From Detroit to G.O.O.D. Music, Big Sean has certainly made a name of himself. The rapper was discovered by label boss Kanye West when he overheard him freestyling at a radio station, and after that, the rest is history. Big Sean is a six-time Grammy nominee and makes his presence known on guest-heavy features. His last album, Detroit 2, scored him a Grammy nom for his song “Deep Reverence” with the late Nipsey Hussle. Sean has made a lot of progress since the beginning of his career but fails to say consistent, something his fans and he have noticed of himself over the years. He rapped about his lack of keeping up with releasing new music.

“I think where I lack most as an artist is consistency/ I just haven’t had the energy to compete with enemies,” he rapped on his latest freestyle, “Anderson Estate.” The Detroit native flipped J Dilla’s beat for a slowed-down version of The Pharcyde’s “Drop.”

Big Sean’s Best Songs In 2024

2024 might be the year when we actually get a Big Sean album. On the “Anderson Estate” freestyle, he not only came for himself but also sent some jabs to the in hip-hop (aka Drake, Kendrick Lamar, and J. Cole).

“I think where I lack most as an artist is consistency/ I just haven’t had the energy to compete with enemies/”Or y’all so-called bigger three/ But every verse I lay, fans love to say, ‘Man, n—– is sleep!'” the full line reads.

While the track brings honesty to himself in terms of just not keeping up by releasing new music, he also revs himself up about how he always knew he was going to be successful.

“Sean, how long you knew you was finna win?/ How long you been plottin’ on M’s?/ Since before the TV show/ You was in the office and cutting off friends/ Since the POW chain setting trends, hold up/ How long you been plottin’ on a B?/ Since before you had a song with Jay?/ Since before you knew Jhene?,” he spits.

Besides the “Anderson Estate” freestyle, the rapper dropped “Precision” on March 22. On the record, which was well-received by fans, Sean raps about he is looking at the target and nothing else.

“Shootin’ my shot like, pew-pew, ayy/Hit the red dot like, pew-pew, ayy/Finger on the trigger like, pew-pew-pew-pew, ayy, ayy, ayy, ayy/Shootin’ my shot like, pew-pew, ayy/Hit the red dot like, pew-pew, ayy/Hittin’ her spot like, pew-pew-pew-pew, ayy, ayy, ayy, ayy/I gotta get it, man, shout out, I hit it, I’m fully committed like ayy,” he raps.

Hopefully, “Precision” is just the start and we can just have to sit back and watch him work.

Take a look at eight of his best songs ranked:

• 8. “Mercy” with Kanye West, Pusha T, 2 Chainz, ‘Cruel Summer’ (2012)

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  "Mercy" is the first song from the G.O.O.D. Music album that features some of Ye's artists. Ye taps in Big Sean and Pusha-T along with Def Jam rapper 2 Chainz on the final verse. The song begins with a sample from the late Fuzzy Jones' intro for Super Beagle's "Dust A Soundboy." Sean told Genius that he freestyled the first four lines backstage on the Watch the Throne tour and Ye immediately approved,  "Man that's it! You should say that.'" The song title is in reference to the Lamborghini Murciélago Italian sports car that was manufactured by the automotive company up until 2010. G.O.O.D. Music gained two nominations for their efforts, "Best Rap Song" and "Best Rap Performance" at the 2013 Grammy Awards. "Mercy" also gave Big Sean his second No. 1 on the Billboard chart.

• 7. “Blessings” ft. Drake and Kanye West, ‘Dark Sky Paradise’ (2015)

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  In this song, Big Sean gives thanks for all of his blessings, which he particularly shouts out his wealth due to his rap career. The official album release only contains a feature from Drake. Kanye West raps the last verse on an extended version which is the album's third single. Drake's notable hook, "Way up, I feel blessed," steals the show. Sean previously collaborated with Drake on his song "All Me" along with 2 Chainz.

