Photo Chic (2.75 out of 5 sneaks)
I must say that when I initially heard some of the songs leaked from this album, I wasn't sure if this was going to be the album for me. I purchased the album for a surprisingly cheap price of $7.99 on iTunes. Definitely worth that $7.99.
I was already a big fan of "My Last." Wasn't too excited about "I Do It" initially, but it really did grow on me and gets a lot of play now. "Don't Tell Me You Love Me" is one of those songs that all those newly single people (or those on the fence in their relationships) are going to ride to. I can get with it! "Wait for Me" is a cool track featuring Lupe Fiasco. I was definitely vibing to that one right off the jump. I would say it is my favorite track after "My Last." "Marvin and Chardonnay" is not really what I was expecting from the Kanye West feature. It's cool, but it didn't really wow me like I would have expected it too. I also can't get past the "whiney" hook. A little less Roscoe would have been good for me. I know the general public is going to love this one though, so that's okay because it's good for Big Sean to get that visibility. "Dance"screams classic Big Sean. When I think of Big Sean, I think of songs like this. I love how they incorporated the MC Hammer sample into it. I'm happy with this song. It gets me hype. "Get It" is okay, but I'll have to be in a certain mood to play it a lot. If I'm bored and there's nothing else to really play then I'll choose this one. If it wasn't on the album I wouldn't really miss it. "Memories, Pt II" is a win. John Legend is a great addition to my favorite Big Sean song. The song gets a nice upgrade. I think I still like the original better though, but this is fitting for an album and the mainstream audience he is trying to attract now. "High" features Chiddy Bang and Wiz Khalifa. I love Chiddy Bang, but I don't love this song. I really think it might just be Wiz's singing that irks me on this track. It's just a tad bit "bubble gum." The Dream lends his vocals to "Live this Life." Again, this track is just okay to me. I'll probably listen to it a few more times but I doubt it will be in continuous rotation. It'll get some play at summertime bar-b-ques too. Definitely not the Dream feature that set the bar on Drake's album though. The album ends with "So Much More" and I can't help but think I wanted so much more from this album. This last track is very Kanye-esque. The lyrical content is cool, but the song isn't that special to me.
Was it better than Finally Famous Vol. 3 though? That was what this album had to top for me. I know I shouldn't compare a mixtape to an album, but that mixtape was a true gem. I played it all the time! I really don't think this album topped it unfortunately. I was really expecting some big things from Big Sean, but this was just an average album to me. The songs that were previously released just happened to be some of the best songs from this album. Even his songs with features weren't particularly strong to me. I wanted so much to completely love this album, but that's not the case for me. Sorry Big Sean. I still think he's super talented and now I'm just going to be looking forward to his sophomore album. Artists should have time to grow. It's not going to be perfect the first time and I can except that.
Sidenote: I do recommend spending that extra few dollars to get the deluxe album. Those deluxe songs are pretty darn good.
Mixtape Chic (2.5 out of 5 sneaks)
Well…let me start by saying, I was not sure what to expect from this album so I went into listening with an open mind. Sometimes artists put out great mixtapes while their album that follows is mediocre if not worse. I would not say that is the case here but it is close to it. So without further ado…my review:
“Don’t Tell Me You Love Me” is such a relatable track and it definitely speaks true to relationships. I like the fact that he talked about the real deal back and forth that people go through. Most songs of this nature are one sided (love or hate), never both. It spoke to me. “Wait For Me” is in the same boat as the previous mentioned track: relatable. Lupe Fiasco’s addition to the track definitely added some extra flavor. “Let’s reminisce on the good times and the bad”. The track “Memories” speaks on the good and bad aspects of finally making it to where you may want to be. John Legend lends his soulful vocals to the track which is the perfect balance.
If it wasn’t for the MC Hammer sample on “Dance A*$” I wouldn’t care to hear it at all. It is the type of song you would hear in the club. I say leave it in the club cause it does not belong anywhere else. “I Do It” is one the type of track that belongs on a mixtape somewhere. I just can’t get into the vibe of the song. I can only listen to a track so many times before I decide to not listen to it regularly or ever again. Is it me or does “Marvin & Chardonnay” sound like the Big Sean version of “No Hands”? Yes? No? Maybe so? I say YES and we can thank Roscoe Dash for that. Without Roscoe, this track would have been much better. Just because you called your song “High” does not mean that Wiz Khalifa needs to be on the track. Sean’s verse wasn’t bad on this track but it wasn’t the greatest. Thank God that Xaphoon produced the track and that Chiddy laced it with a verse. It would have been an immediate add to the “skip” list.
