Album Review: Big Sean – Finally Famous

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Artists: Big Sean

Album Title: Finally Famous

Label: G.O.O.D. Music/Def Jam

Release Date: 6/28/2011

 
In 2005, Big Sean met Kanye West at a local Detroit radio station, spit sixteen bars on the spot and slipped Mr. West his demo tape. In 2007, Sean received what was probably the most unforgettable phone call of his life with ‘Ye on the other end of the line offering him a record deal with G.O.O.D. Music.  In 2011, after four mixtapes and much anticipation… Big Sean is Finally Famous.  Yes the debut album from B I G Sean Don has finally arrived, and yes, it was well worth the wait as Big Sean delivers what is arguably the most complete rap project of 2011 thus far.  Finally Famous contains consistent production courtesy of beat gurus like The Neptunes, Exile and No I.D while Big Sean spits witty lyrics conveyed through one of the most distinctive flows in the game right now, which in turn further cements his presence as one of the leaders of a new generation of hip-hop.
 

With so much to say about this album, it is only fair that we start at the foundation of any great project, the production.  Finally Famous includes a diverse assortment of beats ranging from always dependable No I.D. piano filled melodies such as “Don’t Wait For Me” and “Memories Part 2” to harder more unique cuts like the bass heavy “Dance (A$$)” and the one of a kind “Marvin Gaye & Chardonnay.” Prior to listening to “Marvin Gay & Chardonnay,” I was expecting a slow, seductive, romantic R&B influenced sound, given the title.  However what my ears were ultimately exposed to was far more interesting. The beat on “Marvin Gaye & Chardonnay” is absolutely insane and easily earns the title of best beat on the album by blending low horns with a high pitched vocal scratch that emulates the sound of mattress springs squeaking up and down. This works so well because every component of the beat somehow co-exists perfectly with the surprisingly arrogant lyrics spit throughout the song.

Although it is not quite as innovative as “Marvin Gay & Chardonnay,” the production on the track “I Do It” is quite funky as well. However the most notable aspect of “I Do It” is Big Sean’s unconventional yet outstanding wordplay.  In his first verse Big Sean demonstrates how he has achieved that rare balance between commercialism and raw talent through a line that references the popular “Family Guy” character Glenn Quagmire and his signature catchphrase: “Rose I sippity-sip-it / I’m Quagmire I f*ck hoes, my cashflow I giggity get it.” Although that line epitomizes all the stereotypical explicit subjects of rap music, the genius behind the structure of Sean’s bars are too clever for even a nun to ignore.

On the other hand there are plenty of tracks that include lyrics quite the contrary from “I Do It.”  Sean displays his softer side on songs like “What Goes Around” and the John Legend assisted “Memories Part 2” as he spits countless rhymes that are extremely personal, and very relatable.  Some of the most memorable lines off “Memories Part 2” include “A workaholic addicted to bills/ People addicted to me cuz they addicted to real / My best friend got addicted to pills / I can’t look at him in his eyes you don’t know how that sh*t feels“. Sean also references that life changing day when he met Yeezy at the radio station in his hometown of Detroit with a line that that just makes you say aww: “Remember the first time I was rhyming for Kan’ / Almost as nervous as the first time I rhymed for my mom.”  The contrast between a song like “I Do It” and a track like “Memories Part 2” really speaks to Big Sean’s depth as an lyricist and is a perfect example of why so many people f*ck with him.

Last but certainly not least, the swag that Big Sean displays on Finally Famous is off the chain.  While it may seem irrelevant, one of the key components to developing a commercially successful sound in today’s rap game is found in the form of adlibs. When done poorly, adlibs can make songs irritating, but when done as successfully as Sean does on pretty much every song, they make an artists presence on a track that much greater.  The constant “I dooo It’s” and “Booooiii’s” swagfully scattered throughout the album shows that Sean has some of the best adlibs in the game, right up there with Rozay’s “unnnnnhhhh’s.”

I honestly could go on and on about this album and break down why pretty much every song on Finally Famous is worth listening to, but that is why you should cop it for yourself.  Whether it’s “High,” a smokers anthem with super stoner Wiz Khalifa, “My Last,” the bubble gum radio smash with a Chris Brown chorus, or “Don’t Wait For Me,” a conscious cut featuring Lupe Fiasco, Finally Famous has something for everyone, just pick your poison.  Big ups to Big Sean, you are now finally famous.

 
 
Let’s face it – judging an album on a scale of 1 to 5 mics just won’t cut it — that’s more of a magazine thing.  After constant office arguments regarding album ratings, we’ve decided to revise our album review process and fairly judge an artist’s work across multiple avenues.  At iHipHop.com, we believe every album deserves an impartial review, taking into account both music and cultural relevance.

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Comments

  1. Once a co-signed rapper is put through the system of a major, they spends stacks and stacks on radio play and publicity. Seeing all the other blog reviews, its either two things these cats are bandwagon rap fans or like skrilla said getting some of that PR Blog money. Tons of rappers better than him, yelawolf..Pusha T.

  2. He's = to Wiz Khalifa. But with worse beat selection. 
    Hes also the weakest person on GOOD. Dont buy into the hype

  3. Dam some people will do anything to get hits, even if it means accusing me of plagiarizing a review that is in fact nothing like the one I wrote… smh. I tend to gravitate away from mainstream rap, but finally famous was too dope for even me to ignore. Y'all wait and see.. Big Sean gonna be doin big things. 

  4. I never ever write album reviews. 

    Why? How many people will actually read them. I had to write a review after listening to Finally Famous the album from track 1-16. Big Sean has put out the best work he has ever done; which is saying alot considering i've been following Big Sean since Uknowbigsean. Every track on here has amazing production, lyrics are on point, he sticks to his “Big Sean” flow. There are songs on there that make you think about your life, then theres songs that make you wanna grab a bitch and dance with her. Big Sean opens up his album with a ballad exploiting his lyricism and flow, and then goes into the best track of the album. “I do it”. In I do it, Big sean creates a flow that is unknown to any of the world and if you cant understand it then you should stop listening to music in general. The album then flows perfectly until you get stopped by Marvin & Chardonnay. This anthem with a melodic hook from Roscoe Dash and two amazing verses from Kanye and Big sean, they swagged this one out, definitely gonna be an anthem. Then Big Sean has a little fun in the song Dance (Ass) by repeating Ass through the hook. Definitely a booty shakin song for the bitches. Memories Part 2 is a continuation from the earlier song Memories in the mixtape FFv3. High is probably the 3rd best song on the album, with a sick verse from Wiz Khalifa that I havent heard from him in forever. Overall I highly suggest that everyone goes out and cops this album or buy it on Itunes. The quality of music on this album is extraordinary, and definitely the album of the year in my opinion.5/5 starsSwagMeOut

  5. Equal to Wiz???
    Sean works too hard to be ballin' on a budget, you must have gotten burnt out at one of Wiz's reafer parties Mr. Baser

  6. Yeah, but he clearly showed and proved with “College Dropout” that he had talent, ideas and an identity.

  7. nah man dis album is straight. There is nothing real special about it honestly. U gave Weekend at Burnies an alright review and dis a high review. Nah man it should be the other way around.

  8. this defenitely isnt seans best work but i agree with this guy on the review the album is great but personally finally famous v.3 might have been better than this

  9. umm pusha T? we talkin about “i put this on my lord my niece was 4 when she felt chinchilla” pusha T he is an average rapper 2 me sean is a great artist. now if you said J. cole i would have understood but Pusha T isnt better than sean. BTW DETROIT!!!!!!

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