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.
Wait For Me
Big Sean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Could you just wait for me a while
Is it too late, too late?
I hope it's not too late, too late
I hope it's not too late for me
Could you just wait for me a while
Is it too late, too late?
I hope it's not too late
I got my whole life packed inside a suitcase
Ridin' in a Chevy that should've been a Mercedez
Tryna keep my head above water
So I stayed out the navy
I, I, I made a promise to my girl
Said Imma leave town and bring back the whole world
So I bought a ticket
Took longer than expected
Came back around like a necklace
And the first thing she said, was (it's too late!)
Like nigga, I got needs too
I found a man who gave me what I need
Now I don't need ya
I barely gotta text the call back
You ol' lying ass nigga
You're a dog
Out here chasin' paper
fuckin' bitches
Nah
Nah nigga you're too late
Live with it
Now you got a roommate
My homie served ten years
It's too late for him to be treated equally
Too late for him to make it out the hood legally
Ridin' around doing my thing
Is it too late to be tryin' to live dreams
Turn them all real
Reality is just a technicality
And so is being fake
So don't tell me that
I'm that I'm too late
I hope it's not too late for me
Could you just wait for me a while
Is it too late, too late?
I hope it's not too late, too late
I hope it's not too late for me
Could you just wait for me a while
Is it too late, too late?
I hope it's not too late, too late
Alarm clock said i'm too late
And they said i'm too weak
I could use a few weights
So they said I took too long
And don't look too strong
Well how long would you take
Waitin's got me here in the first place
Another second maybe second
Maybe third in the worst case
Now we'll display
On my word plays
Moving weight
It's such a trap
Move and weight
You can't do that
I know i'm dope man
But I can't move crack
And it's such a fraction
They way you thinking about your plans
But I tryna bring it back
Before your brain hit the pan
Sean from Detroit
Lupe from Chicago land
But both of our chains say made in Japan
German engineers design both of the sedans
Ride with Mr. Right on time
Or stay Miss another chance, man
Re-direct it at the girls
Not an ultimatum
Just an option in this world
But things come and go
When the clocks never stop
Be on time for nothing
A little late for a lot
I hope it's not too late for me
Could you just wait for me a while
Is it too late, too late?
I hope it's not too late, too late
I hope it's not too late for me
Could you just wait for me a while
Is it too late, too late?
I hope it's not too late, too late
I hope it's not too late
I hope it's not too late
The last thing I wanna hear is too late
Yeah yeah
Tell me is it too late for me to try and change the world
Is it too late to say I wanna change girls
Is it too late even though I'm the shit
Is it too late to tell y'all to suck my dick, bitch
I do it too late for what
I want it I need it
If I need it I got it
Cause this how finally famous niggas do
In "Wait For Me," Big Sean reflects on his past mistakes and missed opportunities, hoping it’s not too late for him to make a change. He talks about how he left his hometown to pursue his dreams and make his girl proud but failed to follow through, which led to their breakup. He regrets not being there for her and missing out on what could have been. The chorus has a hopeful tone, as he asks if it’s too late for forgiveness or if his girl can wait for him to come back.
The first verse tells the story of Big Sean leaving his hometown, making a promise to his girl that he will come back with the whole world. He travels for a long time, and when he finally returns, his girl has moved on and found someone else. The second verse talks about how society can make it difficult for people to make a change and escape the cycle of poverty and crime. He mentions how he sees himself and fellow Detroit rapper, Eminem, as being from two different worlds, but their chains both say "Made in Japan" and serve as a reminder of how they have been brought together.
In conclusion, "Wait For Me" is a song about regret, missed opportunities, and the possibility of second chances. Big Sean acknowledges his mistakes and hopes that he can make a change in his life. The chorus is repeated throughout the song, reminding listeners that it's never too late to make things right.
Line by Line Meaning
I hope it's not too late for me
Big Sean worries that it may be too late for him to achieve what he desires
Could you just wait for me a while
He requests patience from someone whom he has left behind
Is it too late, too late?
He repeats his initial concern, questioning whether his goals are unattainable
I hope it's not too late, too late
Reiterating his hopefulness, Sean raises doubts about his ability to make things happen
I got my whole life packed inside a suitcase
He is embarking on a journey, fighting for success and advancement
Ridin' in a Chevy that should've been a Mercedez
He uses a metaphor to describe his current status – he is in a lesser position but still hoping to succeed
Tryna keep my head above water / So I stayed out the navy
Sean is struggling and has to make tough decisions to survive, choosing not to join the Navy
I, I, I made a promise to my girl / Said Imma leave town and bring back the whole world
He promised greatness to his significant other in exchange for support
So I bought a ticket / Took longer than expected / Came back around like a necklace
His return took longer than anticipated, but he finally comes back, reminiscent of a necklace on someone's neck
And the first thing she said, was (it's too late!)
