Big Sean Runs Through Hits Old And New During NPR ‘Tiny Desk’
The MC teased a new single, ‘On Up,’ during the performance.
On the heels of dropping “Precision,” his first solo release in two years, Big Sean has shared a retrospective of his musical legacy in an NPR “Tiny Desk Concert” performance.
The rapper, backed by an ensemble of talented musicians and vocalists, interweaved his discography with curated hits spanning the entirety of his impressive career.
Setting the tone off the jump with his early standout track “Memories,” Big Sean showcased remarkable penmanship and quick witted rhymes as the performance journeys in and out of nostalgic classics from “Blessings” and “All Me” to “Bounce Back” and the 8x-platinum “IDFWU.”
In perhaps the most tender moment of the performance, proud dad Big Sean premiered a teaser of his forthcoming record “On Up,” and dedicated the track to his son while taking a moment to reflect on the joys of fatherhood.
Earlier this week, Sean returned with the aforementioned “Precision,” which is available now via Def Jam Recordings. Big Sean locks and loads the track with some of his most quotable bars to date. He leans into a rapid-fire flow over an upbeat soul sample punctuated by sniper sounds in between a jazz-y horn section and a skittering beat.
Flaunting his signature confidence and charisma, he boasts, “I studied the target/ I’m never gonna miss it/ I call that precision!”
The accompanying visual matches this momentum with its frenetic pacing, quick cuts, and captivating vignettes. Additionally, Sean unveiled a highly personal and revealing vlog entitled “Clarity.”
It threads together intimate footage culled from the sessions, tracing the creative journey up to this point. Reflecting on how far he’s come, he pulls back the curtain on what to expect from this season of Big Sean.
In reference to clarity, he proclaims, “I wish you the clarity that sparks the blueprint to create the life you love, no matter what.”
Back in August, Sean earned his first Emmy Award for his role in the Detroit Pistons’ 2022-23 Brand Campaign commercial “Different by Design.”
Listen to the best of Big Sean on Apple Music and Spotify.
