Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Music news What's really G.O.O.D.? An interview with Kanye West signee Big Sean
Posted by Artesia Peluso on Tue, Jun 16, 2009 at 3:45 PM
If you don't know who Big Sean is yet, you might want to commit the name to memory.
Recently signed to Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music record label, Sean’s building a reputation as a hip-hop prodigy. Rightfully so, the young lyricist's charismatic flow and wordplay have helped establish Big Sean as a legitimate new artist. With an all-star team of collaborators including Kanye West, Pharrell, the Dream, and superstar video director Hype Williams, it's likely that some of their mojo will rub off on him.
Big Sean talked about his quick trajectory from Kanye West discovery to G.O.O.D. Music signee Saturday after his Atlanta mixtape release party performance at the Lindbergh City Center for U Know Big Sean—Finally Famous Vol. 2. The event featured up-and-coming rap and R&B talent, including LeLe of Disturbing Tha Peace, Angel Lashonn, and Señor Kaos, with DJ Kerosene on the 1s and 2s. Despite encountering technical difficulties with the sound, Big Sean handled the crowd like a pro and performed a solid set. Afterwards, he signed autographs for a small crowd of dedicated fans.
Artesia Peluso: For all the people who don’t know your story. How did you get discovered?
Big Sean: I would freestyle every week for a local radio station in Detroit called 102.7-FM. In 2005, Kanye was on the show promoting his Late Registration album. I felt like that was my one chance. You only come across a few of those once-in-a-lifetime opportunities and I felt like that was mine. I went up to the radio station and asked to talk to him. He told me I had sixteen seconds to spit and I ended up free-styling for like ten minutes. I’d never met a superstar before, but he started bobbing his head. It was crazy. He invited me to a private listening party for his album, but I forgot the address because I was so nervous. Luckily, I ran into someone who was in the studio at the time and made it to the party. It’s been a long road. I mean, I was 17 at the time and still in high school. Four years later here I am; I’m blessed.
You’ve recently turned 21 in March, how does it feel to enjoy such great success at such a young age?
The feeling’s indescribable. I’m doing what I love. That's the best feeling ever. I believe in putting your hopes and dreams into the universe and it’ll give back to you. This is what I’ve always wanted to do. No one can stop you but yourself.
How did attending the Detroit Waldorf School of Arts shape your passion for music?
I went to the Waldorf School from kindergarten to eighth grade, so I grew up in a creative environment. It established a love of poetry for me. Naturally, I began to get into rhyming and rapping. My friends were like, “Man you’re going to be famous one day.” I’ve worked hard to get where I am; I love what I do.
Your album Finally Famous features a lot of hip-hop heavyweights. How do you feel you’ll hold up against artists like Pharrell Williams and Kanye West?
I feel like I have a long way to go before I start comparing myself to artists like Kanye and Pharrell. These are artist I’ve looked up to. I mean, the fact that they're even on my album is crazy.
How has your life changed since you’ve become "famous?"
[Smiles] I get a lot of free shit.
(Photo courtesy Mr. Landers Pruitt III, Attention Grabber Photography)
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