The Rundown: Big Sean, Hall of Fame

A track-by-track review of the rapper's sophomore album.

The Rundown: Big Sean, Hall of Fame - It's a crucial point in an artist's career, a landmark that in many cases will determine their success (or failure) from that point forward: the sophomore album. But if you think Big Sean is worried, think again. The charismatic 25-year-old didn't name the album Hall of Fame because he thinks he can fail. With an all-star lineup of guest appearances from Lil' Wayne to Juicy J, 2 Chainz and even Miley Cyrus (unfortunately the heavily rumored Eminem collabo didn't show up on this one), the phonetic rapper looks to ensure that the D in G.O.O.D. Music is represented to the fullest.(Photo: GOOD Music, Def Jam)

1 / 18

The Rundown: Big Sean, Hall of Fame - It's a crucial point in an artist's career, a landmark that in many cases will determine their success (or failure) from that point forward: the sophomore album. But if you think Big Sean is worried, think again. The charismatic 25-year-old didn't name the album Hall of Fame because he thinks he can fail. With an all-star lineup of guest appearances from Lil' Wayne to Juicy J, 2 Chainz and even Miley Cyrus (unfortunately the heavily rumored Eminem collabo didn't show up on this one), the phonetic rapper looks to ensure that the D in G.O.O.D. Music is represented to the fullest.(Photo: GOOD Music, Def Jam)

"Nothing Is Stopping You" - He may have skipped an intro, but on Hall of Fame's opening cut, Sean takes the listener on a melodic, piano-driven journey back to his life before he was "finally famous" and up to his meeting with his would-be boss Kanye. "I know I"ma get it, I just don't know how/Heart up on a stage, body in a crowd/Parents always tried to keep me home/But I can't get paid from the crib/so I'm gone 'til we on," Sean rhymes.(Photo: John Ricard/Getty Images for BET)

2 / 18

"Nothing Is Stopping You" - He may have skipped an intro, but on Hall of Fame's opening cut, Sean takes the listener on a melodic, piano-driven journey back to his life before he was "finally famous" and up to his meeting with his would-be boss Kanye. "I know I"ma get it, I just don't know how/Heart up on a stage, body in a crowd/Parents always tried to keep me home/But I can't get paid from the crib/so I'm gone 'til we on," Sean rhymes.(Photo: John Ricard/Getty Images for BET)

"Fire" - Perhaps a year ago this would have been an odd pairing, but pop star and renowned "twerk-uoso" Miley Cyrus has really come into her own in 2013. In addition to her providing vocals over the keys-and-tambourine-laden heater, the former "Hannah Montana" star also serves as video vixen for the Samsung-endorsed single.(Photo: John Ricard/Getty Images for BET)

3 / 18

"Fire" - Perhaps a year ago this would have been an odd pairing, but pop star and renowned "twerk-uoso" Miley Cyrus has really come into her own in 2013. In addition to her providing vocals over the keys-and-tambourine-laden heater, the former "Hannah Montana" star also serves as video vixen for the Samsung-endorsed single.(Photo: John Ricard/Getty Images for BET)

"10 2 10" - What would Big Sean be doing if he wasn't an internationally known rhymer? As the 25-year-old rhymes over the track's hard-pounding, ominous beat, he just might be working "from 10 to 10, then 10 to 10, then 10 again." (Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

4 / 18

"10 2 10" - What would Big Sean be doing if he wasn't an internationally known rhymer? As the 25-year-old rhymes over the track's hard-pounding, ominous beat, he just might be working "from 10 to 10, then 10 to 10, then 10 again." (Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

"You Don't Know" - This electronic-ish track laid the perfect canvas for "Lights" singer Ellie Goulding to add her audibly soothing vocals for the chorus. For his part, Sean gives an open account of how he gets down. Players take notes and ladies "beware."(Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage)

5 / 18

"You Don't Know" - This electronic-ish track laid the perfect canvas for "Lights" singer Ellie Goulding to add her audibly soothing vocals for the chorus. For his part, Sean gives an open account of how he gets down. Players take notes and ladies "beware."(Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage)

ADVERTISEMENT
"My Homies Still" feat. Big Sean - This single, which we first heard last year during the height of the supposed beef between Young Money and G.O.O.D. Music, still doesn't make much sense on its own — bragging that your friends sell drugs doesn't mean much when other rappers are claiming that they still do it. But on this album, the song, with its schizophrenic siren and claps and Wayne finally touching on some new subject matter, shines on idiosyncratic beats like this, which seem to match his inner crazy. We wish he had used more of them on the album. He's definitely nowhere near Tha Carter III, but this album isn't the throwaway that its prequel and Rebirth were. If anything, it's pretty obvious he's having a hell of a lot of fun here, and this album will surely satisfy his millions of fans enough to keep the good times rolling. (Photos from left: Christie Goodwin/R...

