Big Sean has always been a weird case in hip-hop. He's the guy who gave us "IDFWU" and then turned around and tried to convince us he's a philosophical sage. Some people find him corny. Others think he’s one of the most technically gifted rappers of the 2010s. But when you look back at Big Sean I Decided, released back in February 2017, you realize it wasn't just another album. It was a pivot. It was the moment Sean Anderson decided he wanted to be more than just the guy with the clever hashtags and the catchy hooks.
He wanted to be deep.
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The Concept You Probably Missed
Most people remember the hits like "Bounce Back" or "Moves," but Big Sean I Decided is actually a concept album. It’s based on a pretty heavy idea: reincarnation. The story follows an older version of Sean who feels like he blew his life. He worked the same dead-end job for 45 years and lived with a mountain of regret. Then, he gets a second chance. He's reborn as his younger self but with the wisdom of the old man.
You can hear this play out in the skits and the lyrics. On "Light," he realizes the glow he was looking for at the end of the tunnel was actually inside him the whole time. It's kinda cliché, honestly. But in the context of a rapper who was mostly known for "A$$" and punchlines about girls, it felt like a massive growth spurt.
The album cover is the giveaway. You see two Seans standing under different colored streetlights. One is the current Sean; the other is the elder version. It's a literal "sliding doors" moment captured in a single frame.
Why No Favors Is Still a Fever Dream
We have to talk about "No Favors." When that tracklist dropped and people saw Eminem's name, the internet basically broke. Two Detroit titans on one track? It was supposed to be a moment.
And it was. But it was also... strange.
Big Sean holds his own, rapping about being self-made and not needing a helping hand. Then Eminem comes in like a tornado in a glass shop. He goes on this nearly three-minute tear, name-dropping everyone from Ann Coulter to Jamie Lee Curtis. It’s one of those verses that divided people. Some fans loved the technical "lyrical miracle" energy. Critics thought it was a messy, long-winded tangent that didn't fit the vibe.
Still, hearing them go back-to-back was a win for Michigan. It cemented Sean as a heavy hitter who could stand in the booth with a legend without getting totally eclipsed.
The Production Team Behind the Sound
The sound of this album is incredibly cohesive. That’s thanks to Amaire Johnson, who acted as a sort of musical director. But the heavy lifting on the singles came from the usual suspects of that era.
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- Metro Boomin handled "Bounce Back" and "Voices in My Head / Stick to the Plan."
- Hitmaka (Yung Berg) worked on the lead single.
- Key Wane brought that soulful Detroit bounce to "Jump Out the Window."
"Bounce Back" became the anthem for anyone having a bad week. "Last night took an L, but tonight I bounce back" is arguably the most relatable line of Sean’s entire career. It’s simple. It’s effective. It’s why the song went multi-platinum and stayed on the radio for what felt like an eternity.
Is It Actually Corny?
Let's be real. Big Sean has a "cringe" problem.
On "Jump Out the Window," he raps about a girl playing Mario Kart and picking the princess because she is a princess. Yeah. It’s a lot.
But there’s a vulnerability on tracks like "Halfway Off the Balcony" and "Sunday Morning Jetpack" that makes you forgive the occasional eye-roller. He talks about his mom, his grandma’s rum cake, and the pressure of being the breadwinner for his whole family. He’s humanizing himself.
"Sunday Morning Jetpack" featuring The-Dream is arguably the soul of the project. It feels like a warm hug. It’s nostalgic and grounded in a way that most "superstar" rap isn't. You can tell he really missed his family while he was out chasing the "Light."
The Legacy of I Decided
When the album dropped, it debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. It moved 151,000 equivalent album units in its first week. That’s huge. It proved that Sean wasn't just a "singles artist." He could sell a body of work.
Does it hold up in 2026?
Mostly, yes. The trap production on "Sacrifices" (with Migos) still hits. The introspection on "Bigger Than Me" feels more relevant now that we’ve seen Sean go through more public ups and downs.
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He didn't quite reach the Kendrick or J. Cole level of "prestige" rapper with this project, but he definitely moved the needle. He proved he had a heart and a brain, not just a flow.
What You Should Do Next
If it’s been a while, go back and listen to the album from start to finish. Don't just shuffle the hits. Pay attention to the transitions and the "old man" voice that pops up. It changes the way you hear the songs.
- Listen to "Voices In My Head / Stick To The Plan" for the best beat switch on the album.
- Check out the "Moves" music video if you want to see some of the most creative (and weird) choreography from that year.
- Read the lyrics to "Bigger Than Me" while listening to the outro; it’s the most honest Sean has ever been about his relationship with Detroit.
Whether you're a fan or a hater, you can't deny the impact. Big Sean I Decided was the moment he stopped asking for permission to be a great and just... decided he was.