Big Sean Talks Ariana Grande Relationship, Chris Brown Collaboration

Since they were spotted holding hands at the VMAs last month, Big Sean has remained coy about rumors that he’s dating Ariana Grande. The G.O.O.D. Music rapper was faced with the question again during his visit to “On-Air with Ryan Seacrest.”

Unlike his relationship with ex-fiancée Naya Rivera, Sean has decided to keep things to himself this time around.

“I like to keep my personal life personal,” he said. “But I am going to tell you this: That Ariana is very, very special. She’s very special to me. Everything she has going on is good with her, everything I have going on is good with me, everything between me and her is good, and I’m just going to leave it at that.”

Sean is putting the finishing touches on his third album and dropped four songs including the Kanye West and DJ Mustard-produced “I Don’t Fuck With You” featuring E-40.

In an interview with 106 KMEL, he revealed that Chris Brown is on his album (“It might be the [single] after ‘IDFWU'”) and that he hopes to squeeze in a collaboration with Pharrell, who recently texted him.

He describes the follow-up to 2013’s Hall of Fame as “darker” and “intense.”

“I’m just in straight beast mode. I’m not angry, but I’m passionate,” said Sean. “I’m just going in to the best of my ability on every single beat—not lagging, not cutting anything short, giving it 110 percent, going for blood.”

He confirmed that he is still signed to G.O.O.D. Music/Def Jam, and that Roc Nation is handling his management. “I wanted to try something new on the business side of things,” he said.

In addition to Kendrick Lamar, you may also hear Big Sean on Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter V. “Check out Tha Carter V, you might hear your boy on there,” he said.

Plus, find out which pop divas are among his dream collaborations and his favorite albums of 2014.