Did you expect Big Sean to be sampling an USHER song at any point? To be honest, we didn’t. But he did just that on his new album, Better Me Than You. It occurs on the album’s attempt at a catchy hit with “Who You Are (Superstar)”, which is track five. It’s not such an obvious sample, but when you play the songs back-to-back, you can hear it a little more clearly. That USHER track we are referring to is “Superstar” off of one of the singer’s most successful records to date, Confessions.
However, instead of just getting clearance through other means, Sean decided to go right to the source to get his blessing. The Neighborhood Watch reshared the clip of USHER and the Detroit MC vibing to the demo from the latter’s IG account that centers around his website. With there currently being a lot of bitterness between artists in the industry, it’s nice to see two respective stars giving each other love like this. USHER was all in for Sean’s sample flip, as you can see in the video below.
Sean gave some extra context to the post, revealing that “Who You Are (Superstar)” had been in the works for a little bit. “This was like a year ago when the song was just the demo. I had to make sure it was appropriate to sample such a classic ”, he said. Hopefully with this now out there, maybe we could get a collaboration between them?
What are your thoughts on USHER giving Big Sean approval to sample his work for the latter’s Better Me Than You? Were you aware that Sean utilized a song from the R&B legend? Is it crazy to think that USHER is that far into his career where others are sampling his music? We would like to hear what you have to say, so leave your thoughts in the comments. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding Big Sean and USHER. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on in the music world.
There was a lot of potential for Better Me Than You, the sixth studio album from Big Sean. For the most part, the lead singles were extremely promising to very good. Then, when you get into the themes and ideas promised, they are mature, fairly thought-provoking, and motivating. Furthermore, the features list had a lot to offer. Gunna, Charlie Wilson, Thundercat, Kodak Black, Bryson Tiller, and The Alchemist are just a few that make a pretty star-studded cast. On the surface, there’s a lot to like. However, when you get into the album and perhaps listen to it a couple of times, you probably caught some inconsistencies.
For us, those included too many instances of Sean sounding half asleep on the mic. Also, with the tracklist sitting at 21 songs, there was too much fluff and some of them sounded out of place. The Cash Cobain song was the biggest offender of this. We feel these are the reasons why Big Sean was only able to sell 22,000 copies (courtesy of DJ Akademiks) of his newest effort in its first week. Also not helping him was the fact that he was pretty inactive after the release of Detroit 2. Even though he’s major artist of the 2010s, he doesn’t have the same luxury of a Travis Scott to wait that long in between releases.
The final results were pretty on par with the 24,000 units prediction, and with this being official, this is now his lowest first week of his career. Prior, Sean had never debuted lower than three on the charts. Now, he will be lucky to be in the top 20-25. Throughout his time in the genre, there have been a lot of people that are highly critical of the Detroit MC. Now, with these numbers confirmed, they are coming out in droves. “I don’t wanna hear no more talk from him about “Big 3” or anything among those lines”, one X user states. “Damn what’s that upcoming j cole album called? Yeah this is that”, another jokes. Sean has been teasing a couple of other tapes recently, so he’s got more chances to reassert himself.
What are your thoughts on Big Sean only moving 22,000 copies of Better Me Than You in its first week? What do you think was the biggest reason for this precipitous fall-off from past releases? Is Sean out of his prime, or will this turn out to be a fluke? We would like to hear what you have to say, so leave your thoughts in the comments. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding Big Sean. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on in the music world.
Big Sean is on a creative roll. The rapper has finally dropped his anticipated comeback album, Better Me Than You, and he has even more music on the way. He previously alluded to new music during an IG Live session, but he confirmed it during a recent interview with Complex. Not only is Sean working on another full length project, but he’s doing so with the mother of his child, Jhene Aiko. The two artists have a long history of working together, and they’ve may be considering a sequel to their 2016 joint album.
Big Sean has not slowed down one bit since the release of the aforementioned Better Me Than You. If anything, the rapper has hit the gas and decided to put even more work in. He told Complex that he has plans to reunite TWENTY88 for a new album in the near future. “I’ve been looking at [the album] as a living, breathing being because I decided to put it out this week,” he told the outlet. “I was going to keep holding onto it.”
Big Sean’s recording process has been somewhat scattered. Still, he told the outlet that he wants to make sure they end up in the right place. For example, he pointed to a Nicki Minaj collab as a track that would fit better on a TWENTY88 album. “One of the Twenty88 songs,” the rapper noted. “I was like, ‘Oh, it kind of fits better on the album,’ but it wasn’t all the way done yet.” The album sales for Better Me Than You have not been spectacular. That said, we’re excited to see what Sean has in store regardless.
