Big Sean was in a celebratory mood as he kicked off Grammy weekend in L.A. Nominated for two Grammys for “Mercy,” the G.O.O.D. Music rapper was accompanied by his parents—who he planned to get wasted—at VIBE’s 20th Anniversary Celebration and Inaugural Impact Awards at the Sunset Tower Hotel on Friday.
Sean is putting the finishing touches on his sophomore album Hall of Fame and expects to drop a new single this month. “It’s almost done, finally. We took our time with it, perfected it, got great songs on there,” he told Rap-Up TV. “I can’t wait for people to hear it. It’s gonna be surprising. Something new, something fresh, heartfelt, meaningful, fun—all different types of feelings on this album.”
The follow-up to his 2011 debut Finally Famous includes appearances from Miguel, Jhené Aiko, Kid Cudi, Nas, Common, and his G.O.O.D. Music family.
Once he’s done recording, he plans to play the album for fellow Detroit rapper Eminem. “I wanted to make sure my album was completely done before I went and played it for him,” said Sean. “I know a while ago he reached out.”
It was an all-gold-everything moment when Trinidad James met up with Ciara backstage at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards on Friday. CiCi bared her abs as she posed with the hip-hop sensation and snapped pics with Meek Mill and Grammy host LL Cool J while doing press in the radio room.
Meanwhile, two-time nominee Big Sean bounced through to promote his upcoming album Hall of Fame. He showed love to Fall Out Boy, Ne-Yo, Miguel, and Boyz II Men’s Shawn Stockman, while B.o.B signed a guitar for charity.
Days before Christmas, Big Sean paid a visit to “106 & Park” to premiere his new video for “Guap.” The G.O.O.D. Music rapper spoke with Bow Wow and his co-hosts about spending the holidays at home with his family, his mascot Rico the Lion, love for New York, and his previous job as a telemarketer.
He also shared memories from his emotional Detroit homecoming and provided insight into his second album Hall of Fame, due in early 2013.
“I do this to be in the hall of fame,” said Sean. “I’m bossing up and being somebody in my city as an example to do what you do. Even if the hall of fame don’t exist, you make your own hall of fame and be great and remembered.”
Sean recently launched his own non-profit organization, the Sean Anderson Foundation. “It was just getting to that time where I was going back to Detroit and so many things need attention, so many things need aid,” said Sean, who was recently nominated for a Grammy for “Mercy.”
Big Sean has had a big year, and 2013 is looking even bigger with the release of his sophomore album. Before hitting the stage at Power 106’s Cali Christmas, Rap-Up TV caught up with the G.O.O.D. Music rapper backstage to discuss the next single off Hall of Fame, collaborations, and why the album will be different from his 2010 debut Finally Famous.
Sean has been posting inspirational vlogs about his journey. “A lot of the album has that same touch, taste, and tone, just being super inspirational, super intellectual, and of course it’s still got bangers on there too,” he said. “It’s like an emotional roller coaster. You happy, hype as hell, sad as hell, real shit, motivational shit. It’s a great body of work, so I’m excited about it.”
As for the next single, don’t expect another “Guap.” “It’s gonna be completely different from ‘Guap’ or any of the mixtape stuff. It’s gonna be something very serious. It’s really what I wanted to be the first single.”
While he wouldn’t reveal all, expect collaborations with Jhené Aiko, James Fauntleroy, and his G.O.O.D. Music family. “It’s gonna be a hell of a f**king album, for real.”
The Detroit MC is making sure he leaves his mark with the album. “A lot of my songs, even with my first album, they didn’t really teach too much. It had some meaningful stuff on there, but I didn’t get a chance to teach,” he explained. “If you look at people like Bob Marley or even Tupac or ‘Ye and Jay, they’ve taught in their own ways. I want to make sure I teach and leave a legacy.”
Plus, find out what Sean plans to do for the holidays and his New Year’s resolution.
Big Sean shuts down Detroit in the celebratory video for “Guap,” the first single off his sophomore album Hall of Fame, due in early 2013. The Motor City rapper parades down Woodward Avenue in a boat, throwing out money and sharing the joyous moment with his friends and family. The party continues at club Bleu, where Sean got his start, and ends with fireworks over the city in his honor.
“‘Guap’ [will be] one of those classic hip-hop videos [that] key rappers always have had in their careers, like Jay-Z with ‘Izzo (H.O.V.A.),’” the G.O.O.D. Music MC told MTV News. “It’s legendary because you come back to your city and shut it down to that degree. We shut down the biggest street in the city, kids came out—they were skipping school, which is kinda f**ked up, but we had an awesome time. I really saw how the city was showing love to me and the production in the video is all just sky high.”
Celebrate Sean’s homecoming in the feel-good clip.
Big Sean headed back to Cali for the second year in a row for Power 106 ’s Cali Christmas. The Detroit rapper opened his 30-minute set with his Hall of Fame single “Guap,” performing material off his mixtape Detroit as his lion mascot danced onstage.
In a more somber moment, he took a moment of silence for the victims of the Connecticut elementary school shooting that left 20 children and 6 adults dead.
“This is for all the memories, all the people we lost, the people that were lost today and this year, good and bad times,” said Sean while holding a lighter in the air.
“I think we should party and have a good ass motherfu**ing time for everybody who can’t,” he said before performing “My Last.”
The celebration continued with Meek Mill, who joined him for “Burn.” The G.O.O.D. Music MC had everyone swerving by the time he closed his set with Cruel Summer‘s “Mercy” and “Clique.”
Hallelujah! Big Sean hits the jackpot in the flashy video for “Mula” featuring French Montana. The G.O.O.D. Music MC swings from a crystal chandelier and discovers a briefcase full of money while partying in a mansion filled with beautiful women in the clip, directed by Mike Carson and Mike Waxx. His Bad Boy co-star follows the paper trail, leading him to the cash.
Sean’s sophomore album Hall of Fame is not due until early next year, but you can find “Mula” on his latest mixtape Detroit, which dropped in September.
