Haiku Reviews: Big Sean's "Hall of Fame"
Slava P has his own shrine in Cooperstown dedicated to the art of haiku.
Big Sean's new album is called Hall of Fame, a title best interpreted as a lofty future goal. Bred to be the first rapper fully incubated in the GOOD bubble, Sean's debut album Finally Famous earned a warm reception. It spawned a handful of hits that got radio play despite Sean's rap-related involvement. "My Last" was carried by a strong hook from Breezy. "Marvin Gaye & Chardonnay" got the assist from Kanye and Roscoe Dash. While "Ass" was essentially usurped by Nicki Minaj's ass. His 2012 mixtape Detroit produced introspective tracks, complete with interludes of rap artist's telling their best motor city story and showed a different side to Sean that endeared him to listeners who were previously only familiar with his ad-libs and co-signs. Hall Of Fame tries to strike the balance between the club-centric offerings of Finally Famous and the personal storytelling of Detroit, but it falls short of induction.
Big Sean's struggles aren't solely rooted in a lack of lyricism or shrill voice. They stem more from his obvious frustration at not being recognized as a musical trend setter. When everyone was talking about Drake and Ludacris beefing over the hashtag-flow in 2011, Big Sean was wrongly called a copycat despite having rapped that way for years. In order to avoid this shadow, Sean has adopted a delivery best described as a "drunken master-flow," where he switches cadences independently of the beat. This works well on songs like "Clique" and "Guap," where the beat shifts in-time with his rhyme scheme or drops out entirely, but it sounds sloppy when implemented elsewhere.
Sean's talent lies in his ability to make catchy, fully-formed songs with coherent themes. His themes are just poorly executed. On paper, a song about having sex with a mother whose kid keeps intruding - with Nicki Minaj playing the role of the welfare-stricken mother and Juicy J acting as some sort of distant ratchet uncle - seems like it could be fun. In practice, the song suffers from an over-aggressive Sean and a sample that almost makes you feel guilty for listening. Sean's rapping lacks urgency and the way he creates words in order to complete rhymes comes off sounding lazy.
There are a few moments that shine on Hall Of Fame, but they never last long enough to keep you interested. They're also punctuated by too many "Ugh I'm tired/Yay I'm famous" punchlines to garner any replay value. "Nothing Is Stopping You" has Sean repaying Kanye's generosity as he listens to an unnamed rapper freestyle for him outside of a radio station and it's an almost-heartwarming moment. Unfortunately, the exchange takes place in the last part of the song, so you're forced to listen to two "Ugh/Yay" verses. The theme of heartache is sprinkled through Hall Of Fame as well, because when you truly want to break somebody's heart you don't just dump them for a celebrity - you also air out your personal issues publicly.
Big Sean may want to see his name in the Hall Of Fame, but at best, he's a solid role player. The promotional run for the album billed it as "art" in the new-fangled, Yeezus-invented and Jay-Z-propelled sense of the word - aka performing rap in an atypical setting. One can't help but wonder if Sean's career would be different if he was in a camp that's more focused on providing music than "an experience".
Nothing Is Stopping You Repurposed beat shows Sean repaying karma by hearing struggle raps
Fire He wants heat because he can't grow to full size if his oven won't work
10 2 10 Perpetuating ethnic stereotypes is the new snapback hat
Toyota Music Touching love song for the company that ruined Big Sean's native land
You Don't Know Sean drives women mad due to inexperience. Lazy songwriting.
Beware feat. Lil Wayne & Jhene Aiko Infectious structure filled with half assed heartache tales. Whisper singing back.
First Chain feat. Nas & Kid Cudi Soulful samples and some strong guest appearances carry the whole thing.
Mona Lisa A cringe worthy pun with juvenile song content. What did you expect?
Freaky Nah. Naaah. What is this? Is this the worst skit ever? Yes. Yes it is. Ew.
MILF feat. Nicki Minaj & Juicy J Rap game Cleveland Show episode. Except less funny. Is that possible?
Sierra Leone Real attempts at rap! But should your hotel look like Sierra Leone?
It's Time feat. Young Jeezy & Payroll If you're going to put Young Jeezy raps on your album, why not Em?
World Ablaze feat. James Fauntleroy This album's "My Last" proving Sean has much less sense than Mr Brainwash
Ashley feat. Miguel Relationships suck, especially when aired out. Finally Shameless.
All Figured Out "Because, like, your bank account is filled with numbers - some call them 'figures'"
Guap A perfect Sean song. You'll want to hear it ten times, then never again.
Switch Up feat. Common For all his problems, this maybe the worst thing that Common ever did.
Mula (Remix) feat. Meek Mill, 2 Chainz, A remix so jacked, you're shocked that it's not really an Ace Hood single.