By Curtis Dinwiddie Staff Writer
Detroit rapper Big Sean released his third studio album Dark Sky Paradise on Feb. 24 under GOOD Music. The album is a mix of gloomy, amazing production with Sean delivering his lyrical velocity at its best. This project is expected to propel Sean Anderson into the upper echelon of rap.
The intro “Dark Sky (Skyscrapers)” sets the gloomy tone; it’s about Sean starting from the basement and making it to the top with no help. On the second single “Blessings,” Sean, Drake and Kanye West count their favors bestowed by God and express gratitude for their good fortune. West, the main producer for the album, delivers memorable verses traded mutually on the track “All Your Fault.”
“Big Sean is blessed from Detroit and he’s making our city stay relevant in rap. I definitely think this is his best project to date,” said senior Christian Bauman.
The lead single “IDFWU” doesn’t match the ominous vibe but was too catchy to keep off the album. Sean Don reiterated a classic phrase in contradictory fashion by saying he refuses to lose in “Win Some, Lose Some.” The darkest shade and most reflective track is “Deep,” where he’s paranoid about losing it all but still basks in his luxury. Lil Wayne blessed this song with an impeccable verse on legacy and impact of hip-hop.
“Sean got plenty deeper in this album than his mixtapes. 50% of rappers today aren’t very introspective,” said junior Harley Abbott.
Anderson gets inspirational with positivity on “One Man Can Change the World” by delivering an empowering message about changing history. It’s also a tribute to his late grandmother who participated in World War 2. He delivered his best witty wordplay with high speed blaze on “Paradise (Extended).”
“Sean snapped on that Paradise track! I had to keep rewinding it to find his hidden messages,” said senior Kelvin McGuire.
Phoenix Rising rates Dark Sky Paradise four out of five stars for Sean’s lyrical ability, incredible features and hit-maker production. It lets listeners travel in different dimensions with rap and R&B’s finest, and it stays cohesive in lyrical ingenuity.
