Album Review: Better Me Than You by Big Sean

Big Sean has navigated through introspection, public leaks, health challenges, and the constant evolution of the music industry—his newest LP unveils the latest chapter in his ongoing narrative.

Courtesy of FF to Def Entertainment/Def Jam PS.

Big Sean’s 2011 track “I Do It” featured him stoking his comparison to Quagmire from Family Guy, rhyming, “I giggity get it” and declaring, “I’m Quagmire, I fuck hoes, my cash grows.” This wasn’t out of character for the Detroit rapper, whose manic energy and corny punchlines often recalled the cartoon character. He could seamlessly shift gears from Gucci Mane-esque flows to serviceable Consequence impressions. His music fit snugly into various contexts, from Rustie’s transcendent 2012 Essential Mix, which showcased “Marvin & Chardonnay,” to the Nicki Minaj collaboration “Dance (A$$),” which spawned a pitch-perfect homage to ghettotech and a memorable song about butts.

The problems arose when Big Sean tried to reveal a more serious side. His Kanye West-backed releases ensured a certain level of competence, but his albums also exposed a less pleasant aspect of his personality. Despite carving out a niche as a squeaky-voiced goofball, Big Sean struggled to deliver introductory tracks to keep the audience interested for an entire album. However, over the years, Sean has gotten better in the writing aspect and getting his just due by reinforcing its central theme of piecing together a fragmented existence in the face of various challenges and weaving together themes of perseverance, wealth, and relationships with his signature wordplay and bravado if it strays away from corniness.

Before long, his fast-rapping skills made him a welcome addition to any posse cut, capable of parachuting into songs, providing high-energy levity, and making a discreet exit. Big Sean didn’t necessarily create bad records, but whenever he ventured beyond his signature lighthearted style, the results often came off as forced or insincere. His 2015 album Dark Sky Paradise was a significant improvement, showcasing his rapping skills and framing his words with a newfound importance. The same bitter tone that made “I Don’t Fuck With You” a hit was applied throughout the album, targeting foes and exes alike. However, this mean streak is something he attempts to bury in 2017’s I Decided, aiming to present himself in a more mature light. Unfortunately, it falls flat.

The follow-up collaborative project the same year with Metro Boomin, Double or Nothing, undoes any progress, featuring absurd lyrics that are hard to take seriously. On Detroit 2, his fifth solo album, Big Sean tries to position himself as an enlightened figure but adopts trends without fully committing to them. As a result, he remains anonymous. Big Sean often prioritizes boasting and scorn in his music, finding a comfort zone in these themes. His obsession with himself is evident, particularly when allowed to brag. Despite this, he occasionally sets aside his personal feelings, as seen in some tracks on the LP. However, these moments are overshadowed by his inability to embody the styles he attempts to adopt genuinely.

The anticipation around Better Me Than You also reflects Sean’s growth in handling adversity, as seen with the album leak situation. Instead of letting it derail his plans, Sean used it as a catalyst to engage more with his fans, turning a potential setback into an opportunity for promotion and connection. With “Yes,” produced by a collective of talents, including Big Sean himself, indicates a blend of self-assurance and a willingness to experiment with new sounds, moving away from his established style while maintaining his lyrical sharpness, despite comparisons of him sounding like Baby Keem.

One of the album’s earliest singles, “Precision,” highlights his fluent approach to lyricism wrapped in metaphors of accuracy, ambition, and personal evolution over a Willie Hutch sample that Three 6 Mafia flipped on “Poppin’ Ya Collar.” The mention of familial ties and past struggles with “I gave like twenty-some years to my hood, now I gotta go live away” exemplifies the progression and the need for change after long periods of stability or stagnation. He has some of that energy for the album in the first half with “Iconic” and “Typecast” until we get “Break the Cycle” with Uncle Charlie, which offers an introspective look at the rapper’s life experiences and personal growth. 

At 20 songs, plenty of fat should’ve been trimmed. For instance, “Who You Are (Superstar)” is an uptempo, braggadocious anthem celebrating a romantic partner’s success and star power that samples Usher’s “Superstar” in the most obligatory way. The track blends confident hip-hop boasts with intimate details, depicting a relationship between two high-profile individuals. Sean’s bars are filled with uninspired wordplay and sexual innuendo: “You don’t need a man, you need a manager.” More than half of the features add nothing to the song. Gunna sleepwalks through “It Is What It Is,” Nasaan hops on the forgettable “Certified,” Bryson and Kodak provide no chemistry on “This N That,” Sean wastes a Syd feature on “Something,” and he hops on the Cash Cobain wave on “Get You Back” that’s just there.

With “Million Pieces,” Sean is poignant when he reflects on his father’s unfulfilled acting dreams: “My dad said it’s his dream to be actin’, but it never happened/And when he talks ‘bout back then, it breaks me to a million pieces.” As Teyana Taylor provides hook duty and DJ Premier does the scratches, Hit-Boy provides a soulful composition, and then Larry June shows up as if he doesn’t want to rap. Eryn Allen Kane provides backgrounds and singing vocals that give some songs some life, including the back-stabbing “Apologize,” sampling 2Pac’s “I Ain’t Mad at Cha,” and “Black Void,” where Sean tackles various topics of disrespect, emotional disconnect, and the struggle to move forward, featuring Thundercat on the bass.

The positive attributes of Better Me Than You continue with Noah Hasani’s (Sean’s son) dedication track, “On Up,” Sean contemplates parenting challenges and the desire to instill positive values in his child. While rapping over Jodeci’s “Get On Up,” he touches on generational wealth, time’s swift passage, and the importance of pursuing one’s passions rather than merely chasing money. The rapper also addresses social injustices, referencing Trayvon Martin and Breonna Taylor, highlighting his concerns about safety and issues going on in society.

“The way time moving, it really won’t be long

I pray I’m there for every memory you want me on.”

Another one of the better tracks is “Boundaries,” as he deals with mental health, spiritual well-being, and the importance of self-reflection throughout the verse. He touches on overcoming setbacks, confronting past habits, and finding strength in adversity over Cleo Sol’s “Know That You Are Loved” (not to mention it borrows the drum pattern from Pac’s “Ambitionz Az a Ridah”). Sean opens with lines that speak to shaking off minor annoyances on “Together Forever,” suggesting focusing on larger goals and maintaining mental clarity amidst daily pressures. His lyrics, paired with The Alchemist and DJ Khalil, reflect his rise through adversity, where he acknowledges life’s challenges and highlights his ability to transform these into blessings despite being a bonus track for strange reasons because that’s the best song on the record by far.

He closed out the album with the KAYTRANADA-produced “My Life,” as he touched on his experiences with fame, temptation, and the need for self-reflection. But based on the intro, “Clarity” and “Focus” skits, “Happiness” discusses the importance of gratitude and living in the present moment, noting that there’s a lot to be happy about right now while finding contentment in his life. This album showcases Sean’s maturity as an artist and his ability to discuss personal growth and life philosophy within his music candidly; unfortunately, there are not too many standouts and too many album filler cuts that can rival some of his best work.

Above Average (★★★☆☆)

Favorite Track(s): “Break the Cycle,” “On Up,” “Boundaries”