Big Sean had everything to prove in 2013. Coming off the massive success of his debut, Finally Famous, the Detroit rapper wasn't just looking for another radio hit; he wanted a legacy. That's how we got the Hall of Fame Big Sean album, a project that stands as one of the most polarizing yet ambitious moments in G.O.O.D. Music history.
People forget how high the stakes were back then. Sean wasn't just Kanye’s protégé anymore; he was a platinum artist trying to prove he had the depth to stay in the conversation with Kendrick and Drake.
Honestly? The rollout was a total circus. Between the delays and the "Control" verse that basically broke the internet, the actual music on the album almost got lost in the noise. But if you go back and listen now, there’s a lot more there than just a collection of singles. It’s a snapshot of a rapper trying to find his soul while the world only wanted his punchlines.
The "Control" Elephant in the Room
You can't talk about the Hall of Fame Big Sean album without mentioning the song that isn't even on it. "Control."
👉 See also: Law of the Underworld: Why This 1938 Crime Gem is Still Worth Your Time
It’s one of the weirdest bits of hip-hop trivia. Big Sean releases a promotional track featuring Kendrick Lamar and Jay Electronica. Kendrick drops a verse that calls out every major rapper by name, effectively starting a "civil war" in rap. The song goes viral, becomes the most talked-about moment of the year, and then... it’s not on the album.
Sample clearance issues, supposedly.
Basically, the most important verse of 2013 happened on a Big Sean song, but it didn't help his album sales as much as you'd think. It actually might have hurt him. People were so busy talking about Kendrick’s "King of New York" line that they sort of glossed over the fact that Sean’s second album was actually dropping two weeks later.
What Hall of Fame Was Actually Trying to Do
Sean wanted this to be his super intellectual moment. He said so himself in interviews leading up to the August 27 release. He moved away from the "Dance (A$$)" vibes to focus on what he called "Memoirs of a Detroit Player."
The production was heavy. We’re talking No I.D. as the executive producer, with Key Wane, Mike Dean, and Da Internz providing these lush, cinematic backdrops.
💡 You might also like: Britt Nicole: Why the Christian Pop Icon is Finally Back After a Decade Away
- The Intro: "Nothing Is Stopping You" is genuinely one of Sean’s best openers. It tells the story of him rapping for Kanye at the radio station, but then flips the perspective to him listening to a kid rap for him years later.
- The Features: He pulled every favor. Nas, Kid Cudi, Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, Juicy J, and Miguel. It’s a stacked roster.
- The Vibe: It’s way more experimental than his debut. Tracks like "Toyota Music" and "Sierra Leone" have this trippy, atmospheric feel that felt very "New Detroit" at the time.
Why the Sales Didn't Match the Hype
When the numbers came in, the industry was shocked. The Hall of Fame Big Sean album sold about 72,000 copies in its first week.
That wasn't a "flop" by normal standards, but compared to the 87,000 his debut did—and the massive hype from G.O.O.D. Music's Cruel Summer—it felt like a step back. Critics were mixed, too. Some loved the growth; others thought it was a bit bloated at 15 tracks (or 18 if you got the deluxe version with "Guap" and "Switch Up").
Looking back, the timing was just... off. August 2013 was a crowded house. You had the aftermath of Yeezus and Born Sinner, and everyone was waiting for Drake’s Nothing Was the Same in September. Sean got squeezed.
The Tracks That Still Hold Up
If you’re revisiting the album today, skip the skits and head straight for these:
- "First Chain" (ft. Nas & Kid Cudi): A literal masterpiece of nostalgia. Hearing Sean, Cudi, and Nas talk about the significance of their first piece of jewelry is hip-hop storytelling at its finest.
- "Beware" (ft. Jhené Aiko & Lil Wayne): This was the commercial peak of the album. It’s catchy, toxic, and basically birthed the Big Sean/Jhené Aiko chemistry that led to Twenty88.
- "Ashley" (ft. Miguel): A raw, uncomfortable look at how fame destroys relationships. It’s named after his real-life ex-girlfriend, and you can hear the regret in his voice.
The Legacy of the Detroit Player
Is Hall of Fame Big Sean's best album? Probably not. Most fans would give that title to Dark Sky Paradise or even the Detroit mixtape.
But it’s his most important album. It’s where he learned how to be a songwriter instead of just a rapper. He stopped relying on the "Supa Dupa" flow and started talking about his life, his mom, and his city in a way that felt authentic.
👉 See also: Knuckle Hunter x Hunter: Why This Debt-Collecting Beast Hunter is a Writing Masterclass
It was the growing pain he needed to get to the next level. Without the lessons learned from the mixed reception of this project, we never get the polished, confident Big Sean of the late 2010s.
How to Experience Hall of Fame Today
If you want to understand what Sean was really going for, don't just stream it on shuffle.
- Listen to the Deluxe Edition: You need "Guap" and "Mula (Remix)" to get the full energy.
- Watch the Vlogs: Sean released a series of "Hall of Fame" vlogs on YouTube during the rollout. They are incredibly well-shot and give a lot of context to the "inspirational" angle he was pushing.
- Pair it with "Detroit": Listen to the Detroit mixtape right before this. It’s widely considered his "true" sophomore effort by fans, and it bridges the gap perfectly between his early era and the Hall of Fame sound.
The album might not have landed him in the literal hall of fame on day one, but it's a fascinating piece of 2010s rap history that deserves a second spin without the 2013 Twitter distractions.
Actionable Next Steps: Go back and listen to "First Chain" and "All Figured Out." These two tracks represent the peak of Sean's introspection during this era and offer the best insight into why this album still matters to his core fanbase. For a deeper look at the visual side of this project, check out the music video for "Fire" featuring Miley Cyrus—it perfectly captures the weird, experimental crossroads Sean was at during this release.