Better Me Than You
Better Me Than You is the sixth studio album by American rapper Big Sean, released through FF To Def Entertainment on August 30, 2024, with distribution handled by Def Jam Recordings. It features guest appearances from Bryson Tiller, Cash Cobain, Charlie Wilson, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Gunna, Ellie Goulding, Eryn Allen Kane, Kodak Black, Larry June, Syd, Teyana Taylor, and Thundercat, among others. His first studio album since parting ways with GOOD Music and severing ties with its leader Kanye West, the project was originally announced on July 19, 2024 (which was the same day an unfinished alternate version of the album was leaked), before being pushed back by several weeks. The album received generally positive reviews from music critics for its' versatility of sound and structure, supporting cast of musicians, and artistic growth.

Background
On September 4, 2020, Big Sean released his fourth album Detroit 2. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, marking his third number-one album. The album was followed a year later, on October 29, 2021, by a collaborative extended play (EP) with record producer Hit-Boy titled What You Expect, peaking at number 76 on the Billboard 200. That same day, Sean announced on Twitter that after 14 years, he would step away from Kanye West's GOOD Music label, stating the relationship was "a forever brotherhood, but business wise, I had to start getting a bigger cut! I worked my way out that deal." West also claimed during a November 2021 Drink Champs podcast that signing Sean was the 'worst decision' of his entire career.

On March 22, 2024, Sean released the single "Precision", which would eventually serve as the lead single for his sixth album. In July 2024, Sean performed a freestyle on the radio show On the Radar, wherein he indirectly affronted his former label boss Kanye West. As a result, an alternative and unfinished version of Sean's album was leaked by a user on X. Seemingly undeterred, he wrote on the platform himself later that month on July 18:  In the same post, he announced his sixth album to be released on August 9, with the album's second single, "Yes", being released the following day on July 19. A few days after the release of the third single "On Up", Sean confirmed via an Instagram comment that the album was delayed due to scheduling issues. A promotional single with producer The Alchemist, entitled "Together Forever" was released on August 16, a week after the album's initial release date.

On August 26, 2024, Sean announced the album's new release date of August 30. On the same day, he admitted in an emotional Instagram Live with his fans that he was apprehensive about releasing the project due to overthinking, experiencing the album creation process completely sober, and other creative insecurities. He was inspired by "the pressures of life of becoming a new dad", being an artist continuing to grow and transform, and embracing "being a human in [constant] development."

Other than through-lines of personal growth and weariness of fame, additional subjects discussed include building empires as a Black man in a tumultuous, 21st century America, mistakes of past family generations, his aspirations for his own son, and the positive relationship he hopes they can share as he grows up.

Critical reception

In a positive review from online publication HotNewHipHop, the album is celebrated by reviewer Elias Andrews for finding a "contemplative groove" that "fans are going to love." Andrews later mentions when highlighting newfound maturity that "[there are] still scores to settle, and rappers to rag on, but there's an awareness that it's not all that important at the end of the day."

Reviewing the album for Clash, Robin Murray stated, "Better Me Than You is deft and personal, boasting a caramel-smooth sense of West Coast funk. [In portions the project] can seem inconsistent, but taken as a whole it’s a testament to Big Sean’s vitality, his artistic self-awareness, and his commitment to creative growth.".

In a more mixed review from Sam Moore of HipHopDX, the album was lauded as a "mature effort from a [formerly] horny punchline merchant", celebrating the use of unusual samples and the soulful stylings of former labelmate Teyana Taylor and Charlie Wilson to help him "deal with weighty themes of fatherhood and generational pain." However, the review also noted he "slip[ped] back into his old self on the Usher-sampling “Who You Are (Superstar)” as he reverts back to the cringe-worthy sex raps", and the album (while "cohesive") was deemed to not have "enough depth, intrigue or tension to justify a runtime of over an hour."

In a lukewarm review from Stereogum titled "Big Sean Is No Fun Now", the project was admired for being "cohesive and effectively sequenced,... creating a pensive, brooding ambiance that mirrors Sean’s mood [with] aural synths meet[ing] naked ruminations that linger like troubling thoughts", before admonishment for "shallow prose" and "singular subject matter."

Commercial performance
The album was projected to earn 23,000 album-equivalent units in its first week, the lowest of Big Sean's career.

Track listing

References

Category:Big Sean albums
Category:Def Jam Recordings albums
Category:Albums produced by Hit-Boy
Category:Albums produced by Thundercat (musician)
Category:Albums produced by Malay (record producer)
Category:Albums produced by The-Dream
Category:Albums produced by the Alchemist (musician)
Category:Albums produced by Beam
Category:Albums produced by Kaytranada
Category:Albums produced by Key Wane
Category:Albums produced by Harv
Category:Albums produced by FnZ
Category:Albums produced by WondaGurl
Category:Albums produced by Rogét Chahayed
Category:Albums produced by DJ Premier