• 6. “One Man Can Change The World” ft. Kanye West and John Legend, ‘Dark Sky Paradise’ (2015)

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  The soulful ballad finds a person realizing their true potential and impact on others' lives. "One Man Can Change The World" is a very personal song for the rapper after the loss of his grandmother. "I just lost my grandma, so, right before she passed, I wrote this song. A major part of the song is about her." he told MTV News back in 2015. "One Man Can Change The World" was the first song the Detroit native was nominated for a Grammy for a song where he wasn't a guest feature. Big Sean was nominated alongside labelmates Kanye West and John Legend, for "Best Rap/Sung Collaboration" at the 2016 Grammy Awards. 
• 5. “Marvin & Chardonnay” ft. Kanye West and Roscoe Dash, ‘Finally Famous’ (2011)

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  "Marvin & Chardonnay" is Big Sean's third single from his debut album 'Finally Famous." The track is a sex ode describing what to make a perfect night: some sensual tunes from Marvin Gaye and a bottle of chardonnay. The song gave Big Sean his first No. 1, but he credits everything to his label boss Kanye. "He gave me the beat, Roscoe was already on it," he said per Billboard in 2011. "He was in Paris, I was in LA and he hit me and was like, 'yo, you should put this on your album.'" The Detroit native said that they knocked the verses out over the phone and that's how the song came about.

• 4. “I Don’t F— With You” ft. E-40, ‘Dark Sky Paradise’ (2015)

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  "I Don't F--- With You" is one of Big Sean's most popular songs and for many reasons. The uptempo and catchy hook has you singing it to anyone who might have pissed you off. "I feel like it's an anthem for everybody," he told Billboard in 2014. "It's an anthem in every way shape and form, if you don't f--- with somebody from your past, right now, or the other way around, somebody doesn't f--- with you." When Big Sean recorded the record when he was in a relationship with the late Naya Rivera. He cleared up rumors that the song was all about her and that their relationship was only somewhat a part of the inspiration behind the track. "The funny thing about 'I Don't F--- With You' is I actually wrote that while I was in a relationship," he told MTV News in 2014. "I wrote that when I was with my ex. And then obviously when a few things went down, I went back and changed a couple of words." "I Don't F--- With You" gave Big Sean his third No. 1  behind his 2011 hit "Marvin & Chardonnay" and his 2012 Cruel Summer collab "Mercy" with Kanye, Pusha T, and 2 Chainz.

• 3. “Beware” ft. Jhené and Lil Wayne, ‘Hall of Fame’ (2013)

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  "Beware" features a guest appearance from Lil Wayne and Jhené Aiko on the hook. On the track, Big Sean raps about how his ex-girlfriend couldn't deal with other girls wanting him so he ended the relationship and now has to deal with the consequences of a woman scorned. The song was well-received by fans and is three-times certified platinum by the RIAA. The song contains an interpolation of The Four Tops' 1973 hit single "Ain't No Woman (Like The One I've Got."
• 2. “Bounce Back”,’I Decided’ (2017)

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  The Detroit rapper calls "Bounce Back" the "underdog anthem." "The underdog has been through that, the underdog has took L's, bounced back, came back harder like a champion. I remember my manager told me, 'You know what happens to the underdog? It eventually turns into the big dog.' That always stuck with me, just that mentality," he said to Genius at the time. The song features label boss Kanye West on the back vocals rapping, "We're the real ones." The track follows the theme for the project 'I Decided' which purpose is to uplift and come back harder than before but the rapper emphasized that he didn't want to exaggerate the message,  "You don't want to overdo it. I'm not trying to sit here and preach to people," the rapper told Entertainment Weekly in 2017. "Bounce Back" was nominated for "Best Rap Performance" at the 2018 Grammy Awards.

• 1. “Deep Reverence” ft. Nipsey Hussle, ‘Detroit 2’ (2020)

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  After the death of the legendary rapper Nipsey Hussle, Big Sean released "Deep Reverence." In the song, both rappers talk about the struggles of growing up and coming up in the industry. The Detroit native gets personal and raps about his anxiety and that girlfriend's miscarriage triggered his depression. He doesn't name her but fans believe he's referring to Jhené Aiko who he has been dating on and off since 2016. He also reflects on Nipsey's death and how it prompted him to call Compton rapper Kendrick Lamar and squash their beef. "One of the people that, especially after Nipsey died was important for me to connect with was Kendrick," he said per NME. "Me and Kendrick got a history of songs... When this whole Big Sean, Kendrick beef was going on, it was something I wish I would have spoken up about because there was nothing." "Deep Reverence" was nominated for "Best Rap Performance" at the 2021 Grammy Awards.

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