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.
Woke Up
Big Sean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I woke up, boy it's time to get it
Walking to the window, saw the city
Thank God I woke up - feelin' like the mothafuckin' realest
Living but it's time to make a killing
Thank God I woke up
Make a hundred mill and run away, way, way
(I woke up) tell these fuck boys they gotta pay
Tryna make a hundred mill and run away, way, way
(I woke up)
I woke up, woke up, thank God I woke up (yeah)
Wifey at home but I'm living life like we broke up (yeah)
You hit the hood and post up, I'm gon' get it 'til I'm filthy rich
My hands dirty, my gross up (gross), my money doing the toe touch
That's stretched out, 'til I'm in the back, stretched out, drinkin' Ace
'cause I'm decked out, whole hood with me; need a guest house, yea a guest house
Lately I been getting like mo' ass and less mouth
'Cause when they see that whip (skrrt), they start to think about kids
Man, when they see this crib, they gon' start to think about cribs
Been dealt with real life too long, now it's time to live
Respect out the D (boi), hardly had a pot to pee in
Now I'm at the Coliseum, lil' niggas gotta see him
Tryna be him, show you how to follow vision, real nigga
Politician, bad bitch, swallowtician, gotta get it
Yea (yea), last night I lost all that
I'ma wake my ass up, get it all back, thank God
I woke up, boy it's time to get it
Walking to the window, saw the city
Thank God I woke up - feelin' like the mothafuckin' realest
Living but it's time to make a killing
Thank God I woke up
Tryna get it every day
Make a hundred mill and run away, way, way
(I woke up) tell these fuck boys they gotta pay
Tryna make a hundred mill and run away, way, way
(I woke up)
Now I been killing shit, I gotta say, my pit blue, my buffs gray
With a hint of white, sipping Henny white, livin' like I won't see the night
A real playa like Pinky, when I'm in the game, I TD
And I'm all about my dollars, dollars, dollars, that's 3D
I wake up with a bad bitch by my side
Last night, I was so drunk, I felt high
Last week, I was so high, I felt drunk
I got a bitch so bad, I gotta hit from the front
I fuck Kim K hoes, that's Ye 'Ye tone, smoking weed, that's reggaeton
Get it next to free, that's AJ tone, what's my name
What's my name bitch? Sayitaintone, what she saying? Sayitaintone
Who they paying? Sayitaintone, fuck sleep that take too long!
I woke up, boy it's time to get it
Walking to the window, saw the city
Thank God I woke up - feelin' like the mothafuckin' realest
Living but it's time to make a killing
Thank God I woke up
Tryna get it every day
Make a hundred mill and run away, way, way
(I woke up) tell these fuck boys they gotta pay
Tryna make a hundred mill and run away, way, way
(I woke up)
I woke up, boy it's time to get it
Walking to the window, saw the city
Thank God I woke up - feelin' like the mothafuckin' realest
Living but it's time to make a killing
Thank God I woke up
I woke up this morning
Looking at the city that raised me
I can get it all now
And go get everything they never gave me
Like every day that I wake, I say grace for my cake
I'ma do dessert first, I don't even gotta wait
Yea, when I hit the mall, I hit that bitch in the face
God be so good to me, I just gotta stop and pray
By the way, my jewelry appraised, it's a couple K
On the lake, I'm out of the state, at my hideaway
Like Bruce Wayne, I'm saving the day, and I'm getting bank
I'm foolay, my bitch got bootay, ooh I love the way
I woke up, my dough up, I got out, I go nuts
I show out, I blow up, I ball out, I pro up
Ok it's Earlly Mac off in this ho, tailor-made designer coat
Watch me take it to the bank and deposit a pot of gold
I'm foolay
I woke up, boy it's time to get it
Walking to the window, saw the city
Thank God I woke up - feelin' like the mothafuckin' realest
Living but it's time to make a killing
Thank God I woke up
The song "Woke Up" by Big Sean featuring Say It Aint Tone, Early Mac, Mike Posner, and James Fantleroy is an anthem about rising up and getting ahead in life. The lyrics emphasize the feeling of being grateful for waking up each day and having the opportunity to pursue success. The song encourages listeners to work hard and chase their dreams, even if it means going against the norm and pushing past obstacles. The phrase "thank God I woke up" is repeated throughout each chorus to emphasize the gratitude and motivation that comes with a new day.
The verses of the song feature different artists sharing their perspectives on life and success. Big Sean raps about his journey to success, recalling the struggle of having "hardly had a pot to pee in" and being able to make it to the Coliseum. Mike Posner sings about living life to the fullest and enjoying the fruits of his labor, while Early Mac brags about his wealth and his ability to succeed despite not being born into a privileged background.
Line by Line Meaning
Yup.. money, money, money
Money is on the forefront of my mind.
I woke up, boy it's time to get it
I woke up with the intention to make money.
