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.
Say You Will
Big Sean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hoodie over my head, recognize a Jedi,
If I go too fast down this road I end up like left eye
I'm wondering would it be better if I left
My girlfriend know I got a fetish for fine hoes
I'm worldwide so she know I'm gonna find hoes
Sneaking in my iPhone
Looking through my call log
I'm so fresh I'm wondering why I didn't design clothes
This rap shit is something that you gotta be designed for
Meetings at the label saying they goin make Sean blow
Turned the radio on and do I hear Sean... no
Man please do not gimmick me,
Put me on the shelf and not remember me,
And treat me like a John Doe
I wish that I could drop my nuts in they're tonsils
(Ahem) shut up bitch swallow
And I been signed to Ye for well over a year now
It's clear now, I'm a focus on my career now
You taught me to create a process
Saying that you changed my life,
Dog it's me being modest
But honestly I wish that I could take you off tour,
Put you in the studio
So you could focus more on my shit
And I don't mean to sound selfish
But I am not an artist that's self-less
I'm feeling like a crab in a bucket
That's just tryna get it crackin
Amongst all these fuckin' shellfish...
And it's a dream come true that you signed me
Big Sean, G.O.O.D. Music signee
People asking me how it happened
Man I tell em I rolex the situation & just have perfect timing
And you already know where to find me
Bitch I connected to the D like Siamese
So if you see me out of town getting money
Know I do it for my city and I be back very promptly
So say what up if you see us
And the D is probably rubber & the Sean man lead us?
Like being undefeated, feeling undefeated?
Dick so big I bust a nut for a fetus
Glad to do any interview or dope feature
Come holla at a nigga as I'm trying on sneakers
Niggas making diss records in efforts that I see it
Waiting on my reply but they never will receive it
You are not half of what I am and can't be it
You are just a 101% bitch
Recognize a star like you pledge to the allegiance
And I don't want fans, I want believers
Race to success so I'm a keep pedalin
Cause my mama man, she deserve everything?
So if I find a girl with beauty and brains like her,
Then best believe she gon get a wedding ring,
But I don't know if I believe in love to be honest,
Cause every girl love the headliners,
Take her to my hotel all my niggas there,
And best believe they gon give up all a head line-up,
And that's why girls wanna leave us,
Tell em where we are but they never gone believe us,
Won't stop till we in end up on that show, Cheaters,
But I bet you couldn't spot me if a nigga wore cheetah,
And I be in the strip-club Teasers,
Giving all the girls what's needed,
Honest dog had so many problems dog
I could hand em out and be labeled a fuckin teacher,
So respect my hand gesture,
I dare any nigga try and come test us,
You a mothafuckin act dog,
A A.C.T. that's why niggas try and test ya,
A dub how the hell we gonna make a mil,
Pay the bills man I ain't tryna waste a deal,
If you could make a deal believe you could make deal,
And if you can't keep your promises then don't say you will... nigga don't say you will
In "Say You Will," Big Sean reflects on his experiences in the music industry, his personal life, and his struggles with fame. He opens up about his girlfriend's jealousy and trust issues, confessing that he has a "fetish for fine hoes" and that she has caught him looking through his phone. He takes a shot at his label, saying they promised to make him blow up but have yet to fulfill their promises. Along with that, he expresses his ambition to be recognized as an artist and not "put on the shelf" by the people around him.
The second half of the song takes a different turn, where Big Sean basically brags about his position in the rap industry, from being signed by Kanye West to making a name for himself. He talks about how he does not want fans, but only believers in his music. He also goes into his perspective on love and relationships, admitting to having problems with being faithful and not trusting in love. The song reflects the highs and lows of Big Sean's life, from the struggles of success to the perks of fame.
Line by Line Meaning
As I hop on this red eye flight with all red eyes
I am tired and heading somewhere on a plane.
Hoodie over my head, recognize a Jedi,
I'm wearing a hat but still look cool as a Jedi.
If I go too fast down this road I end up like left eye
If I continue down this path, I may end up with negative consequences.
I'm wondering would it be better if I left
I'm questioning whether I should leave my current situation.
My girlfriend know I got a fetish for fine hoes
My girlfriend is aware that I am attracted to women who look good.
I'm worldwide so she know I'm gonna find hoes
Since I'm famous, my girlfriend knows I may be tempted to cheat on her with other women.
Sneaking in my iPhone
My girlfriend is checking through my phone without my permission.
Looking through my call log
She's particularly interested in who I've been talking to on the phone.
It hurts looking at her face to ask her why she crying for
I hate seeing my girlfriend cry and want to know why she's upset.
I'm so fresh I'm wondering why I didn't design clothes
I'm so cool that I could create my own clothing line and be successful.
