Better Me Than You is the sixth studio album by American rapper Big Sean, released through FF to Def Entertainment on August 30, 2024, with distribution handled by Def Jam Recordings. It features guest appearances from Bryson Tiller, Cash Cobain, Charlie Wilson, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Gunna, Ellie Goulding, Eryn Allen Kane, Kodak Black, Larry June, Syd, Teyana Taylor, and Thundercat, among others.[1] His first studio album since parting ways with GOOD Music and severing ties with its leader Kanye West, the project was originally announced on July 19, 2024 (which was the same day an unfinished alternate version of the album was leaked),[2][3] before being pushed back by several weeks.[1][4]
| Better Me Than You | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | August 30, 2024 | |||
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| Length | 66:00 | |||
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| Big Sean chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Better Me Than You | ||||
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Background
editOn September 4, 2020, Big Sean released his fourth album Detroit 2.[5] The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, marking his third number-one album.[6] The album was followed a year later, on October 29, 2021, by a collaborative extended play (EP) with record producer Hit-Boy titled What You Expect, peaking at number 76 on the Billboard 200.[7] That same day, Sean announced on Twitter that after 14 years, he would step away from Kanye West's GOOD Music label, stating the relationship was "a forever brotherhood, but business wise, I had to start getting a bigger cut! I worked my way out that deal."[8] West also claimed during a November 2021 Drink Champs podcast that signing Sean was the 'worst decision' of his entire career.
On March 22, 2024, Sean released the single "Precision", which would eventually serve as the lead single for his sixth album.[9] In July 2024, Sean performed a freestyle on the radio show On the Radar, wherein he indirectly affronted his former label boss Kanye West. As a result, an alternative and unfinished version of Sean's album was leaked by a user on X. Seemingly undeterred, he wrote on the platform himself later that month on July 18:
“The pressure of life (being a new Dad, being [an] artist that’s growing, being a human in development, etc) and embracing it all led me to a lot of clarity on what I needed to focus on to find a piece of happiness [...] The past few years making this album have been a journey to say the least, but l’m just glad we finally here.”
In the same post, he announced his sixth album to be released on August 9, with the album's second single, "Yes", being released the following day on July 19. A few days after the release of the third single "On Up", Sean confirmed via an Instagram comment that the album was delayed due to scheduling issues.[10] A promotional single with producer The Alchemist, entitled "Together Forever" was released on August 16, a week after the album's initial release date.[11]
On August 26, 2024, Sean announced the album's new release date of August 30.[12] On the same day, he admitted in an emotional Instagram Live with his fans that he was apprehensive about releasing the project due to overthinking, experiencing the album creation process completely sober, and other creative insecurities.[1] He was inspired by "the pressures of life of becoming a new dad", being an artist continuing to grow and transform, and embracing "being a human in [constant] development."[3]
Other than through-lines of personal growth and weariness of fame, additional subjects discussed include building empires as a Black man in a tumultuous, 21st century America, mistakes of past family generations, his aspirations for his own son, and the positive relationship he hopes they can share as he grows up.[13]
