to display his talent by freestyling for Mr. West, giving him a copy of his music and sending numerous tracks for him to critique. After months of submitting songs and numerous meetings, Sean finally got a call from Kanye West himself saying that he wanted to sign him. Two years later, West signed Big Sean to GOOD Music. Sean has cited West, Eminem, The Notorious B.I.G., and J Dilla as his influences.
On September 30, 2007, Big Sean released his first official mixtape Finally Famous: The Mixtape. His hit single, "Get'cha Some", produced by WrighTrax, attained media attention and led to articles in The Source and the Detroit Metro Times. He also recorded a music video for "Get'cha Some", which was directed by Hype Williams. Sean released a second mixtape hosted by Mick Boogie on April 16, 2009, called UKNOWBIGSEAN. It featured the songs "Million Dollars", "Get'cha Some" and "Supa Dupa". This mixtape includes 30 tracks. Sean released a third mixtape hosted by Don Cannon on August 31, 2010, called Finally Famous Vol. 3: BIG, which features include major artists like Bun B, Chip tha Ripper, Curren$y, Tyga, Drake, Mike Posner, Chuck Inglish, Asher Roth, Dom Kennedy, and Chiddy Bang. The mixtape includes 20 tracks.
Finally Famous, Sean's debut studio album, was released June 28, 2011, and spawned three hit singles; "My Last", "Marvin & Chardonnay" and "Dance (Ass)". The album featured guest appearances from Lupe Fiasco, John Legend, Pharrell, Kanye West, Roscoe Dash, Wiz Khalifa, Chiddy Bang, Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj, Pusha T, and included production from No I.D., The Legendary Traxster, Andrew "Pop" Wansel, Xaphoon Jones and The Neptunes. When the songs "O.T.T.R." and "Flowers" were leaked in July 2011, speculation began of a new mixtape. Sean confirmed in an interview on June 28, 2011, that a collaborative mixtape between him and "two other guys in hip-hop that are just killing it right now" will be released "in a couple of weeks". Wiz Khalifa and Curren$y were the suspected featured rappers on the mixtape. However, Wiz Khalifa later confirmed that there would be no mixtape, claiming that the songs were created, "just for fun".
In September 2011, Big Sean confirmed in an interview with the Daily Tribune that he'll be working on his second album during the I Am Finally Famous Tour and plans to release the album sometime in 2012. On October 19, 2011, Kanye West announced on his Twitter plans for a Spring 2012 GOOD Music album release. On April 6, 2012, "Mercy", the lead single from the GOOD Music compilation album, Cruel Summer, was released. The song, produced by newly signed in-house producer Lifted, features Big Sean along with Kanye West, Pusha T, and southern rapper 2 Chainz. Big Sean then announced his fourth mixtape would be titled "Detroit" and would serve as a lead-in to his second studio album. He then began promoting the mixtape, releasing short versions of the songs on his YouTube page. On September 5, 2012, Big Sean released the mixtape Detroit which features guest appearances from fellow rappers J. Cole, Juicy J, King Chip, French Montana, Royce da 5'9", Kendrick Lamar, and Tyga.
Big Sean pushed back the release date of his second studio album Hall of Fame which was eventually released on August 27, 2013. The album has skits to give it a "classic feel", and includes features from multiple artists, including Lil Wayne, Miguel, and Nas. The album's production was primarily handled by No I.D., and Key Wane along with additional production from Hit-Boy, Da Internz, Mike Dean, Travis Scott, Xaphoon Jones, and Young Chop among others. Big Sean also stated in an interview that he was in the studio with fellow Detroit native Eminem. Sean went on to say they made a "Detroit classic" but he is unsure if it will be on Hall of Fame because of "timing issues". Hall of Fame spawned five singles, "Guap", "Switch Up" featuring Common, "Beware" featuring Jhené Aiko and Lil Wayne, "Fire", and "Ashley" featuring Miguel.