This rap shit is something that you gotta be designed for
Being successful in the rap industry requires a certain level of talent and skill.
Meetings at the label saying they goin make Sean blow
The record label is promising to make me successful.
Turned the radio on and do I hear Sean... no
My music isn't getting played on the radio as much as I'd like.
Man please do not gimmick me,
Don't try to use me for your own gain.
Put me on the shelf and not remember me,
Don't forget about me once I'm no longer popular.
And treat me like a John Doe
Don't treat me like an anonymous person with no value.
I wish that I could drop my nuts in they're tonsils
I wish I could assert my dominance over others.
(Ahem) shut up bitch swallow
I'm making a vulgar reference to oral sex with a woman.
And I been signed to Ye for well over a year now
I've been signed to Kanye West's music label for a while.
It's clear now, I'm a focus on my career now
I'm going to focus solely on my career from now on.
You taught me to create a process
You helped me develop a method for my music creation.
Saying that you changed my life,
You made a significant impact on my life.
Dog it's me being modest
I'm just being humble about my accomplishments.
But honestly I wish that I could take you off tour,
I wish you weren't busy touring so you could focus exclusively on helping me with my music.
Put you in the studio
I'd rather you be in the studio working on my music than on tour.
So you could focus more on my shit
I want my music to be your top priority.
And I don't mean to sound selfish
I know I'm being a bit self-centered here.
But I am not an artist that's self-less
I'm not the kind of artist who is willing to put other people's needs before my own.
I'm feeling like a crab in a bucket
I feel like other people are holding me back and not allowing me to succeed.
That's just tryna get it crackin
I'm just trying to achieve success.
Amongst all these fuckin' shellfish...
I'm surrounded by selfish people who only care about themselves.
And it's a dream come true that you signed me
I'm grateful that you signed me to your label.
Big Sean, G.O.O.D. Music signee
I am a signed artist under Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music label.
People asking me how it happened
People are curious about how I got signed to the label.
Man I tell em I rolex the situation & just have perfect timing
I just got lucky and the circumstances fell into place for me.
And you already know where to find me
I'm easy to locate.
Bitch I connected to the D like Siamese
I'm connected to my hometown of Detroit and close to it like a Siamese twin.
So if you see me out of town getting money
I may be traveling to other places to make money.
Know I do it for my city and I be back very promptly
I'm doing it for Detroit and will always come back to represent it.
So say what up if you see us
Greet us if you see us out and about.
And the D is probably rubber & the Sean man lead us?
Detroit is probably the best place for music and I'm leading the charge.
Like being undefeated, feeling undefeated?
I feel unstoppable and unbeatable.
Dick so big I bust a nut for a fetus
I have a large penis that could make a woman pregnant just from having sex with me once.
Glad to do any interview or dope feature
I'm happy to do any press interviews or music collaborations.
Come holla at a nigga as I'm trying on sneakers
Come talk to me while I'm shopping for shoes.
Niggas making diss records in efforts that I see it
Other rappers are trying to diss me and get me to notice them.
Waiting on my reply but they never will receive it
They won't get a response from me because they're not worth my time.
You are not half of what I am and can't be it
You aren't as talented as me and can never be as successful.
You are just a 101% bitch
You're a complete bitch and have no redeeming qualities.
Recognize a star like you pledge to the allegiance
Acknowledge my star power like you show patriotism or loyalty.
And I don't want fans, I want believers
I'm not just looking for people to like my music, I want them to believe in me as an artist.
Race to success so I'm a keep pedalin
I'm racing towards success so I'll keep working hard to achieve it.
Cause my mama man, she deserve everything?
I want to be successful and provide everything my mom deserves.
So if I find a girl with beauty and brains like her,
If I find a woman who's as smart and attractive as my mom, I'll marry her.
Then best believe she gon get a wedding ring,
I'll definitely propose to her and give her a ring.
But I don't know if I believe in love to be honest,
I'm not sure if I actually believe in the concept of love.
Cause every girl love the headliners,
Because every woman wants to be with famous musicians like me.
Take her to my hotel all my niggas there,
If I bring a woman back to my hotel, my friends will be there too.
And best believe they gon give up all a head line-up,
My friends will also try to hook up with the woman I brought back to the hotel.
And that's why girls wanna leave us,
This is why women are often unhappy in relationships with musicians like me.
Tell em where we are but they never gone believe us,
Even if we tell people what we're doing, they won't believe us because our lifestyles seem unreal.
Won't stop till we in end up on that show, Cheaters,
I'll continue to cheat on women until I end up on the TV show 'Cheaters'.
But I bet you couldn't spot me if a nigga wore cheetah,
I'm difficult to find or track down, even if I were wearing cheetah print clothing.
