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.
Money And Sex
Big Sean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ok I think I think I think I think I'm the badest we
got all the bottles they got all the glasses,
I'm proly with yo girlfriends cause they got all the
asses, burning all this paper you should try and catch
the ashes, I'm in my section poppin something off in
the bank or a bitch droppin something off,
wo wo work ho make me throw this paper out looking
to take her out thinkin I'm a do her right look left
and fake her out, haaa cause I get back to the money
if I ever leave boomerang back to the money
[Chorus:]
All I think about is money and sex fuckin and checks
In this life time you need to run and get left,
M m money and sex fuckin and checks
In this life time you need to run and get left
Now I'm finnaly gettin rich proly in ya bitch
And if I there I'm proly getting rich cause all I
Of is money and sex fuckin and checks
Money and sex fuckin and checks
[Verse 2: Bun B]
I say I feel I feel I feel I feel I'm the best got
the game on bubble like the vest, piece hangin on my
Chain chain hangin on my chest chest the game is on
lock money power and respect,
I started in the streets choppin rocks in a gravle
pit went from not having to having it
From dreaming to grabing it with only top ramen noodles
up in my cabinet no I'm killing this motherfucker,
beating and stabbing it, speaking of stabbing it where
ya bitch she just text me
She say she in the room rockin something sexy no disrespect
g cause I ain't even trying to but send her to my room
if you see her before I do
[Chorus]
[Verse 3: Big Sean]
Bitch I'm on a money making marathon welcome to the
terror dome journey to my life
The whole world is my carry on,
I took I vowel that I'm forever getting payed always
heard that lifes a beach so I'm forever getting layed
if money equals power then I'm a fucken generator
Man that spotlight bright so watch mecenter stage it
and do it yo girl wanna do it dam I look good
But you already knew it can't remember the last time
I seen my bed sets or the last time I had bed sex I'm
in the backseat getting my dick wet I fell asleep getting
brain that's a head rest last night I hit the bar said
I want it all and today I said the same thing at the
mall come through in yo city do the same thing tomorrow
gettin money and I can't say the samething for ya'll
The lyrics to Big Sean's song "Money And Sex" reflect his confidence and focus on material wealth and sexual encounters. In the first verse, he declares himself as the "baddest" and portrays a lavish lifestyle surrounded by bottles and women. He also references burning money and emphasizes his ability to quickly bounce back and make more. The chorus further highlights his preoccupation with money and sex, seeing them as the main priorities in life. Big Sean believes that in order to succeed, one must constantly pursue both financial success and sexual gratification.
In the second verse, Bun B joins the song and echoes Big Sean's confidence, proclaiming himself as the best and emphasizing his dominance in the rap game. He references his humble beginnings and the journey from poverty to success. Bun B also boasts about women showing interest in him, subtly provoking Big Sean to send a girl to his room. The verse reinforces the theme of money, power, and respect as the driving forces behind their lifestyles.
In the final verse, Big Sean continues to assert his status as a money-maker. He presents himself as always being on the grind, comparing life to a beach where he constantly gets laid and makes money. He likens himself to a generator, suggesting that money is the source of his power. Big Sean also highlights his constant pursuit of pleasure, mentioning past sexual encounters and his ability to attract women. He concludes by expressing his determination to continue getting money while implying that others may not be able to do the same.
