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.
Paper Chaser
Big Sean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah
And Whoevers on your grind and got a swag like mine say "I'm a paper chaser"
And I'mma keep gettin'' money 'till you hatas' just love me cuz, I'm a paper chaser.
Yeah and I know she can't say no, all she see is green so she ridin' when I'm sayin' so.
And if it's mulla I got handles like a dino
I won't loose control, now why don't you loose control
Chasin' this money i think I'm gonna loose my soul,
Cuz I'm a paper chaser, i love baithin' apea
And even G's get shocked like my watch was a tazer
I am an ultimate warrior with this cheese grater.
That means i go hard, chassin' this.
(Paper paper paper)
Paper chaser (2x)
And whoever's on your grind and got a swag like mine say "I'm a paper chaser"
And I'mma keep gettin' money 'till you hatas' just love me cuz, I'm a paper chaser.
Yeah BIA
They said it's just not fair, conquer competition
And they could never match my commitment to commison man
I ain't tryn'a gas you up nigga I ain't ethenol bringin' home that bread and bacon
I got high cholesterol, my nigga I get it, what about you.
I promised mamma' benz and a new house too.
And man I'm addicted to that good pasta and that cooked lobsta'
Paper chasin' I'm gon' probably need a foot doctor.
LL I'm on love with the lable boy
Bitch I'mma dog I wake up and chase the paper boy
But do you niggas really know about paper?(2x)
Paper chaser (2x)
And whoever's on your grind and got a swag like mine say "I'm a paper chaser"
And I'mma keep gettin' money 'till you hatas' just love me cuz,
I'm a paper chaser.
The lyrics of Big Sean's song "Paper Chaser" reflect his pursuit of success and financial stability through hard work and dedication. The chorus repeats the phrase "I'm a paper chaser" multiple times, emphasizing his ambition to earn money and succeed in the music industry. Sean declares that he will continue to chase money and success until his haters start to appreciate his efforts.
He also describes his lavish lifestyle and material possessions, such as his watch that can shock people like a Taser, and his addiction to luxurious food like pasta and lobster. Despite his devotion to chasing money, however, Sean also acknowledges that this may come at a cost to his soul.
Throughout the song, he contrasts his work ethic with others who are not as committed to their own success. He challenges his listeners to measure up to his level of ambition and encourages them to declare themselves as paper chasers if they are similarly focused on earning money and achieving their goals.
Overall, the lyrics of "Paper Chaser" reflect Big Sean's unwavering pursuit of success and his unapologetic ambition for financial prosperity.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah
General statement to start the song.
And Whoevers on your grind and got a swag like mine say "I'm a paper chaser"
People who grind and have the same attitude about money as I do would say that they are also "paper chasers"
And I'mma keep gettin'' money 'till you hatas' just love me cuz, I'm a paper chaser.
I will keep making money until the people who dislike me start loving me because I am so successful with my money.
Yeah and I know she can't say no, all she see is green so she ridin' when I'm sayin' so.
I know she cannot say no to me because all she cares about is my money, so she will follow my word.
And if it's mulla I got handles like a dino
I won't loose control, now why don't you loose control
If I'm handling money, I am in control, so why don't you follow my lead and be in control too.
Chasin' this money i think I'm gonna loose my soul,
But fuck it if it move my momma to a better home.
I may feel like I am losing my soul chasing money, but it's worth it if it means my mom can live in a better home.
Cuz I'm a paper chaser, i love baithin' apea
And even G's get shocked like my watch was a tazer
I am an ultimate warrior with this cheese grater.
I am a "paper chaser," I love making money. Even people who usually have a lot of money are surprised by the amount of money I have. I am conquering the money game with power like a warrior uses a cheese grater to conquer cheese.
That means i go hard, chassin' this.
(Paper paper paper)
Paper chaser (2x)
This means that I work hard to chase money, and continue to repeat the phrase "paper chaser" to emphasize that.
And whoever's on your grind and got a swag like mine say "I'm a paper chaser"
And I'mma keep gettin' money 'till you hatas' just love me cuz, I'm a paper chaser.
Whoever is also striving for money and has similar confidence as me, would say that they are a "paper chaser." I will continue to make money until my haters start to admire me for my success.
Yeah BIA
They said it's just not fair, conquer competition
And they could never match my commitment to commison man
BIA says that people think it's unfair that she is so competitive in the money game, but they cannot match her dedication to earning commission.
I ain't tryn'a gas you up nigga I ain't ethenol bringin' home that bread and bacon
I got high cholesterol, my nigga I get it, what about you.
She is not trying to hype anyone up, she is simply bringing home the money. She explains that her success is real because she has high cholesterol from eating so many rich foods from her earnings, and challenges others to prove their own success.
I promised mamma' benz and a new house too.
And man I'm addicted to that good pasta and that cooked lobsta'
Paper chasin' I'm gon' probably need a foot doctor.
She promised her mom a new car and house with her money. She admits that she is addicted to expensive foods and chasing money so much, that she may need a foot doctor.
LL I'm on love with the lable boy
Bitch I'mma dog I wake up and chase the paper boy
She is in love with the labels she can buy with her money and calls herself a dog who wakes up early to chase money like a paperboy delivers newspapers.
But do you niggas really know about paper?(2x)
Paper chaser (2x)
She asks if other people really understand the money game as much as she does, before repeating the phrase "paper chaser" to end the song.
Contributed by Carter M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Patric Germay
so sick...absolutely love the intro to Big Sean verse!!! LOVE IT MAN!!!! definitely gonna make it big in the industry cuz of two things: 1) original style 2) unique flow that's an equation for success man!!!
Michael Graziano
this aged well, actually
brian w
Damn this song really just took me back to when i started high school. Crazy how big of a star he is now
Gnarly Tiburon 03
One of my favorite songs from Big sean! 😎🤙🏻
IBEATUUP
Perfect montage song and flow is dirty ♥
Brandon Powell
2020 we still rockin’
Jabooty
2022
Cooking with Manzoe
Still rocking
Sean Eddington
This is the only big sean song i might listen too
platinumcrownent
FIRE