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Clash | 7/10[14] |
| HipHopDX | 3/5[13] |
In a positive review from online publication HotNewHipHop, the album is celebrated by reviewer Elias Andrews for finding a "contemplative groove" that "fans are going to love." Andrews later mentions when highlighting Big Sean's newfound maturity that "[there are] still scores to settle, and rappers to rag on, but there's an awareness that it's not all that important at the end of the day."[15]
Reviewing the album for Clash, Robin Murray stated, "Better Me Than You is deft and personal, boasting a caramel-smooth sense of West Coast funk. [In portions the project] can seem inconsistent, but taken as a whole it's a testament to Big Sean’s vitality, his artistic self-awareness, and his commitment to creative growth.".[14]
In a more mixed review from Sam Moore of HipHopDX, the album was lauded as a "mature effort from a [formerly] horny punchline merchant", celebrating the use of unusual samples and the soulful stylings of former labelmate Teyana Taylor and Charlie Wilson to help him "deal with weighty themes of fatherhood and generational pain."[13] However, the review also noted he "slip[ped] back into his old self on the Usher-sampling “Who You Are (Superstar)” as he reverts back to the cringe-worthy sex raps", and the album (while "cohesive") was deemed to not have "enough depth, intrigue or tension to justify a runtime of over an hour."[13]
In a lukewarm review from Stereogum titled "Big Sean Is No Fun Now", the project was admired for being "cohesive and effectively sequenced,... creating a pensive, brooding ambiance that mirrors Sean’s mood [with] aural synths meet[ing] naked ruminations that linger like troubling thoughts", before admonishment for "shallow prose" and "singular subject matter."[16]
Commercial performance
editThe album was projected to earn 23,000 album-equivalent units in its first week, the lowest of Big Sean's career.[17]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Pressure" (intro) |
|
| 0:54 |
| 2. | "Iconic" |
| 2:36 | |
| 3. | "Typecast" |
|
| 3:19 |
| 4. | "Break the Cycle" (with Charlie Wilson) |
|
| 4:41 |
| 5. | "Who You Are (Superstar)" |
|
| 3:21 |
| 6. | "Yes" |
|
| 3:29 |
| 7. | "It Is What It Is" (with Gunna) |
|
| 3:23 |
| 8. | "Apologize" (with Eryn Allen Kane) |
| 4:04 | |
| 9. | "Clarity" (skit) |
| Brian "AllDay" Miller | 1:31 |
| 10. | "On Up" |
|
| 2:28 |
| 11. | "Something" (with Syd) |
|
| 2:31 |
| 12. | "Black Void" (with Thundercat and Eryn Allen Kane) |
|
| 4:12 |
| 13. | "This n That" (with Bryson Tiller and Kodak Black) |
|
| 4:09 |
| 14. | "Million Pieces" (with Teyana Taylor, Larry June and DJ Premier) |
|
| 3:02 |
| 15. | "Get You Back" (with Cash Cobain) |
|
| 4:01 |
| 16. | "Certified" (with Nasaan) |
|
| 3:21 |
| 17. | "Focus" (skit) | S. Anderson | Beker | 1:29 |
| 18. | "Boundaries" |
|
| 3:00 |
| 19. | "Precision" |
|
| 2:44 |
| 20. | "My Life" (featuring Ellie Goulding) / "Happiness" (skit) |
|
| 4:44 |
| 21. | "Together Forever" (bonus track; with the Alchemist) |
| 3:01 | |
| Total length: | 66:00 | |||
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Apologize" (with Eryn Allen Kane) | 4:04 |
| 2. | "Precision" | 2:44 |
| 3. | "Who You Are (Superstar)" | 3:21 |
| 4. | "Yes" | 3:29 |
| 5. | "Break the Cycle" (with Charlie Wilson) | 4:41 |
| 6. | "On Up" | 2:28 |
| 7. | "Boundaries" | 3:00 |
| 8. | "Black Void" (with Thundercat and Eryn Allen Kane) | 4:12 |
| 9. | "Million Pieces" (with Teyana Taylor, Larry June and DJ Premier) | 3:02 |