Big Sean also has plans for a joint album with The Alchemist. They worked together on a standout cut for Larry June’s The Great Escape, and Alc produced the song “Together Forever” on the new Sean album. Fans may have anticipated more Alchemist beats on Better Me Than You, but it seems Big Sean was saving them. “That’s part of a side quest I’m doing with Alchemist that me and him been locked in on,” the rapper revealed. “So, excited about that.” He then confirmed that a full length album between him and The Alchemist is in the works. “That’s a project that me and Alchemist are working on together,” he explained. “So that’s why that part is not on the album.”
Big Sean went through a lot to get his new album made. The rapper poured his blood, sweat and tears into Better Me Than You, and fans could tell. The album was packed with introspective songwriting and uplifting sounds. Unfortunately, the uplifting elements have not applied to album sales. Hip Hop By the Numbers released the projected first week sales for Better Me Than You, and they are not good. In fact, they will mark the lowest-selling first week of Big Sean’s entire career.
Big Sean’s latest album is projected to sell less than 24K in its first week. Statistically, these numbers will put him outside of the top 20 on the Billboard 200 charts. Still high, right? Well, not for Big Sean. Despite not being considered “Big Three” caliber, Sean has been a steady commercial force throughout his entire career. His first four albums all topped the hip hop charts, and his third album, Dark Sky Paradise (2015), managed to top the Billboard 200. To date, none of Sean’s studio albums have charted lower than three. Better Me Than You will be lucky to crack 20.
There are, of course, lots of variables at play here. Big Sean hasn’t released an album in four years. Said album, Detroit 2, was not the commercial success that its predecessors were. It was eventually certified Gold, but it lacked a hit single. Better Me Than You has the same problem with even more distance from Sean’s last hit. None of the three lead singles from the album charted on Billboard. Big Sean clearly had more of an album statement in mind, but it still stands to reason that a viral hit would have done a lot to boost his sales.
It’s also worth noting that rap albums have consistently underperformed in 2024. Unless your name is Travis Scott, you are struggling to sell records. Mustard way underperformed when he put out Faith of a Mustard Seed in July. He sold only 18K copies, despite having a stellar roster of guest stars and the after glow of a Kendrick Lamar-assisted number one. Mustard’s partner in crime, YG, fared even worse. Just Re’d Up 3 sold only 8K first week, which is massively down from the rapper usual Billboard numbers. It’s a rough patch that the genre hopefully gets out of.
With more and more listens, Big Sean’s sixth album Better Me Than You is a little inconsistent. There are some very high highs and extremely low lows. It’s a shame, because we would even argue that there are some all-time great performances from the Michigan MC. One of those is Big Sean’s track with Teyana Taylor, Larry June, and DJ Premier, “Million Pieces”. Hit-Boy and Milan Beker are also in the mix on the production side, so this is truly a stacked track in both aspects.
However, there are tons of cases where an all-star cast of talent doesn’t mean a successful collaboration. In fact, there are some on this album that prove that. But “Million Pieces” strives in a lot of ways and one of which is Big Sean’s performance. Larry’s verse is solid, but as it should be, the lead artist has the much stronger writing. Throughout his section, he utilizes the “million pieces” phrasing in multiple and cool ways. For instance, Sean talks about his father’s dreams of becoming an actor. It never came to fruition, so any time that his pops brings it up, it shatters Sean into a “million pieces”. This just one example, so you’ll have to check out the track to hear the rest for yourself.
“Million Pieces” – Big Sean, Teyana Taylor, Larry June, & DJ Premier
Quotable Lyrics:
My life is just one big puzzle that’s broken into a million pieces I’ve been tryin’ to sequence, it gets hard as Losin’ the one you love, done shared a million things with When I’m done, they’ll probably put my bones in museums Like that’s one of the last from n****s, ever ‘Cause at this rate, we’ll all be extinct then
Big Sean made sure to highlight a lot of relatable topics on his new album, Better Me Than You. It’s fair to say that everyone needs some extra motivation at times to get through a long day at work, a rough patch, and etc. Whatever the case may be, hip-hop music can typically be a place where listeners go to get a boost of adrenaline to conquer the day. Big Sean’s sixth studio album has a fair number of tracks like that, including his Gunna collab “It Is What It Is”.
This is the first time that we have ever heard these two together and it turns out they complement each other well. It helps that their styles aren’t drastically different, but nonetheless, it’s great to Sean looking to expand his horizons. On “It Is What It Is”, both MCs are talking about what they’ve done to block out the noise to get where they want to go in life. Sacrifice, taking baby steps, and removing certain people out their lives were just a few strategies they applied. Besides the topical focus, the beat is also a homerun, as Gunna’s most frequent producer Turbo shows up here. Him, along with Omar Grand, concoct a Hispanic/trap fusion with trumpets and punchy drum kicks. It’s woozy, grand in scale, and overall, just a great listen.
