Of all the new crop of artists to emerge since 2011, no one has been more up and down as an MC than Big Sean. I mean...there are times where he has shown flashes of being a top MC in the game. But then there are times where he shows areas that need improvement big time. Like his lyrical content and what he chooses to rap about. I understand when you reach a certain level of fame you're gonna rap a lot about money and riches. But at what point will he realize his maturity needs to kick in with his musical content. These are things I thought about heavy leading up to this release. Well...here it is. His third album Dark Sky Paradise. His first two albums did two different things right. His debut Finally Famous was strong on catchy hit records. Hall Of Fame, his second album, was strong on production and guest features. Although Hall Of Fame was a slight step up from Finally Famous in the lyrics department, neither album was superior in that category. The flow and delivery (at times) was there but the words and his awkward "corniness" were overbearing. I had hoped that this time around he would get everything together and everything would be on point. So...is third time a charm? Honestly...it appears that way. I thought that this time around, Big Sean got it together. Production, the guest features, the content and his lyrics all were much better than the previous albums. Now granted, there were still a few cringe worthy lines but not nearly as many as the other albums. What also stands out the most this time around is his maturity. Trying a introspective approach as he opened up and touched on a lot of personal things. Things that he never did talk about in the past. Showing that even though he has this new fame, new girlfriend and all these riches, there are some dark areas that still haunts him. That could explain the premise behind the title Dark Sky Paradise. Well now, here's the break down:
1. Dark Sky (Skyscrapers)
Well right off the back he starts reflecting on the beginning. How rough things were for him then. Growing up in Detroit and all of that. He's sounds appreciative to make it out of that struggle to the fame and success he has now. But even when being serious, he manages to drop some lame lines: "bitch watch how you speak to me/I been working all week and you know I need z-z-z-z's". Then that part where he does that "check to check to check" "breasts to breasts to breasts" thing was absolutely horrid. Other than that, this track does set the mood of this album perfectly.
2. Blessings (featuring Drake)
First off props to Vinylz for this cool production. I like the drums and snares in it as well as the nice bass line. But two things with this song concern me. First is this flow of Big Seans. Now he has a million flows but this one in particular really bothers me. When he does that speed rap that sounds like one big run-on sentence. Like he's fast rapping under one breath without stopping. That only works on certain songs and/or beats and this is not one of them. Then...the hook. Don't like it. Drake's verse was alright but his hook was so effortless. Especially that horrible sounding "waaaaay" part. In fact, this is album is filled with a bunch of poor hooks. The song is alright overall. I hear this is the new single so let's see how people will respond to it.
3. All Your Fault (featuring Kanye West)
This song was one of the more surprising ones. I like it. The beat is nice and the sample is even better. Kanye actually shines on this whole song. Not just with the production but with his verse which is one of the best he's dropped in a while. Even taking a few shots a you-know-who. Needless to say, Big Sean was just completely out shined on this track. It should be on Kanye's album instead. Hell it just might be when it drops.
4. I Don't Fuck With You (featuring E-40)
When I first heard this on the radio, I really didn't think nothing of it. Just another DJ Mustard assisted club joint. But when listening to it in context with the album, it's not that bad. Granted this song is the only one if it's kind as far as a catchy club record with tons of energy. I think we all know by know that the song is directed to his ex who should feel embarrassed now considering how big the song has become. Of course with a song like this, that sounds like something from his first album, you're gonna get lots of corny lines: "these hoes chase bread/oh man she got a bird brain". E-40 of course brings his original style and flow and it sounded cool. As of now I've gotten sick of the song due to numerous radio spins, but the song in general is just for fun. Not to be taken serious. Just something to goof around to.
5. Play No Games (featuring Chris Brown and Ty Dolla $ign)
Man it puts a smile on my face whenever I see a rapper do a song for the ladies right. 95% of rappers fail at this miserably. First off, mad props to Key Wane. I love this R&B inspired beat. Then the sample of Guy's "Piece Of My Love" is what really sets this beat off. Chris Brown's hook is so on point. Then with all the corny lines Big Sean continuously drops, he sometimes manages to drop a clever one: "killed the pussy had to hit that shit like nine times". What I don't understand is why Ty Dolla $ign is on this. It's kind of a waste of a feature if he was just gonna have those couple of lines. That did nothing for the song. But this is definitely on of my favorites of the album.
6. Paradise
Earlier I spoke about that speedy run-on-sentence flow and how that only fits at certain times. This is one of those times. Mike Will Made-It provides a bass thumping, horn heavy beat that fits that weird flow perfectly. But the beat is really what makes this song like able. Lyrically, it's just not there for me (especially that super lame "hoes going both ways offense defense" line). In short, this song is all beat. No lyrics.
