Big Sean Cites Eminem Collab As A “Full Circle Moment” For His Career

Big Sean is a humble guy. He brags a lot in his raps, but he’s generally considered to be one of the coolest rappers of his generation when it comes to personability. He’s deferential to the people who inspired him, even when they aren’t reciprocating (i.e. Kanye West). Sean has always held Eminem in high regard, especially given their shared hometown of Detroit. Big Sean and Em collaborated on the single “Tobey” earlier this year, and the former made it clear that it was a huge deal for him.

Big Sean talked about the collaboration on the VMA’s red carpet. Eminem performed at the event, and Sean Don took the time to give the Detroit legend his flowers. “I’m happy to be a part of that album as well. For sure, for sure,” he told Billboard. Sean also revealed that The Slim Shady LP was the first album he ever bought. He idolized Eminem, and felt that working on The Death of Slim Shady was a nice bit of symmetry for him personally. “It was the first album I bought from Costco with my birthday money,” the rapper recalled. “That was way back. To be on The Death of Slim Shady was a full-circle moment.”

A lot has changed in the 25 years since The Slim Shady LP dropped. Sean has had a stellar career, one that Eminem himself has praised. Em cited Big Sean, alongside J. Cole and Kendrick Lamar, as the artists who inspire him to keep rapping in 2022. “What I hyper-focus on is people like Kendrick Lamar, Joyner Lucas, J. Cole and Big Sean,” he told People Magazine. “Watching them and how the f*ck they’re doing their sh*t. Because they’re also focused on being the best rappers.”

Big Sean also talked about the reception to his own album at the VMAs. Better Me Than You has not performed as well as the rapper’s previous releases. Well, that’s putting it mildly. It garnered the lowest selling first week sales of his entire career, at just 22K. Despite this disappointing stat, Big Sean remains steadfast in the album’s quality. “Its a fire a*s album,” he told VMA reporters. “Slightly being a little slept on to me but you know the fans is locked in.”