Walking to the window, saw the city
Looking out at the city where I grew up.
Thank God I woke up - feelin' like the mothafuckin' realest
I'm grateful for waking up and feeling like the best.
Living but it's time to make a killing
I'm alive, but it's time to really make a lot of money.
Thank God I woke up
Grateful for waking up.
Tryna get it every day
Trying to make money every day.
Make a hundred mill and run away, way, way
Goal is to make $100 million and retire.
(I woke up) tell these fuck boys they gotta pay
I woke up ready to collect payments from people who owe me.
I woke up
I woke up.
Wifey at home but I'm living life like we broke up
My wife is at home, but I'm living like I'm single.
You hit the hood and post up, I'm gon' get it 'til I'm filthy rich
Instead of hanging out in my old neighborhood, I'm working hard to become super wealthy.
My hands dirty, my gross up (gross), my money doing the toe touch
I'm getting my hands dirty making money, but it's worth it.
That's stretched out, 'til I'm in the back, stretched out, drinkin' Ace
I plan on getting rich enough to have a stretched out limousine and drink fancy champagne in the back.
'cause I'm decked out, whole hood with me; need a guest house, yea a guest house
I have a lot of expensive things and need additional living space for my entourage.
Lately I been getting like mo' ass and less mouth
I've been sleeping with more women and talking less.
'Cause when they see that whip (skrrt), they start to think about kids
People see my expensive car and start thinking about children they can't afford.
Man, when they see this crib, they gon' start to think about cribs
When people see my mansion, they start thinking about baby cribs.
Been dealt with real life too long, now it's time to live
I've dealt with real life problems for too long, now it's time to enjoy life.
Respect out the D (boi), hardly had a pot to pee in
I have respect for my hometown of Detroit, where I grew up poor.
Now I'm at the Coliseum, lil' niggas gotta see him
Now I'm successful and people in my old neighborhood look up to me.
Tryna be him, show you how to follow vision, real nigga
People in my hometown look up to me and try to follow in my footsteps.
Politician, bad bitch, swallowtician, gotta get it
I'm interested in politics, attractive women, and making money.
Yea (yea), last night I lost all that
I lost all my money last night.
I'ma wake my ass up, get it all back, thank God
I plan on working hard today to make back all the money I lost.
Now I been killing shit, I gotta say, my pit blue, my buffs gray
I've been very successful lately and wearing a blue pitbull and gray diamond earrings.
With a hint of white, sipping Henny white, livin' like I won't see the night
I'm drinking white Hennessy and living like there's no tomorrow.
A real playa like Pinky, when I'm in the game, I TD
I compare myself to adult film star Pinky and say that I score like her.
And I'm all about my dollars, dollars, dollars, that's 3D
I'm very focused on making money.
I wake up with a bad bitch by my side
I wake up next to an attractive woman every day.
Last night, I was so drunk, I felt high
I was so drunk last night that I felt like I was high.
Last week, I was so high, I felt drunk
I was so high last week that I felt like I was drunk.
I got a bitch so bad, I gotta hit from the front
The woman I'm with is so attractive that I want to have sex with her from the front.
I fuck Kim K hoes, that's Ye 'Ye tone, smoking weed, that's reggaeton
I sleep with women who look like Kim Kardashian, and I smoke weed like it's a part of reggaeton culture.
Get it next to free, that's AJ tone, what's my name
I get things for cheap, and that's unique to me (AJ tone).
What's my name bitch? Sayitaintone, what she saying? Sayitaintone
My name is Sayitaintone, and I want people to know it.
Who they paying? Sayitaintone, fuck sleep that take too long!
People are paying me, and I don't sleep much because it wastes time.
I woke up this morning
I woke up this morning.
Looking at the city that raised me
I'm looking at the city where I grew up.
I can get it all now
I have the ability to make a lot of money now.
And go get everything they never gave me
I'm going to get everything that was never given to me.
Like every day that I wake, I say grace for my cake
Every day that I wake up, I'm grateful for what I have.
I'ma do dessert first, I don't even gotta wait
I'm going to enjoy the good things in life first.
Yea, when I hit the mall, I hit that bitch in the face
When I go to the mall, I spend a lot of money.
God be so good to me, I just gotta stop and pray
I'm grateful for the blessings in my life.
By the way, my jewelry appraised, it's a couple K
My jewelry is worth a lot of money.
On the lake, I'm out of the state, at my hideaway
I'm away from home on a lake at a secluded location.
Like Bruce Wayne, I'm saving the day, and I'm getting bank
I'm making a lot of money like Bruce Wayne and saving the day.
I'm foolay, my bitch got bootay, ooh I love the way
I'm crazy, but my girlfriend has a great body and I love it.
I woke up, my dough up, I got out, I go nuts
I woke up with a lot of money, and now I'm going crazy.
