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 JhenΓ© 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 βSean Anderson Foundation,β 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 βMoguls in the Making.β
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 JhenΓ© 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 JhenΓ© 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, JhenΓ© 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, JhenΓ© 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.
No Hearts No Love
Big Sean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We don' came up dog and never look down
I might gotta throw my Jesus chain on for this
When you put the work in man it shows
Straight up out the ashes then I rose
I done hit a all time low
Been at a stand-still and had to go go go
Breaking promises you need like na na na
No hearts, no love no kumbaya yeah
No hearts, no love no kumbaya yeah
Everything automatic so I can't waste time
And if we break up I only make up time
My team do this shit easier than lay-up lines
Never scared to cross that line or pay up fines
Look, Don Don Don, that's my top 3 in the order
Never took a shortcut
Meet a Crip off the late back
Y'all look like a short club
Shoutout to my loyal ones, I wish that it was more of us
Went from thirty thousand a year to thirty thousand feet as my floor plan
I got El Chapo with a choppa as my doorman
I'm on the other side taking care of what's important
If business not boomin' then it's time to change the format
Time to change the recipe, I'm special especially
Going for the record, no felony
And I'm dodging jail and jealousy
Day dreaming about a cruise with Penelope
Looking like success fell on me, damn
And get rid of all that jealousy
All that hate in your heart
I ain't got no enemies
I'm focused on what's meant for me
Putting my energy back into me, real shit
When you put the work in man it shows
Straight up out the ashes then I rose
I done hit a all time low
Been at a stand-still and had to go go go
Man they out here on a scheme like la-la-la
Breaking promises you need like na na na
No hearts, no love no kumbaya yeah
No hearts, no love no kumbaya yeah
Boy this shit intricate
Working like a machine they keep trying to throw a wrench in it
But I'm too intuitive and into it
No ghostwriting, no sixth sensing it
That's why all this shit sound so intimate
That's why I feel like you know me before we face to face
As of the latest, I'm the greatest Ali Bomaye
I put that work in overnight like that shit due today
I paint the pictures they can't trace try and you get erased
I'm less focused on props and more on property
To put so much back on my hood that I changed the economy
I'm 'bout to build a movie theatre downtown properly
And help revive the heart of the city, just keep on watching me
And if these bitch ass niggas got they wish and stopping me
Just know I done done so much good business in my life
That there's gone always be a job for me, a op for me
I never burned bridges so there's a hundred ways to get where I gotta be
Same people, you see on the way up
Same ones you gonna see on the way down
You feel me?
You love me, I love you
You hate me, I love you
Straight up
When you put the work in man it shows
Straight up out the ashes then I rose
I done hit a all time low
Been at a stand-still and had to go go go
Man they out here on a scheme like la-la-la
Breaking promises you need like na na na
No hearts, no love no kumbaya yeah
No hearts, no love no kumbaya yeah
The chorus of "No Hearts No Love" by Big Sean and Metro Boomin speaks to the idea of success being accompanied by jealousy and scheming. The verses focus on the hard work and dedication it takes to achieve one's goals, as well as the desire to give back to one's community and make a positive impact. The first verse talks about rising from the ashes after hitting an all-time low and having to keep going, even when others are scheming against you. The second verse emphasizes the importance of putting in hard work and overcoming obstacles, as well as staying true to oneself and avoiding negativity.
Overall, the song is a reflection on the challenges and rewards of success, and the importance of staying focused and true to oneself in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
We don' came up dog and never look down
We have succeeded and don't dwell on it.
I might gotta throw my Jesus chain on for this
This is important, I need to show that I mean business.
When you put the work in man it shows
Hard work pays off.
Straight up out the ashes then I rose
I have overcome difficult situations and succeeded.
I done hit a all time low
I have experienced great difficulty.
Been at a stand-still and had to go go go
I had to push myself to progress.
Man they out here on a scheme like la-la-la
Others are scheming and not trustworthy.
Breaking promises you need like na na na
Promises are being broken with no remorse.
No hearts, no love no kumbaya yeah
There is no love or harmony among us.
No hearts, no love no kumbaya yeah
There is no love or harmony among us.
Everything automatic so I can't waste time
I am efficient and focused on my goals.
And if we break up I only make up time
If there are setbacks, I will catch up quickly.
