"Hip hopping with Big Sean" refers to the genre of music and the artist who has excelled with that genre. Hip-hop is the genre and Big Sean is the artist! Both genre and artist have been trailblazers in the world of music. While this article will focus primarily on the artist, it will summarize hip-hop music relative to identification and history.
Hip Hop Music
Hip-Hop music existed long before "hip-hopping with Big Sean" entered the scene. Recently becoming 50 years old, today's hip-hop differs from the 1970s version that originated in a predominantly economically depressed, African American, South Bronx community in New York. Initially, it was anti-drug and anti-violence and rhythmically, was built around scat-singing and drumbeats.
Scat-singing occurs when a vocalist uses syllables rather than meaningful words and phrases for "melodies." Hip-hop is sometimes referred to as rap music. By the 21st century, the genre progressed from primarily one race and gender to both races and gender. The 1990s saw hip-hop become a best-selling genre and by 1999, the best-selling genre. Many artists contributed to that growth with Big Sean as one of them. Amidst the revolution, it evolved into a vehicle for social commentary and justice, paving the way for hip-hopping with Big Sean.
The Early Life of Big Sean
Sean Michael Leonard Anderson was born March 25, 1988, in Santa Monica, California. His parents are Myra and James Anderson. At three (3) years old, he was moved to Detroit and was reared by his mother and grandmother. Sean graduated from Cass Technical High School, one of Detroit's best public schools academically. His musical career began in high school where he performed in a weekly rap battle contest.
The Shaping of Sean to Big Sean
In 2005, Kanye West was interviewed by WHTD, a Detroit hip-hop radio station, and Sean heard about the interview, went to the station and performed his "freestyle" rhythmic skills for West. Kanye enjoyed the performance, and as he was about to leave the station, Sean gave him a demo tape. Two years later, West signed Sean to GOOD, a record label founded by Kanye.
Big Sean Hip-Hops to Success
At GOOD, the hip-hopping with Big Sean began. In 2007, a mixtape titled Finally Famous, was released. It garnered attention from The Detroit Metro Times, paving the way for national recognition. In 2011, Finally Famous debuted as a studio album which gave birth to three (3) hits: My Last, Marvin and Chardonnay and Dance (Ass). Third, fourth and fifth albums followed respectively: Dark Sky Paradise (2015), I Decided (2017) and Detroit 2 (2020). All debuted "atop the charts." Big Sean was truly "big!"
Today, August 29, 2024, the latest news is album number six titled " Better Me Than You," will be released tomorrow (August 30, 2024). Get ready! Big Sean is a powerhouse hip-hop artist, and expectation is, this album will land on the charts and make an indelible imprint on the hearts and minds of fans worldwide.
Hip-Hopping with Big Sean Personally
Behind the success of every person on stage, is a life offstage. How he or she deals with that life depends on how he/she separates success from personal reality. A glimpse into the personal life of Big Sean reveals he dated his childhood sweetheart Ashley Marie for several years, Actress Naya Rivera and Singer Ariana Grande. Presently, he is in a relationship with Jhene' Aiko and had a son with her in 2022.
In 2012, he founded a nonprofit called Sean Anderson Foundation that serves underprivileged children in Detroit.
Big Sean has touched the world with his style and message, and at age 36, much of his life remains ahead of him. That life can make a constructive impact on the world or allow the world to make a destructive impact on it. Our hope is, that it will be the former and not the latter. We believe the message of his music will usher in soft drumbeats of the heart... and lift up the consciousness of mankind.
Big Sean: If you are to remain "big" over decades, make sure the "drumbeats" of your music embrace "heartbeats" of your listeners.
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