I show out, I blow up, I ball out, I pro up
I'm showing off, making a lot of money, and living life to the fullest.
Ok it's Earlly Mac off in this ho, tailor-made designer coat
My name is Earlly Mac, and I'm wearing a custom-made designer coat.
Watch me take it to the bank and deposit a pot of gold
I'm going to take my money to the bank and deposit a large amount.
I'm foolay
I'm crazy.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Dwane M. Weir, Earl P. Taylor, James Fauntleroy, Mike Posner, Sean M. Anderson, Tyree L. Taylor, Willie Hansbro
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sid Severino
LYRICS:
[Hook: Big Sean and James Fantleroy]
I woke up
Boy it’s time to get it
Walking to the window, saw the city
Thank God I woke up
Feeling like the mothafuckin’ realest
Living but it’s time to make a killing
Thank God I woke up
[Bridge: Sean]
Tryna get it every day
Make a hundred mill and run away, way, way
(I woke up)
Tell these fuck boys they gotta pay
Tryna make a hundred mill and run away, way, way
(I woke up)
[Verse 1: Sean]
I woke up, woke up, thank God I woke up
Wifey at home but I’m living life like we broke up
You hit the hood and post up, I’m gon’ get it ‘til I’m filthy rich
My hands dirty, my gross up, my money doing the toe touch
That’s stretched out, ‘til I’m in the back, stretched out, drinking Ace
‘Cause I’m decked out, whole hood with me
Need a guest house, yea a guest house
Lately I been getting like mo’ ass and less mouth
‘Cause when they see that whip, they start to think about kids
Man, when they see this crib, they gon’ start to think about cribs
Been dealt with real life too long, now it’s time to live
Respect out the D, hardly had a pot to pee in
Now I’m at the Coliseum, lil’ niggas gotta see him
Tryna be him, show you how to follow vision, real nigga
Politician, bad bitch, swallowtician, gotta get it
Yea (yea), last night I lost all that
I’ma wake my ass up, get it all back, thank God
[Hook]
[Bridge]
[Verse 2: Say It Aint Tone]
I been killing shit, I gotta say, my pit blue, my buffs gray
With a hint of white, sipping Henny white, living like I won’t see the night
A real playa like Pinky, when I’m in the game, I TD
And I’m all about my dollars, dollars, dollars, that’s 3D
I wake up with a bad bitch by my side
Last night, I was so drunk, I felt high
Last week, I was so high, I felt drunk
I got a bitch so bad, I gotta hit from the front
I fuck Kim K hoes, that’s Jay ‘Ye tone, smoking weed, that’s reggaeton
Get it next to free, that’s AJ tone, what’s my name
What’s my name bitch? Sayitainttone, what she saying? Sayitainttone
Who they playing? Sayitainttone, fuck sleep that take too long!
[Hook]
[Bridge]
[Hook]
[Verse 3: Mike Posner]
I woke up this morning
Looking at the city that raised me
I can get it all now
And go get everything they never gave me
[Verse 4: Early Mac]
Like every day that I wake, I say grace for my cake
I’ma do dessert first, I don’t even gotta wait
Yea, when I hit the mall, I hit that bitch in the face
God be so good to me, I just gotta stop and pray
By the way, my jewelry appraised, it’s a couple K
On the lake, I’m out of the state, at my hideaway
Like Bruce Wayne, I’m saving the day, and I’m getting bank
I’m foolay, my bitch got bootay, ooh I love the way
I woke up, my dough up, I got out, I go nuts
I show out, I blow up, I ball out, I po’ up
Ok it’s Early Mac off in this ho, tailor-made designer coat
Watch me take it to the bank and deposit a pot of gold
I’m fooling
[Hook]
Listen to my song "You Can't Guard Me"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKqS3viLBQA
Jacob Graves
This mixtape is like the fountain of youth for me. This song was my favorite on the tape
Niko Panagiotopoulos
On the real I agree
Yung Lito
Random but I got hit by a bus when I was lil with my headphones on n I remember the song playing when I got hit and the one when I woke up I hate the one when I got hit ever since n the one I love is ironically woke up
Kenna
Watching Big Sean’s music mature over the years has been really fun and I hope he keeps going. Keep doing your thing Big Sean. I know if I put in the work, I can reach a larger audience some day too, but for now, I’m happy being a supporter
XxBrightToastxX
All it takes is time
deefrmdad
Whoever's reading this, I pray that whatever your going's through gets better and whatever your struggling with or worrying bout is going to be fine and that everyone has a fantastic day! Amen
Brandon Vecchio
You gone put this on every song I’ll go through the quantum fluctuations that actually created the universe until you stop tryna get money from poor people when your system is the one making them poor.
Chase
Praise Yah
Keanuu
This was my anthem every morning freshman year in college, this mixtape should of been an album
5ve
Big Sean is a huge inspiration to me and I WILL produce a song for him one day.