BIG SEAN IS "FINALLY FAMOUS"

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Written by: Pia Fergus

Big Sean is "Finally Famous", debuting his first album under the G.O.O.D. music label with drop-top summer tracks, real hip-hop lyrics and a sensational catchy flow to go along with his Detroit twang. After releasing 3 mixtapes, all with the same title as his debut album ("Finally Famous-The Mixtape", "UKNOWBIGSEAN-Finally Famous Vol. 2" and "Finally Famous Vol. 3: BIG") it was set clear and engraved in stone that this 23 year old rapper was hungry for fame, and he doesn't want his fans to remain fans, he wants them to become his family.

The intro to his album is more like a heartfelt paragraph expressing his grateful side, but also revealing that he is STILL hungry to be on top with the greats. He seems really wise for his age as well, stating that he "turns mistakes into lessons", and he only "sleeps long enough to dream". Hunger mixed with grace and diligence is what this artist seems to ooze out of his skin. With his hit singles "I Do It" and "My Last", Sean embraces his more cocky and Casanova sides, expressing his love for fine women and extravagent things. These are the songs to play right before you leave to that loft party on a friday night,  and with a little something extra in your cup, these songs could make you feel like the man himself.

Move over Drake, "Don't Tell Me You Love Me" is the rap version of  "Marvin's Room", and it's way more in your face and way less apologetic. He states that he's ready to leave his current girlfriend but he doesn't want her to "tell me you love me", because at the end of the night he'll be "right back in bed with you". This is definitely one of those songs that young couples of the argumental caliber can understand and appreciate. "Marvin and Chardonnay" featuring Kanye and Roscoe Dash, "Dance (A*$)", and "Live This Life" featuring The Dream are for sure the club anthems on this album. These songs have pulsating beats, big choruses and lots and lots of punch lines to be quoted on Facebook and Twitter without one ever being repeated by the next person.  "Memories, Pt. 2" featuring John Legend is the same exact song as "Memories" off of his third mixtape, but with John Legend singing a great chorus. "Are you willing to give up what you love for who you love?!", "I always have faith, light will swallow the dark" states Sean. This song, as well as "So Much More", are true tear-jerkers and allow you to witness the softer side of him.

This album wouldn't be an album if he didn't have a song about smoking trees, which Big Sean admits to doing quite frequently. "High" featuring Wiz Khalifa and Chiddy Bang is the ULTIMATE laid back, head bopping, zoning out song for your road trips and late night cyphers. And what better collabs to have than Wiz and Chiddy Bang? This song is just a perfect example of genius collaborations, and it definetly gives (his fellow G.O.O.D. Music peer) KiD CuDi's song, "Marijuana", a run for it's money.

"Finally Famous" is a living testimony of an album that hasn't necessarily sold out by using a lot of collaborations and meaningless lyrics. Big Sean seems to not have changed at all, which works in his favor. His song's just seem more advanced and he seems more confident than he ever was before. After all, his catch phrase IS "I do it". He does it, and he does it pretty damn well.

Tracklisting (Deluxe Edition):
"Intro"
"I Do It"
"My Last (feat. Chris Brown)
"Don't Tell Me You Love Me"
"Wait For Me (feat. Lupe Fiasco)"
"Marvin & Chardonnay (feat. Kanye West & Roscoe Dash)"
"Dance (A*$)"
"Get It (DT)"
"Memories, Pt. 2 (feat. John Legend)"
"High (feat. Wiz Khalifa & Chiddy Bang)"
"Live This Life (feat. The-Dream)"
"So Much More"
"What Goes Around"
"Celebrity (feat. Dwele)"
                                   "My House"
                                   "100 Keys (feat. Rick Ross & Pusha T)"

"Boi! Boi! Boi! Boi! I do it..."- Big Sean