6 / 18

"Beware" featuring Lil Wayne and Jhené Aiko - Lil Wayne and Jhene Aiko help out with this cautionary tale to all ladies. Mike Dean and Key Wane produced the track which bares a striking resemblance to old Nintendo sounds. The song has been making quite a splash on radio. (Photos from left: Christie Goodwin/Redferns, Mark Davis/Getty Images for Caesars Entertainment)

"First Chain"  featuring Nas and Kid Cudi - Student and teacher collide as Big Sean remembers the inspiration he drew from seeing Nas rocking his first chain to later going through his own "Chaining Day" with Kanye West. The Illmatic rapper himself then blesses the '90s influenced track followed by Kid Cudi.(Photos from left: John Ricard / BET, Shareif Ziyadat/FilmMagic, Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

7 / 18

"First Chain"  featuring Nas and Kid Cudi - Student and teacher collide as Big Sean remembers the inspiration he drew from seeing Nas rocking his first chain to later going through his own "Chaining Day" with Kanye West. The Illmatic rapper himself then blesses the '90s influenced track followed by Kid Cudi.(Photos from left: John Ricard / BET, Shareif Ziyadat/FilmMagic, Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Photo By Photos from left: John Ricard / BET

9. "Control," Big Sean feat. Kendrick Lamar & Jay Electronica - Seven minutes of rhyming rippled through the rap world like a lyrical tsunami. Big Sean's "Control" record will go down as one of the year's biggest tracks after he leaked it and unleashed Kendrick Lamar's verse — you know the one. (Photo: Joseph Okpako/WireImage)

8 / 18

"Mona Lisa" - "I believe in God and rubbers" proclaims Sean on this track that details his quest to double his pleasure with the ladies with a ménage. The relatively stripped down track goes back and forth between mellow and pounding. (Photo: Joseph Okpako/WireImage)

Big Sean - Big Sean is young, fly, talented and has swag for days. When he goes in, he goes hard and is the perfect man for any woman. (Photo: Jemal Countess/Getty Images)

9 / 18

"Freaky" - There might not be graphics, but this segue into the Nicki Minaj and Juicy J assisted "MILF" is for adults only.(Photo: Jemal Countess/Getty Images)

"MILF" featuring Nicki Minaj and Juicy J - Another track that requires no explanation. This jam favors Sean's other playboy anthems, only this one is a touch more "mature." "No stress, no drama. Her kids hate me/They know I f--k they mama," spits mother lover Big Sean. The G.O.O.D. rapper called on Juicy J and Nicki Minaj, who each added their own freaky tales to this banger.(Photos from left: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images, Dan Harr / Splash News, Johnny Nunez/WireImage)

10 / 18

"MILF" featuring Nicki Minaj and Juicy J - Another track that requires no explanation. This jam favors Sean's other playboy anthems, only this one is a touch more "mature." "No stress, no drama. Her kids hate me/They know I f--k they mama," spits mother lover Big Sean. The G.O.O.D. rapper called on Juicy J and Nicki Minaj, who each added their own freaky tales to this banger.(Photos from left: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images, Dan Harr / Splash News, Johnny Nunez/WireImage)

ADVERTISEMENT
/content/dam/betcom/images/2013/03/Music-03-01-03-15/031313-music-big-sean-performs-bbc-radio-tour.jpg

11 / 18

"Sierra Leone" - Hall of Fame's most laid back track starts out with a chopped and screwed sample of Nas' line, "Sorry Sierra Leone, one day we'll right the wrongs," from "First Chain," and continues with Sean boasting of the spoils afforded to any lady that's lucky enough to be with him (even if they're not the only one).(Photo: Christie Goodwin/Redferns)

"It's Time" featuring Young Jeezy and Payroll - If Jeezy is featured on the song, it's guaranteed to be a banger, and "It's Time" is no different. Sean shows off his ability to speed up that one-of-a-kind syllable-heavy flow for this "YOLO-esque" track, rapping, "I want a hood rat b---h, f--k a model/You ain't alive if you ain't livin' that's the motto."(Photo: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for Park City Live)

12 / 18

"It's Time" featuring Young Jeezy and Payroll - If Jeezy is featured on the song, it's guaranteed to be a banger, and "It's Time" is no different. Sean shows off his ability to speed up that one-of-a-kind syllable-heavy flow for this "YOLO-esque" track, rapping, "I want a hood rat b---h, f--k a model/You ain't alive if you ain't livin' that's the motto."(Photo: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for Park City Live)