His significant other tells him that it is too late now
Like nigga, I got needs too / I found a man who gave me what I need / Now I don't need ya
His lover has found someone else to satisfy her needs, leaving Sean behind
I barely gotta text the call back / You ol' lying ass nigga / You're a dog / Out here chasin' paper / fuckin' bitches / Nah / Nah nigga you're too late / Live with it / Now you got a roommate
His lover gives Sean no chance to explain himself for his actions and kicks him out, making him live with somebody else
My homie served ten years / It's too late for him to be treated equally / Too late for him to make it out the hood legally
One of his friends will never be granted the same opportunities because of the legal circumstances that he faced
Ridin' around doing my thing / Is it too late to be tryin' to live dreams / Turn them all real
Sean wonders if it is too late for him to achieve his dreams, striving to turn them into reality
Reality is just a technicality / And so is being fake / So don't tell me that / I'm that I'm too late
He negates any possibility of conceding and claims that reality and truth are often overlooked
Alarm clock said i'm too late / And they said i'm too weak / I could use a few weights
Sean is faced with reminders that he may be too late or too weak to succeed
So they said I took too long / And don't look too strong / Well how long would you take / Waitin's got me here in the first place
Sean pushes back against the criticism and asks his detractors how long they would wait, reminding them of his work so far
Another second maybe second / Maybe third in the worst case / Now we'll display / On my word plays / Moving weight / It's such a trap / Move and weight / You can't do that / I know i'm dope man / But I can't move crack / And it's such a fraction
He talks about the dangers of drug use and selling, deciding not to take that path despite the temptation and encouragement of those around him
They way you thinking about your plans / But I tryna bring it back / Before your brain hit the pan / Sean from Detroit / Lupe from Chicago land / But both of our chains say made in Japan / German engineers design both of the sedans
Sean draws parallels between him and Lupe, emphasizing that they both fight for success despite coming from different cities and backgrounds
Ride with Mr. Right on time / Or stay Miss another chance, man / Re-direct it at the girls / Not an ultimatum / Just an option in this world
He advises women to pick on time and dependable men, but acknowledges that it is ultimately their choice
But things come and go / When the clocks never stop / Be on time for nothing / A little late for a lot
Things and people come and go, so there is no need to rush. Being fashionably late might even be preferable in certain circumstances
Tell me is it too late for me to try and change the world / Is it too late to say I wanna change girls / Is it too late even though I'm the shit / Is it too late to tell y'all to suck my dick, bitch
Sean rhetorically questions whether it is too late for him to make changes or command respect from others
I do it too late for what / I want it I need it / If I need it I got it / Cause this how finally famous niggas do
Finally famous niggas are late to nothing and always have what they need to succeed
I hope it's not too late for me / Could you just wait for me a while / Is it too late, too late? / I hope it's not too late, too late
Repeating the same lyrics, Sean begs for patience, hoping it is not too late to make his dreams come true
I hope it's not too late / I hope it's not too late / The last thing I wanna hear is too late / Yeah yeah
He reiterates his refusal to give up on his dreams, emphasizing that he does not want to hear he is too late
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, SONGS OF MEDIA CREATURE
Written by: ERNEST WILSON, LUPE FIASCO, ALEKSANDER MANFREDI, SEAN MICHAEL ANDERSON, WILSON PICKETT, WASALU JACO, WILSON JR. PICKETT, SEAN ANDERSON, EARNEST WILSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dynasty4291
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥is it too late to say Big Sean was one of the best artists of the 2010's
@maxidonoso5498
Never too late to say the truth - MF DOOM
@jayandrusiak
Still one of the best too
@agentcodybanx8909
More people need to acknowledge this fact
@justinwilliams2349
This is definitely true
@amychad2896
Been my favorite song of the album since day one, great hook great verses
@davissexton6057
Same here. How the hell does this only have 32k views.
@BoiboiRynjah
@@davissexton6057coz he just re uploaded for first album 10 yrs anniversary celebration..u can check up on his original albums of this u will see he have got of views
@dbucam
Underrated
@mzbigbabydevelopment4057
King Big Sean