And I be in the strip-club Teasers,
I enjoy going to strip clubs like Teasers.
Giving all the girls what's needed,
I'm providing the strippers with the attention and money they need to do their job.
Honest dog had so many problems dog
Honestly, I've had a lot of problems and struggles.
I could hand em out and be labeled a fuckin teacher,
I could share my problems with others and be seen as a teacher or mentor.
So respect my hand gesture,
Respect my authority and power.
I dare any nigga try and come test us,
I challenge any man to try and confront me or my friends.
You a mothafuckin act dog,
You're a fake and not genuine.
A A.C.T. that's why niggas try and test ya,
That's why people test you, because you aren't being real or genuine.
A dub how the hell we gonna make a mil,
How are we going to make a million dollars?
Pay the bills man I ain't tryna waste a deal,
I need to make money to pay my bills and can't afford to waste a record deal.
If you could make a deal believe you could make deal,
If you've gotten one record deal, you can get another.
And if you can't keep your promises then don't say you will... nigga don't say you will
Don't make promises you can't keep, and don't tell me you will if you won't follow through.
Contributed by Cooper C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Aj-xl2in
As I hop on this red eye flight with all red eyes
Hoodie over my head, recognize a Jedi,
If I go too fast down this road I end up like left eye
I'm wondering would it be better if I left
My girlfriend know I got a fetish for fine hoes
I'm worldwide so she know I'm gonna find hoes
Sneaking in my iPhone
Looking through my call log
It hurts looking at her face to ask her why she crying for
I'm so fresh I'm wondering why I didn't design clothes
This rap shit is something that you gotta be designed for
Meetings at the label saying they goin make Sean blow
Turned the radio on and do I hear Sean... no
Man please do not gimmick me,
Put me on the shelf and not remember me,
And treat me like a John Doe
I wish that I could drop my nuts in they're tonsils
(Ahem) shut up bitch swallow
And I been signed to Ye for well over a year now
It's clear now, I'm a focus on my career now
You taught me to create a process
Saying that you changed my life,
Dog it's me being modest
But honestly I wish that I could take you off tour,
Put you in the studio
So you could focus more on my shit
And I don't mean to sound selfish
But I am not an artist that's self-less
I'm feeling like a crab in a bucket
That's just tryna get it crackin
Amongst all these fuckin' shellfish...
And it's a dream come true that you signed me
Big Sean, G.O.O.D. Music signee
People asking me how it happened
Man I tell em I rolex the situation & just have perfect timing
And you already know where to find me
Bitch I connected to the D like Siamese
So if you see me out of town getting money
Know I do it for my city and I be back very promptly
So say what up if you see us
And the D is probably rubber & the Sean man lead us?
Like being undefeated, feeling undefeated?
Dick so big I bust a nut for a fetus
Glad to do any interview or dope feature
Come holla at a nigga as I'm trying on sneakers
Niggas making diss records in efforts that I see it
Waiting on my reply but they never will receive it
You are not half of what I am and can't be it
You are just a 101% bitch
Recognize a star like you pledge to the allegiance
And I don't want fans, I want believers
Race to success so I'm a keep pedalin
Cause my mama man, she deserve everything?
So if I find a girl with beauty and brains like her,
Then best believe she gon get a wedding ring,
But I don't know if I believe in love to be honest,
Cause every girl love the headliners,
Take her to my hotel all my niggas there,
And best believe they gon give up all a head line-up,
And that's why girls wanna leave us,
Tell em where we are but they never gone believe us,
Won't stop till we in end up on that show, Cheaters,
But I bet you couldn't spot me if a nigga wore cheetah,
And I be in the strip-club Teasers,
Giving all the girls what's needed,
Honest dog had so many problems dog
I could hand em out and be labeled a fuckin teacher,
So respect my hand gesture,
I dare any nigga try and come test us,
You a mothafuckin act dog,
A A.C.T. that's why niggas try and test ya,
A dub how the hell we gonna make a mil,
Pay the bills man I ain't tryna waste a deal,
If you could make a deal believe you could make deal,
And if you can't keep your promises then don't say you will... nigga don't say you will
@elizamk05
Remember listening to this when i was in high school! I’m 30 now and still know all the words by heart.
@shanenolan085
Same 💯
@rohorn1
kinda missin this typea sean
@chancenbateman2095
The fact this is 12 years old is crazy.
@datboybobby
Facts times flies, I was 17 when this dropped.
@stargotgame6071
13yrs old now 😭
@eliot7189
14 years now
@Cwickraw
"Jedi over my head recognize a Jedi" Big cuz Pyru and Hershey big ups 💘.
@swatisquantum
An honest rant over a perfect Kanye instrumental.
@countcardinal2746
Here in 2020 and still one the most lyrical Sean songs