By Hannah Lathen/ managing editor
Big Sean takes a different turn from his usual hype songs to deliver a message about personal growth and inspiration for others in his latest album I Decided.
Big Sean dropped I Decided, his fourth studio album, Feb. 3, and although the album has a few missteps, he created a solid piece of work.
The first single off the album was “Bounce Back,” which was released on Halloween last year and became his highest charting single to date. The song, which talks about getting back up after taking a major loss, has catchy lyrics and production from Metro Boomin.
The album starts out with a voice, maybe that of an older Big Sean, talking to God about how he lived the same life for 45 years without accomplishing much.
On the second track, Big Sean teams up with Jeremih for “Light,” where he reveals his path to finding himself. One verse includes “Spent my whole life tryna find the light that’s at the end of the tunnel. I should have realized it was inside.”
Throughout the rest of the album, tracks give off the sense that Big Sean is acknowledging his coming up as an artist and how he is trying to keep his mind set on his goals.
On the song “Sacrifices,” Sean raps, “I came a long way from that Marvin and Chardonnay.” “Marvin and Chardonnay” was one of his first big hits.
I Decided features several big collaborations including those with Migos and The-Dream, but the loudest one comes from Eminem, a Detroit native like Big Sean, on “No Favors.”
Not surprisingly, Eminem raps his verse with fire including, “Trump’s a bitch, I’ll make his whole brand go under.” Eminem’s verse largely overpowers Big Sean’s part. It feels like an Eminem song on Big Sean’s album.
While I Decided is a solid album with a strong hit like “Bounce Back” many people say it does not compare to his previous works. His later albums feature tracks that soared in popularity like “Dance (A$$),” “IDFWU” and “Blessings.”
However, putting out an album filled with radio-bangers does not discredit the depth and power behind Big Sean’s voice and message on I Decided.
Growing as an artist and getting serious about one’s music is worth all the risk of not getting those No. 1’s, and Big Sean is doing both.