A month prior to the release of Hall of Fame, Big Sean told Complex that he had already begun work on his third album due to the inspiration from his new relationship. On September 12, 2014, Big Sean announced that he had signed a management deal with Roc Nation. Later that same day he released four new songs titled, "I Don't Fuck with You", "Paradise", "4th Quarter" and "Jit/Juke". Producers for these songs include, Mike Will Made It, DJ Mustard, Kanye West, DJ Dahi, Nate Fox, Da Internz, L&F, and Key Wane. "I Don't Fuck with You" was released to iTunes on September 19, 2014. In an interview with Sway Calloway, Sean confirmed that Lil Wayne will be featured on the album.
In May 2012, Big Sean founded a nonprofit organization called the “Sean Anderson Foundation,” with the aim of helping underserved children and families in Detroit. Alongside direct donations to local institutions, primarily educational institutions, the foundation has created fundraising programs and partnered with other organizations. In 2016, the foundation launched #HealFlintKids to raise money for the Community Foundation of Greater Flint amid the Flint water crisis - the program raised $100,000.
In 2015, the foundation launched Mogul Prep, which partnered high school students with music industry professionals. During the same year, the foundation donated a recording studio for students at Big Sean's alma mater, Cass Technical High School. Beginning in 2018, the foundation has hosted an annual weekend festival, called D.O.N. Weekend, with free events and performances for Detroit residents and usually by Detroit artists. In December 2018, Big Sean in partnership with Ally Financial, Thurgood Marshall College Fund & the Sean Anderson Foundation, created an annual scholarship competition for HBCU students called “Moguls in the Making.”
On March 25, 2016, Big Sean released a track to celebrate his 28th birthday, "Get My Shit Together". Two days later he announced a self-titled album with Jhené Aiko, Twenty88, scheduled to be released on April 1, 2016, exclusively on Tidal. The album was released on April 5, 2016, on Apple Music and Spotify. A week after the exclusive release of Twenty88 on Tidal, Big Sean and Aiko released a 15-minute short film called Out of Love, which is composed of several recordings from the album. Around the same month, upon the wake of the Flint water crisis, Big Sean tweeted to the city's official Twitter account, asking if he could do anything to help, and later on donated $10,000.
On October 31, 2016, Big Sean released "Bounce Back" as the lead single from his fourth studio album, I Decided, which was released on February 3, 2017. "Moves" was released as an instant-great on December 16, 2016. Sean consulted the advice of Jay Z and Rick Rubin while working on the album. Big Sean achieved his second number-one album on the Billboard 200 chart, as I Decided debuted at the top. It earned 151,000 equivalent album units in the week of February 9, according to Nielsen Music. 65,000 of the amount was in pure album sales. As of April 18, 2017, I Decided was certified gold.
Two months after the release of I Decided, Big Sean was offered the official Key to the City of Detroit for his contribution to his own Sean Anderson foundation.
On November 3, 2017, Sean and Metro Boomin released the single "Pull Up N Wreck", featuring 21 Savage. A month later, it was announced that Sean and Metro were to release a collaborative album titled Double or Nothing. The album was released on December 8, 2017, and included features from Travis Scott, 2 Chainz, 21 Savage, Kash Doll, Young Thug, and Swae Lee, and included the single "Pull Up N Wreck".
On July 24, 2019, Big Sean released his first solo single since 2017 titled "Overtime", produced by Hit-Boy, Key Wane, and the Tucker Brothers. In an interview with Beats 1 Radio, Sean said he was "returning to his roots" with the single ahead of his forthcoming album. On July 26, he released the song "Single Again", which includes background vocals from Jhené Aiko and Ty Dolla Sign. On August 26, he released the single "Bezerk" featuring ASAP Ferg, performing it at the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards.
On March 25 (Big Sean's 32nd birthday), he announced that his new record would be titled Detroit 2. On August 25, he released the album's lead single, "Deep Reverence", featuring late rapper Nipsey Hussle. Detroit 2 was released on September 4, 2020, and features collaborations with Eminem, Jhené Aiko, and Lil Wayne. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, marking his third number-one album.