| 10. | "Typecast" | 3:19 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 11. | "Together Forever" (with the Alchemist) | 3:01 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 11. | "Something" (with Syd) | 2:31 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 11. | "Get You Back" (with Cash Cobain) | 4:01 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 11. | "Wire Me" | 2:14 |
Samples and interpolations
edit- "Who You Are (Superstar)"
- contains a sample of "Superstar", written by Usher Raymond IV, Andre Harris, Vidal Davis, Jason "Poo Bear" Boyd, Ryan Toby, and Nyticka Hemingway, and performed by Usher.[13]
- "On Up"
- contains a sample of "Get On Up", written by Dalvin DeGrate, Cedric Hailey, Joel Hailey, Ivan Lins, Vítor Martins, and performed by Jodeci.[13]
- "Million Pieces"
- contains a sample of "Royalty", written by Christopher Martin, Keith Elam, Cedric Hailey, and Joel Hailey, and performed by Gang Starr & K-Ci & JoJo.[13]
- "Boundaries"
- contains a sample of "Know That You Are Loved", written by Cleo Nikolic, Dean Josiah Cover, and Joseph Lloyd-Watson, and performed by Cleo Sol.[19]
- "Typecast"
Personnel
editCredits adapted from Apple Music.[21]
- Big Sean - Lead vocals, Background vocals (All tracks)
- Milan Beker - Keyboards, Synthesizer, Programming, Background Vocals, Piano, Recording Engineer, Engineer (All tracks)
- Nicholas De Porcel - Mastering Engineer (All tracks)
- Berg - Bass, Keyboards, Percussion, Drums (2)
- Otxhello - Keyboards, Bass, Percussion, Drums (2)
- Stephen Bruner - Bass (1, 12)
- Beam - Keyboards, Bass, Percussion, Drums (2)
- Turbo - Percussion, Drums (7)
- Omar Grand - Keyboards, Bass, Trumpet (7)
- Rogét Chahayed - Keyboards, Programming (2, 6, 12, 20)
- Isaac De Boni - Keyboards, Programming (6)
- Michael Mule - Keyboards, Programming (6)
- Harv - Keyboards, Bass, Drums (8)
- Lido - Keyboards, Programming, Drums (8)
- Carter Lang - Keyboards, Programming, Drums, Percussion (12)
- Malay - Programming, Drums (12)
- WondaGurl - Programming, Bass, Drums (15)
- Mathaius Young - Programming, Bass, Drums (15)
- SkipOnDaBeat - Bass, Drums (16)
- Tom Kahre - Programming (19)
- Kaytranada - Programming (20)
- Presley Regier - Drums (3)
- Tom Levesque - Keyboards, Synthesizer (3)
- Jasper Harris - Keyboards (3)
- BYNX - Programming (3)
- Kevin J. Enstrom - Guitar (5)
- Parker Mulherin - Guitar (8)
- Yasmeen Al-Mazeedi - Violin (8, 20)
- The Alchemist - Drums (21)
- DJ Khalil - Percussion (21)
- Daniel Seeff - Bass (21)
- Lorenzo Johnson - Keyboards (21)
- Peter Lee Johnson - Keyboards, Programming (4)
- Eryn Allen Kane - Vocal Producer (4, 6)
- Johan Lenox - String Arranger, Programming, Synthesizer (5, 8, 20)
- Brian Miller - Programming (9)
- David "Vitto" Gordon - Background vocals (1)
- Ashley Merchant - Background vocals (1-2)
- Nami - Background vocals (3)
- Eryn Allen Koehn - Background vocals (3-4, 6, 8, 14, 20)
- Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson - Background vocals (4)
- Johan Lenox - Background vocals (5, 8)
- The-Dream - Background vocals (5-6, 19)
- KayyCy - Background vocals (5)
- Tia Pickrom - Background vocals (5, 16)
- Willie - Background vocals (6, 8, 10, 20)
- Jazmine Bailey - Background vocals (6, 8, 10, 20)
- George Lovett - Background vocals (6, 8, 10, 20)
- Marshall Mulherin - Background vocals (8)
- Parker Mulherin - Background vocals (8)
- Lido - Background vocals (8)
- Syd - Background vocals (11)
- Zacari Pacaldo - Background vocals (11)
- Stephen Bruner - Background vocals (12)
- Tish Hyman - Background vocals (14)
- Jennae Calhoun - Background vocals (16)
- Chris Powell - Background vocals (17)
- Nasaan Holton - Background vocals (20)
- Nikki Grier - Background vocals (21)
- Frisco Reese - Speaker (3)
- Cyrus "NOIS" Taghipour - Mixing Engineer (1-20)
- Derek "MixedByAli" Ali - Mixing Engineer (1-20)
- Brandon Blatz - Assistant Mixing Engineer (1-5, 7-9, 11-20)
- Curtis "Sircut" Bye - Assistant Mixing Engineer (1-5, 8-9, 11-20)
