I Decided.

by Big Sean

Overview

Big Sean's fourth full-length, I Decided., is a significant evolution in terms of depth and maturity. While not as exciting and immediate as his great third LP, Dark Sky Paradise, I Decided. is an important step for the Detroit rapper, demonstrating his ability to grow. Even with appearances by Eminem, Migos, and Jhene Aiko (as TWENTY88) -- and with various assists from big names like Kanye West, Travis Scott, and Beenie Man -- Sean is never overshadowed. I Decided. is solely his show. The album's title serves as a reminder of a major turning point in his life -- when he decided to follow a different path -- and over 14 tracks, listeners are treated to the interplay between "old" and "new" Seans. The Don's flow remains strong, but it's the lyrics that shine most, perhaps his most introspective and reflective to date. On the de facto Jeremih-assisted opener, "Light," Sean realizes "counting money never feels as good as counting blessings." Later, on "Halfway Off the Balcony," he acknowledges that a "job is way more than a salary" and, when it comes to love, "chemistry means way more than anatomy." These epiphanies are refreshing, especially in the context of the album's narrative of personal development. "Voices in My Head/Stick to the Plan" is the album's climax, a Gollum/Smeagol-style split personality back-and-forth that builds to a light-speed third verse that sets up the final stretch of I Decided. "Sunday Morning Jetpack" is a bright and breezy trip down memory lane, while the big Migos feature, "Sacrifices," finds Offset, Quavo, and Sean exhausting themselves with reminders of what they've been through to get to the top ("we all come from sacrifice"). Above all the personal triumph and self-awareness, the heart of I Decided. is "Inspire Me," a touching dedication to his mother, Myra Anderson. A "Dear Mama" for 2017, it pays respect to his upbringing and the woman responsible for keeping him grounded. She appears via phone recording on the album closer, the standout moment "Bigger Than Me," which manages to be both an ode to his dear mama and a showcase for his efforts for Flint, Michigan's water crisis. The Flint Chozen Choir provides the uplifting hook, while old-school Kanye-esque production elevates the track into the heavens. It's the most inspirational song on an already affirmative album, connecting his past, present, and future with a newfound mantra to live life to its full potential. While I Decided. may not light up the club like his past efforts, it shines a different, more nurturing light onto deeper parts of his soul. ~ Neil Z. Yeung

Product Details

Release Date:	04/14/2017
Label:	Good Music / Virgin Emi
UPC:	0602557335903
Rank:	38736

Tracks

Disc 1

1. Intro
2. Light
3. Bounce Back
4. No Favors
5. Jump Out the Window
6. Moves

Disc 2

7. Same Time, Pt. 1
8. Owe Me
9. Halfway Off the Balcony
10. Voices in My Head/Stick to the Plan
11. Sunday Morning Jetpack
12. Inspire Me
13. Sacrifices
14. Bigger Than Me

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Big Sean   Primary Artist
Eminem   Featured Artist
The-Dream   Featured Artist
Jeremih   Featured Artist
Migos   Featured Artist
Starrah   Featured Artist
TWENTY88   Featured Artist
The Flint Chozen Choir   Featured Artist

Technical Credits

Steve Boone   Composer
Juliet Roberts   Composer
Kanye West   Composer
Noel Fisher   Composer
Moses Davis   Composer
Garry Glenn   Composer
John Sebastian   Composer
Mark Sebastian   Composer
Robert Harris   Composer
Michael Carson   Composer
Andrew Thomas   Composer
Marshall Mathers   Composer
Justin Rodriguez   Composer
Steve Jeffries   Composer
Jeremy Felton   Composer
Dijon McFarlane   Composer
Terius Nash   Composer
Sean Anderson   Composer
Sidney Swift   Composer
Dwane Weir II   Composer
Serge Durand   Composer
Darhyl Camper   Composer
Dacoury Natche   Composer
Steven Marsden   Composer
Allen Ritter   Composer
Ebony Oshunrinde   Composer
Maximilian Jaeger   Composer
Leland Wayne   Composer
Quavious Marshall   Composer
Jason Boyd   Composer
Amaire Johnson   Composer
Khalil Abdul-Rahman   Composer
Brittany Hazzard   Composer
Ruben Raymond   Composer
Justin Bradley   Composer
Hoang Nguyen Tran   Composer
Eduardo Earle   Composer
Jeff Lacroix   Composer
Lawrence Jenkins   Composer
Thomas Blaize   Composer
Christian Ward   Composer