Big Sean: I Decided ALBUM REVIEW

Big Sean is a Detroit rapper who has enjoyed a pretty solid spot among the most successful rappers of the 2010's. This is his fourth studio album, which follows perhaps his most successful album to date Dark Sky Paradise. And that success was most notable because it also came in the way of critical success; whereas the previous two Big Sean releases were considered sort of luke-warm by most serious hip-hop and rap publications, DSP saw these same critics praising it for being more forward thinking and sincere. In my opinion? Sean has been mostly trash with a few notable exceptions, most of all did in fact come from DSP and this new LP.

And yeah, trash is a very strong word, but I just can't think of a better way to put it, because not only are his rhymes often underwhelming, cheap and laughable most of the time, but his voice can actually be pretty annoying too. All that aside, I did enjoy singles like "Blessings" "I Don't F*** With You", and even "Play No Games" though that was mostly for the beat. He even impressed me on the latest DJ Khaled release with two really great features. So, coming into this new album with even more good singles like "Bounce Back" being released prior, I had legitimate reason to be excited. So it is really a shame that I Decided just isn't that good of a record.

It starts off pretty strong with "Light" and the aforementioned "Bounce Back", but then the track "No Favors" comes on and I'm struck with a Drake rip-off hook and a sort of cringe-worthy Eminem verse ("I saw dem eyes like an ass-raper"... really?). And from that point on the album just never finds its footing; instead, it just alternates from slower, more nocturnal moments like "Jump Out the Window" and "Half-Way Off the Balcony" and attempts at swagger like "Moves" which is okay I guess. However, there are no other moments here, save for maybe "Sunday Jet-Pack" that even come close to "Bounce Back" in enjoy-ability. Plus, despite having little interludes and tracks that deal with subjects like suicide, this album doesn't even really have a cohesive concept, which leaves even less to attach my attention to.

This album isn't terrible, and it isn't good, and while I can't say that Sean says anything too memorable on this LP, I will admit that he was the least cringe-worthy part of it. Pass this one, unless you are a Sean fan.

5.0/10