Dark Sky Paradise
| Big Sean
Dark Sky Paradise
Dark Sky Paradise is the third studio album by American rapper Big Sean. It was released on February 24, 2015, by Def Jam Recordings and GOOD Music. The album features guest appearances from Drake, Kanye West, E-40, Chris Brown, Ty Dolla Sign, Jhen Aiko, Lil Wayne, John Legend, PartyNextDoor and Ariana Grande, while the production was handled by a variety of collaborators, including Kanye West, DJ Mustard, DJ Dahi and Key Wane, who also serves as the album's executive producer alongside Big Sean himself. The album was supported by five singles: "I Don't Fuck with You", "Paradise", "Blessings", "One Man Can Change the World" and "Play No Games". Dark Sky Paradise received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised the change in Sean's production and lyricism being more atmospheric and substance-filled. It debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, selling 139,000 copies in its first week. In February 2016, the album was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
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Critic Reviews
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Pitch Fork
Big Sean's Dark Sky Paradise is by many lengths his best album, approaching the elusive sweet spot where his music works as mindless fun while still leaving you just enough to chew on.
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Consequence of sound
Mostly, though, Dark Sky Paradise is an ambitious, tasteful album from a rapper who’s often viewed as neither.
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Rolling Stone
He still tries to stuff way too many words into his bars, and his punchline game can be groanworthy (“I guess when your stars align/You do like the solar system and ‘plan it’ out”).
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Hot New hiphop
Big Sean takes baby steps toward becoming a serious rapper on his new album "Dark Sky Paradise."
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ppcorn
This album definitely isn’t perfect, but it is very enjoyable and Sean’s best so far. I would definitely give it a listen, even if you weren’t a big fan of his first two releases.
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DJ Booth
Let me be clear, Dark Sky Paradise is by far his best album.
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Complex
Occasionally clumsy but wonderfully plainspoken, and impassioned when he wants to be, Sean has advanced (if not graduated) from the tepid mythmaking of Hall of Fame. Here he’s dynamic, and a pretty good rapper. No fronting.
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Stereo of Champions
Big Sean released what might possibly be his best album yet, Dark Sky Paradise
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Respect
With 2015 just getting underway and a lot of unreleased projects from Sean’s peers on the horizon, past experiences would tell us to count him out. But, if Dark Sky Paradise doesn’t put Big Sean at the top of your ‘best rappers of the year’ list, I don’t know what will.
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Sounds Purple
Despite two mediocre songs crippling the flow of an otherwise enjoyable album, Dark Sky Paradise is Big Sean’s most competent and concise release to date. Though it may not be remembered as a classic, here’s to hoping it marks a turning point for the better in his career.
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Entertainment World
An impressive contacts list and famous lady don’t hurt, but it’s left-field bons mots like those that have earned Sean a seat at the mainstream table. It’s just taken a minute for everyone else to catch up.
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COOG Radio
He’s closer, but Dark Sky Paradise won’t get Sean a seat at the table. Big Sean is definitely on his way, but he still has some work to do.
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Marquette Wire
Dark Sky Paradise is Sean’s third album, and in essence the tipping point for his career, as he was overshadowed by Kendrick Lamar in his own album, Hall of Fame, which lacked the “swag” that Finally Famous, his debut album oozed.
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Cultured vultures
With Dark Sky Paradise, Sean’s arrival at the cusp of hip-hop royalty is imminent, although it is hard to take an artist like him seriously considering his ass-laden lyrics and penchant for crashing into unexpected hits.
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All Music
Artistically, three is the charm for Big Sean as Dark Sky Paradise is much more expansive than previous efforts, sometimes grinding with executive producer Kanye West's love of the dark, and other times bouncing with the snark, swagger, and style that propelled this Detroit rapper to the top.
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Bearded Gentlemen Music
Dark Sky Paradise is leagues better than his last album, giving a little material to prove that Big Sean belongs in a world where critics are more forgiving to pop stars.
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Sputnik Music
The opening strings to kick off Dark Sky Paradise are menacing enough to reel someone like myself in. Those few seconds, as clouds rumble in the distance, are worthy of rap superstars currently dominating the hip-hop scene;
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The Know
Big Sean, “Dark Sky Paradise” review: Detroit rapper delivers his best creative perfomance
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We Plug Good Music
Overall I loved a lot of the production across Dark Sky Paradise and thought that Sean and some of his features gave us a few interesting lines here and there, however despite this being his best full length release to date, I thought some of the poor rapping, cringeworthy punchlines and uninspired features overshadowed the record’s higher moments which just weren’t plentiful enough.