On September 17, 2020, Big Sean revealed in a Reddit AMA that another Twenty88 album is "in the works". A track attributed to the project appeared on Detroit 2. He has also announced that he plans on launching his own record label. On October 29, 2021, Big Sean announced on Twitter that after 14 years, he has stepped away from Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music label, saying "That's a forever brotherhood, but business-wise, I had to start getting a bigger cut! I worked my way out that deal." West also claimed during a November 2021 Drink Champs podcast that signing Sean was the 'worst decision' of his entire career.
Starting in 2020, Big Sean has appeared in the Showtime series 'Twenties' in a recurring role as Trsitan, an anti-social media character who learns the value of online connection. In October 2021, Big Sean, in collaboration with rapper and producer Hit-Boy released an EP entitled What You Expect.
In February 2022, Big Sean and singer Queen Naija released a single entitled "Hate Our Love". The song will appear on Naija's upcoming album. In that same month, Big Sean confirmed the Twenty88 album and revealed that the album would include a collaboration with his then-girlfriend, Jhené Aiko. In September 2022, Big Sean re-released Detroit to streaming platforms, in honor of its 10th anniversary.
In 2019, the foundation partnered with Boys & Girls Club of Southeastern Michigan, donating a second $100,000 recording studio to the club during that year's D.O.N. Weekend. Since 2012, the foundation has participated in the annual All-Star Giveback on Thanksgiving, where it distributes turkeys, trimming, and canned goods to Detroit residents.
In May 2021, Big Sean, via his Sean Anderson Foundation, released a video series on wellness and mental health. The series was released during Mental Health Awareness Month and featured a conversation between Big Sean and his mother, educator Myra Anderson, about the intersection between wellness and mental health, including topics like meditation, sleep, and emotional freedom techniques.
I Know
Big Sean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know you don't even love the same, do you, do you?
I know you've been runnin' on empty, runnin' on empty
The way you move it's like you could use a vacation
Drinking Hen' and the harder you dance
I swear right now it look like you on a vacation
Gotta get away, make it happen
On vacation, yeah
I know you've been, I know you've been
Dancin', dancin' dancin' like you fucking got a reason
Dancing like it's something to believe in
Dancing like it's fuckin' dancing season
Blame it on the alcohol or blame it on sativa
The harder your heart keep beating
Only feel bad while you're thinkin'
Pop pop pop like Pepsi Coke, the best we smoke
Plus the tan look like you flew in from Mexico
Go go, let me see how wild it get
Bustin' wide as it get
You need to be taken care of and pampered
But just like a pamper, he on that childish shit
I know you've been silencing your phone
(Silencing your phone, ignoring calls from home)
I know you've been tryna get along
What's up, it's on, no games, we grown
I know you feel like sometimes that y'all don't speak the same language
I know that you just wanna let it go with all the bitches that you came with
I know you've been going through some thangs, wanna get away
Baby let me be your vacation
The other chick you've been fuckin' with is a trip
You know she be playin'
Baby I am just saying
I know you know I am down for whatever, yeah
You know I'm just here to make you feel better, yeah
Take a load off on my private island
Come inside and go into hiding
I know that you've been sacrificing your time
And need time to unwind and let go
So let go and let's go and let's roll and we roll
Excited, activated get ignited
So many charges on my card oh God I think I got indicted
Get a, get a night, get a day, get a room, get a place
Get a drink, pop a bottle, maybe we can get away
You a star, you need space
We can shoot up by the town
Have you ever been to Texas?
South By Southwest
Where we can smoke a zip like we can't get arrested
Where they might know us off any intersection
I mean baby I know you've been, wanna be that baddest
Wanna be with somebody who ain't never had it
No status, just all cinematics, you just got casted
I know you've been crying and poutin'
Know you're tired of arguing
But no screaming and shouting
And you know we on a roll like we did good in college
Throwin' hundreds and thousands
Like they not hundreds and thousands
Why? Cause I know you've been going through some things
(I know you've been going through some things you can't explain
Which your may think that shit insane
I know you just tryna maintain, that shit is lame, you can't complain)
I know you don't even love the same, do you, do you?