- Demetrius Lewis II - Assistant Mastering Engineer (1-9, 11-21)
- Julian Vasquez - Recording Engineer (2, 6, 12, 20)
- Tom Kahre - Recording Engineer, Mixing Engineer (3, 5, 8, 11-12, 19-20)
- Flo Ongonga - Recording Engineer (7)
- Bert Gervis - Recording Engineer (11)
- Nef - Recording Engineer (14)
- Todd Cooper - Recording Engineer (14)
- Baruch Nembhard - Recording Engineer, Mixing Engineer (14)
- Kevin Brunhober - Assistant Recording Engineer (3, 8)
- Phillippe Weiss - Mixing Engineer (21)
- Martin Berger - Assistant Mixing Engineer (21)
- Zachary Lamb - Assistant Recording Engineer (4, 18)
- Hayden Duncan - Assistant Recording Engineer (5-6, 11, 19)
- Omar Loya - Engineer (19)
Charts
edit| Chart (2024) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200[22] | 25 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[23] | 4 |
References
edit- ^ a b c Saponara, Michael. "Big Sean Releases Better Me Than You Album Featuring Gunna, Kodak Black & More: Stream It Now". Billboard.
- ^ Moore, Sam (July 18, 2024). "Big Sean Reacts After His New Album Allegedly Gets Leaked By Kanye West Fan". HipHopDX.
- ^ a b Mier, Tomás. "Big Sean Announces Album 'Better Me Than You' Following Leak". Rolling Stone.
- ^ Coleman, C. Vernon II (August 30, 2024). "Big Sean Returns With New Album Better Me Than You - Listen". XXL Mag.
- ^ "Big Sean's 'Detroit 2' in Battle for No. 1 on Billboard 200". Raptology. September 9, 2020. Archived from the original on January 7, 2021. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
- ^ "Big Sean's 'Detroit 2' Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart". Billboard. September 13, 2020. Archived from the original on September 14, 2020. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
- ^ "Big Sean and Hit-Boy Are a Musical Force". HYPEBEAST. January 21, 2022. Archived from the original on February 27, 2022. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
- ^ Rouhani, Neena (October 29, 2021). "Big Sean Says He's Left Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music Record Label". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 29, 2021. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
- ^ Mier, Tomás (March 22, 2024). "Big Sean Shoots His Shot With 'Precision' in New Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
- ^ Diaz, Angel. "Big Sean Delays New Album 'Better Me Than You': 'I Gotta Push It Just a Lil' Bit'". Billboard. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
- ^ Diaz, Angel. "Watch Big Sean & The Alchemist Frolic in a Field in New Video 'Together Forever'". Billboard. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
- ^ Saponara, Michael. "Big Sean Announces 'Better Me Than You' Album Release Date During Emotional Instagram Live". Billboard. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g Moore, Sam (September 6, 2024). "Big Sean's 'Better Me Than You' Is A Mature Effort From The Punchline Merchant". HipHopDX.
- ^ a b Murray, Robin (August 30, 2024). "Big Sean – Better Me Than You". Clash. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
- ^ Andrews, Elias (August 30, 2024). "Big Sean Delivers His Most Mature Album Yet With "Better Me Than You"". HotNewHipHop.
- ^ "Big Sean Is No Fun Now". September 5, 2024.
- ^ Andrews, Elias (September 5, 2024). "Big Sean's New Album Is Projected To Be Lowest-Selling Of His Career". HotNewHipHop.
- ^ "Big Sean – Better Me Than You". Discogs.
- ^ "Album Review: Better Me Than You by Big Sean". Shatter The Standards.
- ^ https://www.whosampled.com/sample/1226513/Big-Sean-Typecast-E.-Broussard-Frisco-Reese-Think-Big-Bitch/
- ^ "Big Sean – Better Me Than You". Apple Music.
- ^ "Big Sean Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
- ^ "Big Sean Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 10, 2024.