Understand, n****s came straight out the concrete, it wasn’t no beach with the breeze, you know? (Straight up) Mobbin’ like ‘Pone, capeesh, you know? ‘Cause n****s need more than a piece, lil’ ho (God) Took a long way to the top (Top) Y’all too worried ’bout a fast track (Swerve) Face all on the front page, I don’t give a f*** about no backlash
It seems that the constant aspect that Big Sean is receiving for Better Me Than You is how mature and inspiring it is. Overall, that’s fairly true. However, there are quite a few tracks that take away from how effective this project wants to be in those regards. Additionally, some of Sean Don’s flows and deliveries feel too sleepy at times, weighing down the messages to some extent. In total, his sixth studio album has some boring lows, but also some career-best triumphs. One of them is the joint effort between Big Sean and Charlie Wilson on “Break The Cycle”.
For a first collaboration, their chemistry is pretty much picture perfect. The times in which Wilson’s adlibs/background vocals pop in come at the right moments. They are extremely powerful and soulful (as always), and they really elevate the theme of “Break The Cycle”. Big Sean raps about being able to recognize that you need to make changes if you want to see change. Additionally, he talks about persevering through your own mental roadblocks and proving people wrong. He may not deliver his words in a witty or layered way, but sometimes simplicity is better. For “Break The Cycle”, that is definitely the case, as it feels like Sean is talking to you like a friend. It’s a uplifting moment on the record but it will go down as a top 10 song in his discography, in due time.
I really had to stop what I was doin’ and start retracin’ my steps And had to break some cyclеs Sometimes you don’t always win it as much as you’d like to But thеy can’t see you out here panickin’ You can’t expect it to change, doin’ the same, that’s insanity They catch me on the Canon, movin’ candidly
Big Sean had one of last week’s big releases with Better Me Than You. New albums are always prone to sharp-eared listeners looking for disses, and they think they found one here.
Did Big Sean Diss Lil Yachty On Better Me Than You?
As HipHopDX notes, On the Pressure Edition bonus track “Wire Me,” Sean raps, “I mean, I might have to even throw ’em a lil’ boat — pff / I’m seein’ n****s gettin’ drowned out ’cause they can’t switch up the flow / Just give ’em a year or two, and they gettin’ exposed.”
But, Sean says he didn’t diss Yachty despite the “lil boat’ reference. In fact, Yachty actually appears on the album. Sean told Complex:
“I wasn’t talking about [Yachty]. Yachty is on the album as well. On ‘Yes,’ he’s doing ad libs with me. I’m glad you said that, no I’m not taking a jab at Yachty. It was like a whole double entendre. [If I was referencing him] that would have been a whole other entendre [laughs]. He was in the studio with me while I was making the album. He actually has a verse on [‘Yes’], too. I might throw it on there later.”
He also said of the “n****s gettin’ drowned out” line, “To be real with you, when I thought of the bar, I just thought it was clever. I just see a lot of times where people get bored with people’s flows. Sometimes it’s the same flow. I’ve seen that in a lot of artists.”
On Better Me Than You, Big Sean poured out his emotions and thoughts. After such a long wait in between projects, the Detroit rapper definitely wanted to make up for lost time in that regard, but also in terms of the amount of material. Along with the standard issue of his sixth studio LP, he also delivered four alternate versions that physical exclusives. They come in vinyl form and the names of each are Feelings, Focus, Clarity, and Pressure. The last of the bunch is causing some discussion online thanks to a sit-down between Sean and Complex.
During the interview, he was asked about a couple of lines on “Wire Me”, which seems to be the only additional bonus track included on the aforementioned editions. On it, Big Sean raps, “I mean, I might have to even throw ’em a lil’ boat—pff / I’m seein’ n****s gettin’ drowned out, ’cause they can’t switch up the flow / Just give ’em a year or two, and they gettin’ exposed“. Due to the inclusion of lil’ boat, the immediate thought for many was that it was a direct shot at Lil Yachty. However, Sean Don was quick to shut down the rumors, according to HipHopDX.
LOS ANGELES, CA – JULY 22: Big Sean is seen on July 22, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by PG/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
“I wasn’t talking about [Lil Yachty]. Yachty is on the album as well. On ‘Yes’ he’s doing adlibs with me. No, I’m not taking a jab at Yachty. It was like a whole double entendre. If I was referencing him] that would have been a whole other entendre”, he explained. Later on, he mentioned that fans might be able to hear more of the Georgia multi-hyphenate on the project. “He was in the studio with me while I was making the album. He actually has a verse on [‘Yes’] too. I might throw it on there later”. That would certainly be an interesting thing to hear and we hope he comes through on that.
What are your thoughts on Big Sean clearing up his alleged diss toward Lil Yachty? Did you know that Lil Boat is on the album? How are you liking Better Me Than You so far? We would like to hear what you have to say, so leave your thoughts in the comments. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding Big Sean and Lil Yachty. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on in the music world.
