Big Sean finds promised land with Paradise

In hip-hop today, there are many artists who seem to release hit singles solely because of the novelty of the song. While this may just be a transitionary period in hip-hop, it seems as though there are only a few artists making real music these days.

There is one artist, however, leading a new generation of rappers who make real music, and his newest album solidifies his place as the torch-bearer for a new wave of hip-hop. Big Sean is an artist that won’t quit. He’s still on the way up to the top, but West’s protege is working hard to make a name for himself; Big Sean’s recent album, Dark Sky Paradise, might be his breakthrough.

The album features many artists from the last wave of hip-hop all-stars, which is complicated because all of them are still making music. Just as Dr. Dre and Jay-Z launched countless rap careers, Kanye West, Drake, E-40, Lil Wayne and others helped Big Sean make it big; their features on this album feel almost like an initiation. This is not to say any of these artists are willing to give up their top spots on the charts, but instead it feels as though Big Sean is finally an equal. Since being signed to G.O.O.D. Music in 2007, Big Sean has seen a success under the guidance of the West, but now it seems he is finally finding a voice on his own.

Dark Sky Paradise is one of the best albums of 2015. If there is only one sentence you read in this column, it should be that one because Big Sean’s work is nearly unbeatable here. He has soul and drive — both of which are clearly present in every track. His lyrical style of complex lines with broad references is so distinct that no one could match his flow. As mentioned previously, there are many high-profile features on this album, but every single one takes a back seat to the Detroit native’s voice.

“I feel like Sean, don’t get enough shine/ Is it cuz’ he ain’t got the tattoos? he ain’t throwing up signs/ Well, let me throw up mine,” raps Lil Wayne on “Deep,” proclaiming Big Sean to be the next big artist. These are heavy words from one of the most successful rappers making music today, and even so, his verse is an afterthought to Big Sean’s wild opener on the song.

West, too, supports Big Sean as rap’s next star. “You [Big Sean] is on God’s path now, and only success can happen to you,” West said, in a rare display of support. With all this support, it is no wonder this album is so good. Big Sean is joining the ranks with some of the best rappers in the world, and he’s doing it with ease.

The singles that dropped from this album instantly became huge hits, another aspect of this album that clearly spells success. “I Don’t F-ck With You” was the first single to be released, and it immediately became one of the most played radio hits of 2014, despite the censorship of practically every line. I wrote about the song when it first came out in September, and I haven’t stopped hearing it since. Produced by DJ Mustard and West, and featuring a verse from Oakland legend E-40, it is an incredibly bold first single, mainly because of its content. Even so, it was a huge success and a prophecy for things to come.

Following the success of “I Don’t F-ck With You, the next single was released within a few months. “Blessings” featuring Drake came out fairly recently, and it is already getting heavy radio play. Shortly after “Blessings” was released, “One Man Can Change The World” featuring John Legend and West was released. The two tracks could not be more different. The first is a proclamation about being on the top, aggressively moving through verses about getting money and staying famous, and the other, though featuring similar content, takes a completely different perspective on fame. Written in part as a memorial to Sean’s deceased grandmother, “One Man Can Change The World” is an uplifting ballad about believing in yourself, with backup vocals from the king of believing in himself, West.

Every track on Dark Sky Paradise is incredible. Jhene Aiko’s soulful voice on “I Know” is moving, and Chris Brown’s work in “Play No Games” is solid. But Big Sean’s incredible lyricism and style really make this album soar. Unless someone drops an album containing only No. 1 hits, Big Sean’s newest work is already deserving of album of the year for 2015. Don’t quote me on that, as we still have yet to hear Kanye’s newest album or Chance the Rapper’s newest project, but this album is a top contender and currently the soundtrack to my life.

Matt Burke is a sophomore majoring in film production. His column, “Notes on Notes,” runs Wednesdays.