Big Sean on Music Industry Betrayals and Battling His Own Demons

Rapper and author Big Sean takes us on a journey from his mixtape days in Detroit, to signing with Kanye West’s GOOD Music, to overcoming obstacles and becoming the artist he always wanted to be.

In this episode, Sean sits down with Noah Callahan-Bever to discuss his lessons learned in the music industry, and explain how patience and persistence are paramount. From a string of successful mixtapes, to breaking through on radio, to overcoming writer’s block and coming out on the other side as an author, Sean has persisted and established himself as a mainstay in music and culture for nearly two decades. And it all started with one idea.

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Chapters

00:00 – 2:06 Intro / the power of "yes"
02:07 – 4:10 Growing up
04:11 – 7:41 Detroit music scene
07:42 – 8:44 How to keep pushing forward
08:45 – 10:46 Losing faith in music
10:47 – 11:34 How important is it to take risks?
11:35 – 12:50 Depression and how he overcame it
12:51 – 17:09 First GOOD Music paycheck
17:10 – 17:53 What is success?
17:54 – 21:45 Navigating the music industry
21:46 – 23:33 Big Sean studio tour
22:34 – 25:09 The struggles of making albums
25:10 – 27:22 How can you tell a good idea from a bad idea
27:23 – 29:10 Adderall addiction
29:11 – 30:54 Writer’s block
30:55 – 35:23 Checkpoints in life / new perspective
35:24 – 37:02 Balancing being an artist and a father
37:03 – 40:34 New album process / Virgil’s influence
40:35 – 41:24 Is there an age limit on rap?
41:25 – 42:04 Has Big Sean ever failed?
42:05 – 45:20 Thoughts on Kanye West’s comments on Drink Champs

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COMPLEX is a community of creators and curators, armed with the Internet, committed to surfacing and sharing the voices and conversations that define our new America. Our videos exemplify convergence culture, exploring topics that include music, sneakers, style, sports, and pop culture through original shows and Complex News segments. Featuring your favorite celebrities, authoritative commentary, and a unique voice, our videos make culture pop.