The album opens with the smooth and gentle Intro. Even though it's less than a minute and a half, it's a nice way to open up the album. The smooth and gentle tone the we begin with completely goes out of the window with the bass heavy I Do It. This is probably the closest to the mixtape Big Sean that many fans fell in love with. You get your raw beat, your arrogant boasts, and your abstract metaphors. Not much of a topic, just shit talking. Nevertheless, it's ill. The albums first single, My Last, which also features Chris Brown, is nothing short of a summer banger. Alot of it is a celebration of life and success. I'm sure we've all heard it, so I'm going to move on to the relationship-jerker, Don't Tell Me You Love Me. It's a very different side of Big Sean that most aren't accustomed to. We get a song about the destruction of a good relationship due to immaturity and wrongdoings on his part. There are those times where you wish you could take them back because you realize you love them, but to a certain extent it's a bit too late. Next, we get the ups and down of dream chasing on Wait For Me. It's some dope shit, but the songs shining star is the second verse from Mr. Lupe Fiasco, who's lines about being in the hood are very crown worthy. At this point, alot of production is reminding me of Graduation by Kanye West. It's not in the sense of copying, but you get that sound with Sean's twist on it. Single number 2, the Kayne West & Roscoe Dash assisted Marvin Gaye & Chardonnay, follows. Everything about the song is the perfect single. Ill beat, Ill rhymes from Sean & Yeezy, and a very catchy hook from Roscoe. If he keeps it up, Roscoe Dash could become the new hook man in Hip-Hop. Then there's Dance (A$$)...To me it doesn't mesh very well with the rest of the album that we've been given so far. I don't necessarily dislike it, but I can do without it. I will say however, that No I.D's sample of "You Can't Touch This" by MC Hammer is ILL! Afterwards, we're given the pleasant surprise in a Neptunes-produced track, Get It (DT). The song of hustling and money making, proves that Neptunes still have it as producers, and Pharrell can still sing a mean hook. Sean's rhyming is real slick on this one too. Overall it wins. We move on to the reminiscing on the good times and the bad times on Memories (Pt.II), which features John Legend. We learn about the loss of friends through death and disassociation, as well as being broke. The song kind of shows how what you go through are only tests in life to see if you'll pass. High (Feat. Wiz Khalifa & Chiddy Bang), has a real nice groove and vibe to it. It's something to listen to when you want to feel good. It also has the expected weed references from Sean's fellow Freshmen 10 class member, Wiz Khalifa. Chiddy does a pretty nice job closing out the song. This may sound a little biased, but I like the The-Dream less and less with each project he releases. That statement leads to the next song, Live This Life, as The-Dream takes the hook. Honestly, this song could've been left off. It's filler, and nothing different from what you haven't heard. Our albums closer, the "I'm on" anthem, So Much More, is a real nice way to end it. One thing that caught me was that he used some of the lines he rhymed in the BET Cypher. Shame on you Sean! "laughs". The song still can't be fronted on, recycled or not.
The Real Deal: Overall, Finally Famous is a strong debut effort from the Detroit native. It's fun, it's lyrical, and it's real. The only thing I would've preferred to see on this album was an actual beat from Kanye, but hey, I guess he has a life these days "laughs". With only two real slip ups, I believe this album scores. And the people that disagree will probably have a change of heart as time goes on. Byoeeeeeeee.
Rating: 4/5
-Raul. A
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