(Don't love the same, I know you've been diving through pain
I know you runnin' so crazy, I know you runnin' on empty
That shit can fuck with your mente
I know this shit, don't you tempt me, I know you)
The way you move it's like you could use a vacation
Drinking Hen' and the harder you dance
I swear right now it look like you on a vacation
Gotta get away, make it happen
Whatever happened just had to happen
On vacation, yeah
I know you've been, I know you've been
I know it look like like you need a vacation
How 'bout Hawaii, maybe Jamaica, maybe Asia
Taking you places 'lotta nigga can't take ya
Don't forget the make up
Yeah
The lyrics of Big Sean's song I Know showcase the singer's understanding of their partner's struggles and desire to escape them. The singer recognizes their partner's emotional state and attempts to offer an escape from the stresses of life through a metaphorical vacation. The repetition of the line "I know you've been going through some things" highlights the singer's empathy and desire to help, while the lines "The way you move it's like you could use a vacation / Drinking Hen' and the harder you dance" depict the party and club scene as a coping mechanism. The notion that "Whatever happened just had to happen" suggests acceptance and the singer's resolve to move forward in their relationship.
The song also touches on a theme of infidelity, with lyrics such as "The other chick you've been fuckin' with is a trip" and "What's up, it's on, no games, we grown." This can be interpreted as the singer's frustration with their partner's unfaithfulness, yet the singer still wants to be the one to comfort their partner through the aftermath. It is also notable that the singer emphasizes their willingness to "be your vacation" and offer their partner a new perspective, demonstrating a dedication to their relationship, despite its challenges.
Overall, the lyrics of I Know explore the dynamics of a troubled relationship and how two people attempt to navigate their problems together. The singer shows patience, empathy, and solidarity with their partner through an emotionally trying time.
Line by Line Meaning
I know you've been goin' through some things, uh huh
I understand that you've been dealing with some difficult situations, and I acknowledge it
I know you don't even love the same, do you, do you?
I know that you've changed, and the love you had for someone/something isn't the same anymore
I know you've been runnin' on empty, runnin' on empty
I know that you're exhausted and that you're running on the last bit of energy that you have left
The way you move it's like you could use a vacation
You seem like you're stressed, and the way you move indicates that you need a break from everything
Drinking Hen' and the harder you dance
You're drinking Hennessy and dancing energetically to forget your problems and enjoy yourself
I swear right now it look like you on a vacation
The way you're acting right now makes it seem like you're on a holiday
Gotta get away, make it happen
You have to get away from everything and make it happen
Whatever happened just had to happen
What you're going through right now had to happen, and it's shaping you into a better person
Dancin', dancin' dancin' like you fucking got a reason
You're dancing like you have something to prove, and you're determined to show the world what you're made of
Dancing like it's something to believe in
You're dancing with so much energy and passion that it seems like you're doing it because you truly believe in something
Dancing like it's fuckin' dancing season
You're dancing so much and with such enthusiasm that it feels like it's always the dancing season for you
Blame it on the alcohol or blame it on sativa
You're using alcohol or drugs like sativa as an excuse for your behavior and the way you're acting
The harder your heart keeps beating
Your heart beats harder in response to the circumstances you're facing - you're either scared, anxious, or excited
Only feel bad while you're thinkin'
You only feel bad when you're alone and thinking about everything that's been happening in your life
Pop, pop, pop like Pepsi Cola, the best we smoke
When you smoke the best cannabis, it feels like you're taking sips of Pepsi Cola
Plus the tan look like you flew in from Mexico
Your tan looks like you just came back from a holiday in Mexico
Go, go, let me see how wild it get
Let's go and see how wild we can get
Bustin' wide as it get
You're letting loose and having the time of your life
You need to be taken care of and pampered
You're seeking comfort, care, and pampering to help you get through this difficult period in your life
But just like a pamper, he on that childish shit
However, the person you're with is acting immature and childish, which isn't helping the situation
I know you've been silencing your phone
I know you've been ignoring calls and messages from people who want to talk to you
(Silencing your phone, ignoring calls from home)
You've been actively avoiding conversations with people, including your family
I know you've been tryna get along
You're trying to make things work and get along with everyone