Detroit’s very own golden boy, Big Sean, has returned with a new album, and fans can’t seem to get enough. The celebrated rapper delivered Better Me Than You last Friday (August 30) after a slight delay, and as usual, the project has been dissected by Hip Hop enthusiasts worldwide. Sean is known for putting his heart, soul, and thoughts into his rhymes, and Better Me Than You highlights a new era of maturation. Not only has been working on this body of work for sometime, it also ushers in his next rollout: a book that Big Sean says will arrive at the top of the year.
In his recent sit-down with Zane Lowe of Apple Music, Big Sean revealed why he returned with “something substantial” with the release of Better Me Than You. “I was inspired to have fun, first and foremost,” he said. “But, I was also inspired by just the events that were going on in my life and the experiences that… You know, becoming a dad. I am a person who is very conscious. Every morning, I like to get my meditation on, I like to try and figure out how I can offer something to the world. And this album is just definitely me doing that in my own way. I was inspired enough to also write a book as well, so I’m writing a book that comes out in January.”
Further, Sean spoke about sharing his experiences through literature and music, learning from others, not feeling as if he has to prove himself anymore, his motivations in life, fatherhood, and why at times, he feels as if his latest album isn’t finished. Read a few standout moments from Big Sean’s conversation with Zane Lowe below.
On Viewing Himself More As A Student Than Teacher
Yeah. Well, I don’t really look at myself as a teacher. I do look at myself more of just sharing what we go through, I think we all have a lot of information to give. And I have been so, I guess the word is blessed. I’ve been so fortunate to be around a lot of my heroes in all different fields, spiritually, musically, even some of my favorite athletes ever. It’s like, I learned a lot from so many people, and so many great practices to get to where you want to be in your life, and how to live a life to where you attracting a life you really desire, and the one that you can benefit from the most, because we’re only here for such a short amount of time
On Embracing Low Moments In Life As Lessons
What is really important to me is the progression of myself and passing that on to my family and to my audience or to whoever I can, and enjoying your life, man. Because, if we’re here for such a short amount of time, this may be our only time as souls to progress ourselves, and to learn, and to go through the ups and downs. That’s kind of like why, lately, when I do going through those, you go through the highs and the lows. And when I’m going through the lows, I kind of been learning to embrace them more, because that’s where the growth happens. And that’s where, once it’s all said and done, we may not be able to go through that again, because we may not need it. We may just be beings of light and unplugged to the next part of ourselves. And so I really been looking at life a lot differently, but I also still been having fun with it.
On Not Competing Or Trying To Prove Himself
And it’s not that I’m trying to prove myself. I’m really trying to improve myself. So, it’s kind of a little bit of a different… Same word in there. I think Jhené [Aiko] said one time, “You’re not trying to compete, you’re trying to complete.” And it’s like, that’s really what I’m on. I’m not really… There’s nothing wrong with competing, but where I’m at, I’m just trying to do me, and express myself, and express the different sides of me. And I’m not a monk or nothing like that. I’m just somebody who I’m just living a life of sustaining, and doing what I got to do to get by, and doing what I got to do to thrive, and to be a great dad, and to be a great son, and to be a great partner, and to be a great team member, you know what I mean? So, to me, this album is just a reflection of that, and it’s still one of the most important parts of life is having fun, though, bro.
On Why He Doesn’t Necessarily Know If His Album Is Finished
Zane Lowe: Was it hard to finish?
Big Sean: Well, I don’t even know if it is finished, man, to be real with you, because it was hard to just stop and be like, “Man, let’s just start giving it to the world.” Because yeah, I had ideas that I was still working on, ideas that me and Alchemist were still cooking songs… There was a Twenty88 song that I thought fit well on my album that just didn’t get all the way finished in time. So, hopefully, I can get these things done, and if not—
Zane Lowe: So how did we get an album out of this, then? I mean, who or what prompted you to finally finish this record and be able to at least close the loop on this collection of songs?
Big Sean: Well, the thing was, I had been putting out music, and I was just like, “Man, I don’t want these songs that I put out to get stale. I don’t want to keep pushing it back.” I just kind of want to move forward. It’s been years and years since I put some music out, and I also didn’t want to rely on other people as well, you know what I mean? I didn’t want to wait, in that sense. So, it’s like I’m at a point in my life where I just let things happen when they’re supposed to happen. And I embraced that, and I embraced the other guy’s time. And so I just felt like it was time. And when I did IG Live, I was super emotional about it, because I had just decided then, a few days ago, that I was going to put my album out this week. And it was a real human moment for me, because I was very tired. I just had had COVID, and I was just going through a lot, man. And I was just thinking about all of the advice that when I was on the phone with my mom the night before, she gave me, and she was just like, “Baby, just go.”
”, he said. Hopefully with this now out there, maybe we could get a collaboration between them?
COMING SOON
