A spirited combination of grown-man statement-making and round-the-way bull.
Artistically, three is the charm for Big Sean as Dark Sky Paradise is much more expansive than previous efforts, sometimes grinding with executive producer Kanye West's love of the dark, and other times bouncing with the snark, swagger, and style that propelled this Detroit rapper to the top.
With Dark Sky Paradise, Big Sean is prepared to leave his mark.
If Hall Of Fame finally closed the book on his Finally Famous chapter, Dark Sky Paradise marks his biggest step yet in turning that mainstream fame into widespread critical praise.
Occasionally clumsy but wonderfully plainspoken, and impassioned when he wants to be, Sean has advanced (if not graduated) from the tepid mythmaking of Hall of Fame. Here he’s dynamic, and a pretty good rapper. No fronting.
With sterling wordplay and a consistent melancholy vibe, the Detroit native took all the tension, the highs and lows, and laid it out on wax, compiling the strongest project of his career.
Pretty much everyone who shows up to Dark Sky Paradise brings their A-game, and that includes Sean himself.
Paradise is a big leap in the direction of the ideal Big Sean full-length. Whether he will ever make it there is certainly an open question, but in the meantime the smirkiest rapper in the business finally has an album that justifies all that self-satisfaction.
Big Sean has reached a personal high by finding his Dark Sky Paradise, and it's his honesty that takes listeners there with him.
I’m tired of pretending like I don’t like this
75/100
Pros:
- Incredible production
- Sean’s confidence and hardworking spirit is infectious
- it’s charming
- Some nostalgia is involved
- great topical variety
- what Sean lacks in lyrics, he makes up with catchy hooks
- the punchlines
Cons:
- Sean is mid lyricist… putting it lightly. He has some truly awful bars.
- the project has a couple clear duds, and some really weak spots
- outshined by features multiple ... read more
No no no no no no. No no no no no no no no no no no no, no no no no no no no no no no. No? No no. No no no no? .....no, no no. No no no no, no no no no!
Memethony RIPcaltano
Big Sean delivers a pretty solid pop rap album. Big Sean has been an artist that always made into my turn up or hype playlists with songs like "Bounce Back" or "Blessings" being some. I felt like taking a listen to this album for no particular reason today. Coming out of it I have some thoughts.
The production is stellar as with most of the songs Sean has made throughout his career, that beat switch on "I Don't Fuck With You" is actually phenomenal. Sean as a ... read more
It was ok but it felt very long. The best songs are I dont Fuck with you and All your fault the worst was easily stay down and Outro
This is a solid album, but it doesn't quite hit the mark of being something special for me. While it offers a decent collection of tracks, there's nothing particularly memorable that would prompt me to revisit it. The album seems to lack that distinctive factor or standout elements that make it truly compelling. It's a competent effort from Big Sean, but unfortunately, it falls short of leaving a lasting impression that would encourage me to give it another listen.
1 | Dark Sky (Skyscrapers) 2:58 | 75 |
2 | Blessings 4:12 feat. Drake | 84 |
3 | All Your Fault 3:44 feat. Kanye West | 86 |
4 | I Don't Fuck With You 4:44 feat. E-40 | 87 |
5 | Play No Games 3:36 feat. Chris Brown, Ty Dolla $ign | 73 |
6 | Paradise 3:35 | 79 |
7 | Win Some, Lose Some 5:04 | 73 |
8 | Stay Down 4:10 | 67 |
9 | I Know 5:19 feat. Jhené Aiko | 72 |
10 | Deep 4:35 feat. Lil Wayne | 78 |
11 | One Man Can Change the World 4:14 feat. Kanye West, John Legend | 81 |
12 | Outro 3:45 | 74 |