What's up, it's on, no games, we grown
Let's be honest and straightforward - we're adults, and we have to deal with our problems maturely
I know you feel like sometimes that y'all don't speak the same language
It feels like there's a communication gap between you and the person you're talking to
I know that you just wanna let it go with all the bitches that you came with
You want to forget everything and just let go with the people you came with
Baby let me be your vacation
Let me be your escape from all your problems and worries
The other chick you've been fuckin' with is a trip
That other girl you've been with is weird and unpredictable
You know she be playin'
You know she's not serious, and you can't trust her
Baby I am just saying
I'm just being honest with you and telling you the truth
I know you know I am down for whatever, yeah
You know that I'm always there for you no matter what, and you can count on me
You know I'm just here to make you feel better, yeah
I'm here to help you feel better and make things right
Take a load off on my private island
Come and relax on my private (imaginary) island and forget about all your worries
Come inside and go into hiding
Come inside with me and forget about the rest of the world
I know that you've been sacrificing your time
You've been sacrificing your time and energy for others
And need time to unwind and let go
You need some time to relax and let go of all the stress and pressure
So let go and let's go and let's roll and we roll
Relax and enjoy the moment with me, and we'll ride this out together
Excited, activated get ignited
Let's get excited and activated, and let's ignite the fire inside of us
So many charges on my card oh God I think I got indicted
I'm spending so much money that I feel like I'm going to get in trouble with the law
Get a, get a night, get a day, get a room, get a place
Let's get a room or a place and spend the night or day there
Get a drink, pop a bottle, maybe we can get away
Let's drink and forget about everything and everyone
You a star, you need space
You're a star, and you need some space to breathe and relax
We can shoot up by the town
We can go out and experience what the town has to offer
Have you ever been to Texas?
Have you ever been to Texas before?
South By Southwest
Let's go to South by Southwest, a popular music festival that takes place in Texas
Where we can smoke a zip like we can't get arrested
We can smoke as much marijuana as we want without getting arrested
Where they might know us off any intersection
We might become so famous there that people will recognize us at any intersection
I mean baby I know you've been, wanna be that baddest
I know you want to be the best and conquer everything
Wanna be with somebody who ain't never had it
You want to be with someone who's never had the real thing
No status, just all cinematics, you just got casted
You don't care about status, you just want to have fun and enjoy the moment. It's like you were cast in a movie
Know you're tired of arguing
You're fed up with arguing with someone
But no screaming and shouting
We can have a peaceful discussion without raising our voices and getting angry
And you know we on a roll like we did good in college
We're having a great time, and it's like we're back in college and everything is going well
Throwin' hundreds and thousands
We're spending a lot of money like it's nothing
Like they not hundreds and thousands
We're spending so much money that it doesn't even feel like it's hundreds and thousands
Don't love the same, I know you've been diving through pain
You don't love the same way as before, and you've been going through a lot of pain
I know you runnin' so crazy, I know you runnin' on empty
I know that you're doing a lot, and you're running on the last bit of energy that you have left
That shit can fuck with your mente
All of this can mess with your mind and your emotions
I know this shit, don't you tempt me, I know you
I understand what you're going through, and I won't let you make any bad decisions
I know it look like like you need a vacation
It seems like you need a break from everything
How 'bout Hawaii, maybe Jamaica, maybe Asia
Let's take a vacation to Hawaii, Jamaica, or Asia
Taking you places 'lotta nigga can't take ya
Let's go to places where not many people can take you
Don't forget the make up
Don't forget to put on makeup before we go out
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Dijon Isaiah Mcfarlane, Dwane Weir, Earl Patrick Taylor, Jhene Aiko Chilombo, Sean Michael Anderson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@andreabailey7228
Big Sean did that faceapp thing before it was popular
@f19ure
Andrea Bailey lies. Kyrie Irving been doing it since the early 2010s.
@SavierreMyles
Jordan Williams you think they made this video with snapchat..
@SavierreMyles
f19ure wow you’re kind of an idiot
@oscarsalinas6617
@@SavierreMyles why?
@SavierreMyles
Oscar Salinas why what..
@satchiia5911
I love when their vocals overlap towards the end of the song😍 soo good
@muhammadnamairage4140
They sound perfect in a duet
@randi2thelynn
literally my fav part lawdddd
@VonJuve
My favorite part too