7. Win Some, Lose Some
Here is where Sean gets the most personal. He talks about how many thinks he's living a good life because of the money and fame, he really isn't. He finds himself remembering his boys from his old hood that he feels he forgot about, family drama, girl drama and so on. Seems to me he's going through serious anxiety. He wishes that things could be how they used to be before the fame. Now this is the part of the album where it kinda loses steam and the energy just disappears. Everything becomes more softer and somber. Even on a track where he's trying to be deep and introspective, he still manages to cram in another wack line: "getting dressed up for court that's a law suit". But overall this is one of the better songs on the album.
8. Stay Down
Yeah...don't like it. This is one of the more lazier songs on the album. The beat sounds like a half assed throw away. Then Big Sean keeps mixing up his flow over this beat making it worst. He's already not rapping about nothing worth quoting. This is nothing more than a posse song or a song he made for him and his crew. A very poor song.
9. I Know (featuring Jhene' Aiko)
This one grew on me a little bit. DJ Mustard puts together a slow paced beat with this deep, dragging loud horn that sounds like a slower version of Tyga's "Rack City". This is nothing more than another radio attempt. I do like Jhene a lot on here. A lot better than I like Sean on here because here he goes again with the face palming lines: "just like a pamper he on that childish shit". This has some replay value but I got a feeling once the radio gets a hold of it I'm gonna be sick of it quick.
10. Deep (featuring Lil Wayne)
Here's another song that took me by surprise a bit. DJ Mustard and Key Wane team together for this production. It's a very subtle but ice production. Calm enough to fit the mood of the song. It seems to me he's annoyed that he doesn't get the respect he deserves as a legit MC. So he's kinda addressing the doubters. I would go in on that topic but that's a whole other blog. Anyway, Wayne's verse was surprisingly not bad at all. In fact it was good. But again, Sean is doing that run-on-sentence flow on a track where it doesn't fit. I was also disappointed to hear that Cyhi The Prince had a verse on this track but it was cut at the last minute. That would have made this a hell of a lot better. Still good though.
11. One Man Can Change The World (featuring Kanye West and John Legend)
Things get real emotional now. Sean is on here reflecting on a number of things. Specifically looking back at his life. How it was then and how it is now. He also goes talking about people who have greatly influenced him throughout his life. His grandmother specifically (he talks to her over the phone at the end of the song). The production is real soft, soulful and has a feeling of sorrow. Matches the emotion of his story perfectly. Sean, along with Kanye and John Legend each sing the hook at separate times. I'm not too crazy about Sean's singing but because of the emotion in this it's not a surprise he did that. Nice song.
12. Outro
He closes this album with a one verse track that pretty much wraps up everything that was talked about on the album. The production seems very happy and full of joy. Which could mean that throughout everything he's been through he still manages to keep a smile on his face and stay happy. Good outro.
Well overall, it's not a great album, but Dark Sky Paradise is most definitely Big Sean's best work. This is the album that his fans have been waiting for. More importantly the album he needed to make. I give this a final grade of a B. It's a shame it took three attempts for Big Sean to finally put out the album that we knew he could do. Despite still having an annoying rap voice and an arsenal of cringe worthy lines, you can deny his overall talent as a musician. He's worked hard, very hard to get to where he is now. Unlike many other rappers in the game, he appreciates where he came from, the people who helped him get here and the people who supported since they days he had nothing. That's something I can truly respect. End.
Lyrics: B
Production: B
Collaboration: B-
Originality: C-
Concept(s): D
Final Grade: B
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CREDITS
Executive Producers
Sean Anderson
Kanye West
Lead Artist
Sean Anderson
Production
Matthew Samuels
Anderson Hernandez
Allen Ritter
Kanye West
Jacques Webster
Nasheim Myrick
Lee Stone
Emmanuel Nickerson
Noah Goldstein
Dijon McFarlane
Dacoury Natche
Dwane Weir
Jay John Henry
Michael Williams
Marcos Palacios
Ernest Clark
Christopher Umana
Uforo Ebong
Amaire Johnson
Mike Otoo
Jahron Brathwaite
Leland Wayne
Collaboration
Aubrey Graham
Kanye West
Earl Stevens
Christopher Brown
Tyrone Griffin
Jhene Chilombo
Dwayne Carter
John Stephens
Jahron Brathwaite
Ariana Grande-Butera
Label
G.O.O.D. Music/Def Jam Recordings
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