Big Sean photographed by Elizabeth Weinberg on Jan. 27, 2015 in Los Angeles.
Elizabeth Weinberg
Big Sean’s Dark Sky Paradise comes out Tuesday, but that doesn’t mean he’s stopped working: On Monday afternoon (Feb. 23), he dropped a freestyle over the beat of Beyonce’s “Me, Myself, and I.” Check it out:
Big Sean, ‘Dark Sky Paradise’: Track-by-Track Review
Even though my album drops tonight in a few hours….
— Big Sean (@BigSean) February 23, 2015
And we’ve had an overwhelming schedule. I recorded something last night, instead of going to sleep!! For u!
— Big Sean (@BigSean) February 23, 2015
New Music: Me, Myself & I Freestyle https://t.co/lWod7lIWyC thank you! https://t.co/9Ox6C26RRV pic.twitter.com/0l84HuUHpT
— Big Sean (@BigSean) February 23, 2015
The track originally appeared on Beyonce’s solo debut album Dangerously in Love, which came out in 2003. The beat is savvy and crisp, sounding like a combination of Dr. Dre’s “Xxplosive” and hip-hop soul. It was co-written and co-produced by Scott Storch when he was at the peak of his hitmaking powers.
Big Sean on ‘Supercool’ Girlfriend Ariana Grande, Working With Kanye and His Personal Heartbreak
Sean begins the track contemplative and contented, taking the time to praise his family and a recent performance. He hits his stride in the middle of the song: “Y’all bragging about so and so like ‘oh, he really it’/ The new n—a in rap, well can he really spit?/ Or do he just hide behind his skits like half of these rappers doing/ and y’all f—ing go and praise him in this bitch, like they the saviour of this shit?” Some commenters are suggesting this is a thinly veiled shot at Kendrick Lamar.
After that, Sean’s rapping picks up speed. He claims his “voice damn hear gone, it’s like 5 in the morning, we ain’t slept in days,” but he sounds energetic and fully awake.
For old time’s sake, here’s Beyonce’s version.