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B-sides
I have high hopes for Big Sean’s future, and this album is a step forward for the rapper. If he can keep himself surrounded by these brilliant musical minds, and tap into some of that promise he showcases, he’ll be a force to be reckoned with.
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Impact 89FM
It just goes to show how down-to-earth Big Sean really is, trying to prove to the world that fame has not changed him.
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Hype Beast
Certainly, if he continues on this path to enlightenment by way of real-life examples, he’ll be moving out from under the dark sky and into an actual hall of fame in no time.
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XXL Mag
Not that Sean was facing such extremes—his standing in the rap game means that he wouldn't have disappeared had this album flopped—but he was facing a crossroads of a sort, caught between the potential for which he had shown flashes and the reality that he had largely underwhelmed on 2013's Hall Of Fame.
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News Day
The song is the centerpiece of the album's theme, finding bright spots in darkness and darkness in what should be heavenly moments.
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Music Times
I think Dark Sky Paradise was a solid effort for Big Sean. I don't think it puts him in the same league as Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole, but I definitely see a lot of Drake similarities as far as the way his style has developed.
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Detroit Metro Times
The best thing about Dark Sky Paradise is that Big Sean is still himself. He didn't morph into a gangsta caricature or withdraw into his inner core to become an insecure emo rapper.
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Click On Detroit
Big Sean has grown up. Dark Sky Paradise is a winning mix of high tempo raps and Sean's high-velocity flows.
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Focus Hip Hop
There were a few good songs, but most of ‘em were just awful. All of his music is either too poppy or unbearably generic.
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Spin
Big Sean’s Neither Beautiful Nor Twisted But Quite Dark Fantasy ‘Dark Sky Paradise’
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Boston Globe
His third effort, despite creative production, finds him wallowing in hurt, expressing such deep resentment toward women that it becomes numbing.
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Pop Culture Daily
In my opinion, this album is definitely the standard for rappers to live up to at the moment. Although it’s extremely early and this is going to be a huge year for rappers, I think this album is going be a contender at the end of the year.
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WIUN Radio
All in all, the album is a quality piece of work.
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Good Fella Music
His last effort, Hall of Fame, fell on deaf ears. It had its moments, but for the most part was forgettable
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nzherald
Sure, he's still giving too much limelight to other rappers - Drake on the stand out Blessings, Kanye on All Your Fault - but there are enough big moments here, from the stunning horn stabs of Paradise, to the slurred trap of I Know, to prove that Big Sean has come of age.
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Love This track
“Dark Sky Paradise” is undeniably Sean’s best work yet.
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Cleveland
Despite a few flaws, "Big Sky Paradise" is easily Sean's best album, which means he is making progress. And that's more than you say about 90 percent other young emcees out there.
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Fortitude Magazine
Big Sean evolves from corny, self-induced flop into the respectable, venomous emcee we've seen glimpses of but never on a consistent basis.
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Verge Campus
I’m still not convinced that this album is worth your money, but it is definitely worth streaming.
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Exclaim
Big Sean has reached a personal high by finding his Dark Sky Paradise, and it's his honesty that takes listeners there with him.
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New York Daily News
Rapper Big Sean's 'Dark Sky Paradise' is confident and marked by sharp, crisp phrases
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The Ithacan
“Dark Sky Paradise” proves Sean is a true rap superstar. Some tracks are notably better than others, and hearing Sean say how great he is grows tiresome, but West’s production and Sean’s verses combine to make a great album all the same.
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Noisey
His place seemingly secure in the G.O.O.D. multiverse, and at the end of the day he'll be remembered for a string of memorable singles even if Dark Sky Paradise isn't a huge success
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Bend Bulletin
Big Sean clings to vowels like a racecar driver to turns — tenaciously and mind-numbingly, returning to them constantly for fear of slipping off the track.
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Brent Music Reviews
After lackadaisical sales for his sophomore effort Hall Of Fame, perhaps the old saying ‘third time’s charm’ gets it done for Big Sean this time.
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Pulse
Big Sean has found paradise in the dark clouds rather than the glossy pop mansion where he first started his rap career.
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The Bag Pipe
This album shows he nothing less than grateful for the opportunities and success he has been blessed with. There is no where but up for Big Sean.
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