Detroit's Big Sean tells how Kanye West Signed Him

By Hip Hop News

06/18/09

June 18, 2009

Kanye West can't tell you the complete background of one of his newer artists, Big Sean, but he can see his guy's future. Sean may be the next mainstream hip-hop star coming out of Detroit.

"He put out mixtapes. ... His story for me was I heard him rap, he killed it and he got signed," Kanye said.

You couldn't script Sean's introduction to Kanye any better. Sean took a page right out of fellow Detroit native Eminem's handbook and lost himself in the moment — when he was alerted by a friend that 'He would be at a local radio station, Sean came down to try and get on.

"One summer — it was junior year, going into senior year — I had this weak job," the now 21-year-old explained. "No offense to telemarketers, but I was a telemarketer making $100 a week. ... I was cashing my check one Saturday, and it was for $100. One of my best friends called and was like, 'Yo, Kanye is down at the radio station. If you go down there and rap for him, he'll sign you.' "

In a rush, Sean left the check-cashing place before getting his bread and had to borrow $20 from another friend for transportation. When the youngster got to the station, he used his relationship with the staff to get close to Kanye. West originally denied him, then told him he had 16 seconds — that turned into 10 minutes.

"Kanye shook my hand and started walking away," Sean remembered. "My friend was like, 'You gotta go for it.' So I tapped him on the shoulder and was like, 'I'm an aspiring MC. I do this show every Friday. Can I rap for you?' He was like, 'No. I gotta go.' I'm like, 'Man, please — you're my hero. Let me rap for you? Just let me spit for you.' "

Kanye softened up and let Sean rap for him as he walked out of the station. "As we get to the entrance of the radio station ... we stopped in the middle of the doorway. He starts looking at me and bobbing his head," Sean said.

A nervous Sean kept his head down, looking at the ground so he wouldn't mess up. By the time his bars were done, a crowd had formed. He had a moment.

"It was like out of the movies," Kanye remembered. "I could hear his personality and character and style in it. He just walked up to me and said a rap and I said, 'I'mma sign you.' That's what happened.

"No, it's not that easy — I'm not really signing acts," 'Ye added. "I wasn't signing acts at that time. But I was so inspired by what he did. His voice was very compelling. His lyrics were very clever and the melodies and the way he was putting it together and his story. So it's not that easy, but it's a lot of people who rap who aren't as dope."

After losing contact then getting back in touch, 'Ye brought Sean out on the road while he recorded Graduation. Eventually the Louis Vuitton Don signed Sean to G.O.O.D. Music/ Def Jam at the end of 2007. Sean turned down a collegiate career at Michigan State (he graduated high school with a 3.8 GPA) to pursue rap, realizing he couldn't do both.

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One person has commented on this item.

Detroit Stand Up!!!
Jazzy on July 25, 2009 - 14:39 pm

1. Oh yes!!! Detroit rapper Big Sean signed to Kanye West record label...thats right keep putting DETROIT back on the map!!!! [smiley=tongue]