/content/dam/betcom/images/2012/12/Music-12-01-12-15/120312-music-big-sean-launches-detroit-based-charity-foundation.jpg

13 / 18

"World Ablaze" featuring James Faunterloy - James Faunterloy once again provides vocals as the snare claps and the piano creates the backdrop for one of Hall of Fame's most commercial-friendly tracks. A notably more introspective Sean points out the difficulty in sometimes telling someone a truth that they don't want to hear. "How I'ma believe in paradise if I don't see the sand?/Only palm trees I got is this weed up in my hand," laments Sean.(Photo: Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images for VEVO)

Photo By Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images for VEVO

"Ashley" featuring Miguel - The R&B-centric sound could not be more perfect for one of last year's other breakout stars, Miguel, to melt hearts with his steamy vocals as he starts out, "And I wouldn't trade it for the world/And I am just so f----n' lucky you're my girl." The typically promiscuous Sean dedicates his heart to a single lady from his past, recalling that even though they were broke, "Those were the times when I felt richest."(Photos from left: John Ricard/BET, John Ricard / BET)

14 / 18

"Ashley" featuring Miguel - The R&B-centric sound could not be more perfect for one of last year's other breakout stars, Miguel, to melt hearts with his steamy vocals as he starts out, "And I wouldn't trade it for the world/And I am just so f----n' lucky you're my girl." The typically promiscuous Sean dedicates his heart to a single lady from his past, recalling that even though they were broke, "Those were the times when I felt richest."(Photos from left: John Ricard/BET, John Ricard / BET)

"All Figured Out" - The Detroit native's drive for success helped him get to where he is, but before he was a "hall of fame" rapper, that same drive almost led Big Sean down the wrong path for that paper. Here, he raps about a would be career as a hustler over the track, which is reminiscent of that early Neptunes sound that dominated the early 21st century.(Photo: John Ricard / BET)

15 / 18

"All Figured Out" - The Detroit native's drive for success helped him get to where he is, but before he was a "hall of fame" rapper, that same drive almost led Big Sean down the wrong path for that paper. Here, he raps about a would be career as a hustler over the track, which is reminiscent of that early Neptunes sound that dominated the early 21st century.(Photo: John Ricard / BET)

ADVERTISEMENT
"Mula (Remix)" featuring 2 Chainz, Meek Mill and Earlly Mac - What else would you have 2 CHAIINNZZZ rap about? Like "Guap," this song stresses the importance of one of rap's essential objectives — "Ain't nothin' more important than the mula" — with a Down South beat beating up the speaker. MMG Lieutenant Meek Mill and Earlly Mac lay down verses as well on this, one of Sean's many hustler's anthems.(Photos from left: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for BET, Rick Diamond/Getty Images for BET,Christie Goodwin/Redferns)

16 / 18

"Mula (Remix)" featuring 2 Chainz, Meek Mill and Earlly Mac - What else would you have 2 CHAIINNZZZ rap about? Like "Guap," this song stresses the importance of one of rap's essential objectives — "Ain't nothin' more important than the mula" — with a Down South beat beating up the speaker. MMG Lieutenant Meek Mill and Earlly Mac lay down verses as well on this, one of Sean's many hustler's anthems.(Photos from left: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for BET, Rick Diamond/Getty Images for BET,Christie Goodwin/Redferns)

Brotherly Love - Big Sean comes out to support his G.O.O.D. Music comrade Common at the premiere of his new film, LUV, in which he stars and executive produced, at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood, California. (Photo: Paul A. Hebert/Getty Images)

17 / 18

"Switch" featuring Common - Every album needs a "turn up" track to get the night started, and with its trap sound and an uncharacteristically swagged out verse from fellow midwest rhymer Common, this is it: "B---h I'm sexy as f--k, you ain't even gotta tell me/I ride around to Pac/I f--k my girl to R. Kelly/Tell her 'make me a sandwich/No PB and jelly/She look back like 'N---a what you think this a deli?'/I'm screamin' hell yeah trick. Hell yeah, whodi/That s--t make her love me more, and she know I love her too."(Photo: Paul A. Hebert/Getty Images)

Big Sean @bigseangood - Despite it being a rainy day in Paris, G.O.O.D. Music rapper Big Sean still manages to get fly and put on for his city. Gooooood! (Photo: instagram/bigseangood)

18 / 18

"Guap" - If success is the ultimate revenge, then "Guap" is the perfect track for any underdog that came up. "This to all my enemies that see me gettin' guap right now," Big Sean raps, while the Caribbean-flavored beat makes it the summer's feel good anthem.(Photo: instagram/bigseangood)