Overall, "Money And Sex" depicts a hedonistic perspective on life, where success is measured by material possessions and sexual conquests. It reflects the artist's belief in the importance of financial abundance and sexual gratification as essential goals in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Ok I think I think I think I think I'm the badest we
I am confident that I am the best
got all the bottles they got all the glasses,
I have all the expensive alcohol and they have all the fancy drinking glasses
I'm proly with yo girlfriends cause they got all the asses,
I'm probably with your girlfriends because they have attractive bodies
burning all this paper you should try and catch the ashes,
I am spending a lot of money and you should try to benefit from it
I'm in my section poppin something off in the bank or a bitch droppin something off,
I am either celebrating in the bank or having a sexual encounter
wo wo work ho make me throw this paper out looking like a paper rout
I am making so much money that it looks like I am throwing out stacks of paper like a paper route
dicker down lay her out didn't have to take her out thinkin I'm a do her right look left and fake her out,
I am satisfying a woman sexually without having to treat her romantically and I fool her with a deceptive move
haaa cause I get back to the money if I ever leave boomerang back to the money
I always go back to making money if I ever temporarily leave
All I think about is money and sex fuckin and checks
My mind is constantly focused on acquiring wealth and having sexual encounters
In this life time you need to run and get left,
In this lifetime, you need to hustle and achieve success or be left behind
Now I'm finnaly gettin rich proly in ya bitch
Now that I am becoming wealthy, I am probably involved with your girlfriend
And if I there I'm proly getting rich cause all I
And if I am there, I am probably getting rich because all I think of is money
Of is money and sex fuckin and checks
All I care about is money and sex, specifically having sexual encounters and receiving money
I say I feel I feel I feel I feel I'm the best got the game on bubble like the vest,
I believe that I am the best and I have control over the game like a bulletproof vest
piece hangin on my Chain chain hangin on my chest chest the game is on lock money power and respect,
I have expensive jewelry hanging on my chains and my chest, indicating my dominance in the game with money, power, and respect
I started in the streets choppin rocks in a gravle pit went from not having to having it
I began my journey in the streets selling drugs, then transitioned from having nothing to having everything
From dreaming to grabing it with only top ramen noodles up in my cabinet
From having dreams to successfully achieving them, even when I only had cheap instant noodles in my kitchen
no I'm killing this motherfucker, beating and stabbing it,
Now I am dominating and surpassing others in the game, aggressively defeating and outshining them
speaking of stabbing it where ya bitch she just text me
Speaking of dominating, where is your girlfriend? She just messaged me
She say she in the room rockin something sexy no disrespect g cause I ain't even trying to but send her to my room if you see her before I do
She claims to be in a room wearing something provocative, but I don't mean to be disrespectful. If you see her before I do, please send her to my room
Bitch I'm on a money making marathon welcome to the terror dome journey to my life
I am constantly focused on making money, and my life is like a relentless and intense journey
The whole world is my carry on,
I consider the entire world as something I carry along with me, under my control
I took I vowel that I'm forever getting payed always heard that lifes a beach so I'm forever getting layed
I made a commitment to always be financially successful, and since life is often compared to a beach, I am determined to constantly enjoy sexual encounters
if money equals power then I'm a fucken generator
If money represents power, then I am a highly efficient generator, constantly creating and possessing power
Man that spotlight bright so watch me center stage it
The attention and spotlight on me are intense, so watch me confidently take center stage
and do it yo girl wanna do it dam I look good
And do it, your girl wants to engage in sexual activities with me because I am attractive
But you already knew it can't remember the last time I seen my bed sets or the last time I had bed sex
But you already knew that. I can't even recall the last time I used my bed for sleeping or had sexual encounters on it
I'm in the backseat getting my dick wet I fell asleep getting brain that's a head rest
I am in the backseat of a car, enjoying sexual pleasure, and I even fell asleep while receiving oral stimulation, using it as a makeshift headrest
last night I hit the bar said I want it all and today I said the same thing at the mall
Last night, I went to a bar and confidently declared my desire for complete success, and today, I expressed the same ambition while shopping at the mall
come through in yo city do the same thing tomorrow gettin money and I can't say the samething for ya'll
When I come to your city, I will continue pursuing financial success, but I can't say the same for all of you
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Micky House
i was in high school listening to this everyday on the bus
Micky House
Damn time flies, this still slaps!
CreatorsCorner TV
Facts!!!!
Making Paper Regularly
Micky House on God
Jamal Shabba
This was big Sean's year, no one was touchin him these times
Glamour Elektraaa
one of my fav mixtapes!
ARC PRODUCTIONS
such an underated song. TURN UPPPP
The Black Bossalini
This beat lives in my head rent free
soulbakin
man good times when this came out
CL GOAT
i was in 5th grade when this came out, my older brother stopped using his ipod so i listen to it at my bustop and on the bus, man, nostalgia.