My team do this shit easier than lay-up lines
My team is skilled and makes success look easy.
Never scared to cross that line or pay up fines
We take risks and pay the consequences if necessary.
Look, Don Don Don, that's my top 3 in the order
I have a specific order of importance and top performers.
Never took a shortcut
I have always put in hard work and dedication.
Meet a Crip off the late back
I am relaxed and comfortable around others.
Y'all look like a short club
You are not on our level.
Shoutout to my loyal ones, I wish that it was more of us
I am appreciative of my loyal friends and wish there were more like them.
Went from thirty thousand a year to thirty thousand feet as my floor plan
I have come a long way from my humble beginnings.
I got El Chapo with a choppa as my doorman
I have powerful connections and protection.
I'm on the other side taking care of what's important
I am handling important matters with success.
If business not boomin' then it's time to change the format
If something is not working, it's time to switch it up.
Time to change the recipe, I'm special especially
I am unique and special in my own way.
Going for the record, no felony
I am striving for greatness without legal issues.
And I'm dodging jail and jealousy
I am avoiding trouble and negativity in my life.
Day dreaming about a cruise with Penelope
I have aspirations to travel and have fun.
Looking like success fell on me, damn
I have achieved success and it shows in my appearance.
And get rid of all that jealousy
Eliminate negative emotions such as jealousy.
All that hate in your heart
Negative emotions such as hate have no place in our lives.
I ain't got no enemies
I have no ill will towards anyone in my life.
I'm focused on what's meant for me
I am concentrating on my own path in life.
Putting my energy back into me, real shit
I am prioritizing my own well-being.
Boy this shit intricate
This is a complex situation.
Working like a machine they keep trying to throw a wrench in it
Others are trying to ruin our progress.
But I'm too intuitive and into it
I am too focused and smart to be deterred.
No ghostwriting, no sixth sensing it
I write my own lyrics and know my own material well.
That's why all this shit sound so intimate
That's why my music feels personal and close to me.
That's why I feel like you know me before we face to face
My music allows people to connect with me on a personal level.
As of the latest, I'm the greatest Ali Bomaye
I am currently the best and most successful.
I put that work in overnight like that shit due today
I work hard and fast to meet deadlines.
I paint the pictures they can't trace try and you get erased
I create unique and memorable music that others cannot replicate easily.
I'm less focused on props and more on property
I am more concerned with building wealth and assets.
To put so much back on my hood that I changed the economy
I am investing in my community to improve the local economy.
I'm 'bout to build a movie theatre downtown properly
I am planning to build a high-quality movie theater in the downtown area.
And help revive the heart of the city, just keep on watching me
I am using my success and influence to benefit my community.
And if these bitch ass niggas got they wish and stopping me
If others try to stop me, they are weak and pathetic.
Just know I done done so much good business in my life
I have accomplished a lot and have a lot to show for it.
That there's gone always be a job for me, a op for me
I will always be successful and successful opportunities will come to me.
I never burned bridges so there's a hundred ways to get where I gotta be
I have kept good relationships with others and have various paths to success.
Same people, you see on the way up
The people who were there for me on my way up will still be there for me.
Same ones you gonna see on the way down
The people who were there for me on my way up will still be there for me on my way down.
You love me, I love you
I have love for those who love me.
You hate me, I love you
I try to maintain positivity and love even towards those who hate me.
Straight up
No falsehood, I am being honest and straightforward.
Lyrics Β© Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: LELAND TYLER WAYNE, SEAN MICHAEL ANDERSON, SHUGGIE OTIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@baltoncome
Since 2018 this is my favorite song, whenever I need a boost I call this song, whenever I have a accomplishment I call this song, whenever I have a break-up I call this song, when I'm happy, sad, high, low, this is more than a song for me... this song gave me a lifestyle!
@KaraboK9Ntswane
M4e too brother!
@annmariepaterson3319
Respect broda β€
@ralphweroamglobal4678
This song has motivated me sooo much over the months . I listen too it everyday π―
@assantecoverson2971
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@aym1240
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@rubba1496
This is a great motivation song. You should check out Thees Handz
@bugsbunny6941
All day every day β€οΈ
@BenBaller-ix6po
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@choc7341
Still hits just as hard as it did the first time I heard it