"And for the Gold Medal, I Keep my Foot on the Pedal"

Its been a solid year for hip-hop music. Not as good as 2018. But an extremely solid year. We’ve seen a number of new artists emerge as stars. And we’ve seen some stars solidify their positions and enhance their resume. As I said its been a solid year. However, with all that's gone on in the world and in hip-hop specifically, to me, there's been a void over the past two years. For my ear, something, or rather someone, has been missing. 

Enter Big Sean.

https://weheartit.com/entry/302417198

Prior to the releases of the songs“Single Again” and “Overtime” at the end of July of this year, Sean had been extremely quiet throughout the whole of 2018 and into the first half of 2019. Although, we did, almost like clockwork, receive our customary song on DJ Khaled’s “Father of Asahd” album, there has been a firm disconnect between Sean and the game over the past 18 months or so. However, with almost all the signs pointing towards a release coming before the year is out, it would appear the wait is over. And personally, I’m extremely intrigued to see what Sean has to say.

I mean let’s just assess what we know.

Sean will be following up on what, I personally believe, was his strongest and most successful year as an artist in 2017. The year which saw him release his fourth studio album “I Decided”, to huge critical acclaim and a number 1 spot on billboard. An album which saw him refine and hone his sound and skills, and for at least the time being shot him into a lot of people's top 10 or top 5. That same year, he would follow up with what I believe was a stellar, and I mean STELLAR project in "Double or Nothing”, his joint project with the king that is Metro Boomin'. A tape where Sean experimented with a lot of new sounds, flows and beats but still delivered exceptional songs, lyricism and word play. So already we can and should be supremely excited to see just how Sean will follow up all of this.

Furthermore, he almost has a duty to respond to Jhene. And when I say this, I acknowledge that by all accounts, he and Jhene seem to have had a mutual breakup and remain friends – If you don’t believe me just go listen to the aforementioned song “Single Again”. However, Sean does HAVE to respond to that conglomerate of social media who seem to have taken to blaming him for the split. You know that group of people who heard 'Triggered' and IMMEDIATELY got in there "Sean ain't shit' or 'men ain't shit' bag. Further, its always extremely interesting to see how Sean handles these situations. From history we've seen that when Sean gets in his post-breakup bag, he almost always delivers a hit, and is usually at the top of his game. Thus, I personally expect nothing different.

Finally, I think we also need be excited because I think Sean is finally comfortable with his place in Hip-hop. Sean, like almost every other rapper, truly believes there is no one on the planet better than him. Despite this though, there has always been a disconnect which has prevented the vast majority of fans seeing him this way. Now the terrible album which was “Hall of Fame” and getting “washed” by Kendrick Lamar on ‘Control’ (Which looking back now, isn’t true as Kendrick had the weakest verse on the song. Yes, this is a hill I am ready to die on), certainly didn’t help this cause. However, the small glimpses of Sean we have gotten since his last full release in 2017 suggest that he's content with his placing in the rap hierarchy. As talked about on the aforementioned song "Single Again", he's been going to therapy to deal with the ills of the rap game and he's been seeking to find happiness in other areas. Thus, I excited to see how he manifests this in his music and how he gets this point across.

With this, it is likely that Sean will seek to produce an album to the liking of his core fans rather than try to tailor himself or his art to the wider hip-hop masses who have shown that they just aren't ready to hop on the Big Sean wave.

As such, with all these factors considered, I for one would not at all be surprised if we’re sitting here soon talking about Sean releasing a jaw-dropping, hall of fame project (no pun intended), void of the need to pander to those who refuse to roll with him.