85
Lyrics 8
"The way you stressin got me blowin indo, outdoor, every time you intro, that's my queue to outro." If Sean is a master of anything it’s being relatively good at everything. Good lyrics, good delivery, good production, good visuals, good everything. Sean has it all. His wordplay isn’t especially unique but it’s clever enough, with relatable lyrics that accentuate the feel good vibes that Sean is known for. Not overly complex but intricate enough to give you double entendres and more, he’s still in the upper echelon’s of pens even if he falls short of the throne.
Delivery 9
"Say Ye, say Ye, don't we do this every day-day, I work them long nights, long nights to get a pay day, finally got paid, now I need shade and a vacay, (and ***** still hatin) so much hate I need an AK." One of his best features, Sean’s delivery comes off effortless and natural, as if he can rap for days without even breaking a sweat. Able to rap in all different rhythms, he also has an accelerated flow that he can spit live word for word, a display of talent that most MCs don’t show with even their most basic lyrics played as background vocals behind them.
Structure/Songwriting 9
"Bitch I got no feelings to go, I swear I had it up to here, I got no ceilings to go." Another quality Sean has that is undeniable, there’s approximately 10 singles with his name on it that are all Platinum status or more. Furthermore on top of multiple Gold records of his own, he has Blessings, Dance (A$$), and I Don’t Fuck With You that are all double and triple Platinum with himself as the headliner. However on top of smash hits he also has solid album cuts, with Play No Games, Sierra Leonne, and All Figured Out as a few of the standouts. He’s consistent all around, and his songwriting falls right in line.
Content/Meaning 9
"All I wanted was a hundred millions dollars and a bad chick, Imagined this so much some nights it felt like that I had it." While there’s many whose intuition would tell them Sean only makes fun records that are superficial, a closer look demonstrates it’s not hard to see Sean has music with depth as well. The put your lighters/cell phones up ballad One Man Can Change The World is perhaps the most evident of that, while World Ablaze and Ashley are symbolic of that as well. Yet make no mistake about it, if Sean excels at one thing it’s at getting you right for the block party, as the previously mentioned I Don’t Fuck With You is by all accounts a feel good masterpiece.
Self Made 9
"Hit the bank, my ***** called me like: "Go rap for Ye, he at the station, rap that shit that you rap everyday 'Man, that shit sounds stupid' Then I hung up on his ass, then called him back like 'fuck, lets do it' "Another one of Kanye’s disciples, Sean has been on GOOD Music since the beginning of his career, yet it didn’t take long for him to stand on his own. Easily the biggest name on the roster disregarding of course Mr. West, Sean is a notable name around the globe whether co-headlining festivals or performing in NFL stadiums on a national stage. On the music side he relies on production from No ID, DJ Mustard, Key Wane, and many more.
Image/Branding 8
"Man I wake up to a wet dream, every days a Friday and every night's a sex scene." Sean brands himself relatively well, yet how much of that pertains to who he’s aligned with should be heavily disputed. Along with coming up under the realm of a superstar in Kanye West, Sean has also been in two, now three, very notable celebrity relationships, being linked to Glee actress Naya Rivera, pop star Ariana Grande, and now his fellow collaborator in recording artist Jhene Aiko - all of which has been widely publicized. While that keeps his name in the news cycle one question that remains is if all that gossip in turn takes away from his artistry.
Sales 8
"Catch me running to the money til my feet lose feeling, stack it wall to wall it's like it's leaking through the ceiling, man all fucking hundreds so what that's like a Zillion, working graveyard shits cause were finna make a killing." Single records Platinum and Gold all around, but Sean didn’t have an album close to Gold until the RIAA changed the rules and made Dark Sky Paradise Platinum off streams. With that in mind it’s clear that people will log online to press play on Sean’s music (on free trials or otherwise), yet to date they’ve been far more resistant of putting their money down on him.
Ability to Rock an Instrumental at a Radio Station 8
"I love it when she up and down the poll, make me want me to take your ass up and down the coast, have you ever been to Napa when they champagne sip, then fly across the border to the 416..." Right in line with his consistency across the board, Sean can rock an instrumental no problem, and he’s one who never shies away from the challenge. Shown in the music as well it’s not likely that he’ll take an instrumental and blow you away, but he’s far from wack and he’s a true lyricist all the same.
Ability to Fuck Up a Rewind Button 8
"I probably remember the times I missed out on more than the ones I lived, I probably remember the girls I ain't have more than the ones I did, but I remain a two-timing, one girl on the way, too laying in one bed, never too tired, smoke so much I need two lighters, shopping overseas I do buy it, who's higher?" <<< Fire but more like other radio friendly artists, you’re less likely to press rewind for his bars then for his songs in general, either way he’s good enough to stay in constant rotation.
Longevity 9
"The clique is the tightest, the pussy the tightest, the drinks are the coldest, the future the brightest, the feat not divided, the love is divided, and I just gotta thank God that we got it, blessed." He’s certainly Finally Famous, as there’s no doubt that he’s made it. Yet time will tell if his career continues to rise, or if he’ll be defined for the gossip that surrounds him, all of which never fares well for true artists in the long run.