However, that doesn't make these songs BAD, by any means - simply derivative. Just listen to, well, half the album and the flows, the voice, even the studio effects are dead ringers: it's genuinely perturbing. The Drake thing in particular is undeniable, and even if the Canadian did copy one particular flow and run with it, Big Sean now does an uncanny impression. When you listen for yourself, the influences on this album are as clear as daylight, and it's one of the central problems - there is no consistent narrative voice, as Big Sean modifies his own voice to accommodate his guest, or adapts to the original tone of the song's influencing artist. They honestly thought it was a compilation playlist of Drake, Chris Brown, Lil Wayne and Kanye West. When I was spinning FF in my car, I happened to be giving a lift to a couple of friends, but didn't tell them what was playing on my system. However, to leave it at that would do a disservice to the Detroit Westside native, as dig a little deeper, and you'll start to see a touch more to both his own story and to the debut LP. We are talking about an MC who pestered Kanye for a 10 bar audition over half a decade ago, and has essentially forsaken his originality personality in order to sell records and become 'famous.' It's both unnerving and - it must be said - kinda desperate. The latter is certainly how the journey of Big Sean comes across, initially, at least. Now, rap is a way to get famous, and hip hop a subcategory genre in iTunes. Before, rap was an art form, and hip hop was a way of life. Time plays a leading role when talking about Big Sean's 'Finally Famous' - an album title that reveals all too much of this confusing debut album. Long to the short? Wack albums might sell or not, but great ones will always reach the right ears. The artists that have a mission, stick to it faithfully and carry it out with style/panache tend to deserve recognition, and a slow burn of sales. It's such a tricky balancing act nowadays for labels, artists and PR to simply get to the release date relatively unscathed, so that 'the public will make up their own mind.' This argument, of course, is nonsensical: while critics do hold some sway with readers, the audience are clever enough to make up their own minds, and will almost always vote with their feet. It does seem to happen with alarming regularity, at least in reference to the albums that play hard and fast with the hype/quality ratio. There was a tweet going around a short while ago to this effect: 'Nowadays, hip hop LP's are anticipated, leaked, reviewed, trashed & forgotten aboutРІР‚В¦ 3 weeks before the release date.' Of course, that's paraphrasing, and apologies to the original (now unknown) source, but it struck a real chord. Big Sean :: Finally Famous :: G.O.O.D Music/Def JamР”В«ig Sean :: Finally Famous :: G.O.O.D Music/ Def Jam

Big sean finally famous album cover