Overall, this album is not an everyday listen; at least not in its entirety. I like some of the tracks but I feel like there could have been something more that he could have done for a debut. Yes, fans are established and they love what he has had to offer so far but this seems to be a slight (keyword slight) disappointment. It is what it is…
Social Chic (3.5 out of 5 sneaks)
And it’s here! I have to say, I love me some Big Sean (haha) but really, does the album live up to the Big Sean standard? to find out, I purchased the Delux version from itunes for 12.99, i had to hear everything.“Intro” is the typical opening to a Big Sean album. This song prepares you for the lyrical roller coaster that is Big Sean. “I Do It” is a good compliment to the album. It has that Big Sean IDGAF frame of mind.
“My Last” featuring Chris Brown has been one of my favorites since Photo Chic blasted it on the way to phoenix for big Sean’s concert. The tempo makes it a club jam but the words make you think. It’s the perfect combination of entertainment and motivation. “Don’t tell me you love me” is, for lack of a better word, realistic. No one can say they haven’t had a moment where they thought “Don’t tell me you love, you’re gonna make it too hard for me, I wish you were ugly; it wouldn’t be so hard to leave.” The hook is relatable.
“Wait for me”, featuring Lupe Fiasco, is a good procrastination track. It’s something damn near everyone can relate to; the need to do something, and putting it off til the last moment and wondering if you still have the time to make it happen.
“Marvin and chardonnay” reminds me of “In the morning” from a little louder. The two hooks are really similar. Not necessarily the words but the premise and the flow. Dance (A*s) is laid back club joint. The sampling of Hammer time was a nice touch, but I think it interrupted the flow of the song. It’s cool in the beginning but having it as the hook was awkward. “Get it” has a good steady flow. The treble on this track is a nice touch. The song itself is good but the position on the album is random. “Memories pt.2” featuring John Legend was a nice touch to the album. I liked the original version but adding John Legend to it was a good move.
High is a kick back track, something you could just chill and blast in the house, when you’re not trying to be bothered by reality. Wiz Khalifa and Chiddy Bang were a good addition to the track, these three meld together pretty well on tracks. Honestly, when is the last time dream had a good hook? “Live this life” is a track that we would expect form big Sean; all about showing people how to live like a star. I love how Big Sean collabs with RnB voices throughout his mixtapes.
“So much” more and “what goes around” are typical Big Sean tracks. The verses are inspirational as usual, referencing how anyone can be great and that no matter what people will hate and you will receive what is coming to you. But So much more has a gospel feel in its hook. “celebrity’ and “my jouse” kind of beat me over the head with the “im awesome, look at all my ish talk” but that is what big Sean does. But it’s something I could have lived without.
“100 Keys” featuring rick ross and Pusha T is one I have like for a while, it was a good way to end the album. Overall I think the album was ok, it did not compare to the mixtapes but not many albums can. I expect to hear great things from Big Sean, he got me excited when I first started listening to him and I believe he has the ability to pass the hype and be great.
Network Chic (3.5 out of 5 sneaks)
Alright, it’s finally here so put your hands up in the air (pun intended)…Finally Famous, the album! I have been looking forward to this release for quite some time now, and overall, I am a happy listener as this is a solid album. The tracks are a mixture of what we have come to expect from Big Sean based on his mixtapes and mainstream viability, which I am okay with. In fact, I have listened to the (deluxe) album on repeat for two days now. My favorite song is “Memories, Pt. 2,” “Are you willing to give up what you love for who you love?” Who hasn’t had to make those types of decisions before? This song reminds me the ups and downs of life and relationships (whether intimate, friends or colleagues).
A song that I like a lot on this album is “Dance” – what a wobbledy wobbledy wop banger lol! Love the MC Hammer sample too – I can already picture the video for this song. “I Do It” is a cool track that reminds me of the “lyrically creative” Big Sean. Of course, “My Last” goes hard (which we all know by now). “Wait For Me”, “Celebrity,” “High,” “100 Keys,” and “Live This Life” were all cool tracks as well. I liked “Don’t Tell Me You Love Me” because it reminds me how/why relationships stay in such a stagnant phase and don’t have growth past a physical or emotional reaction to someone or something.
The one thing I was expecting a little more of was lyrical creativeness – I feel like a lot of these songs have similar content and I would have liked more variety. Delivery though – on point!
