Big Sean’s breakthrough project, “Finally Famous: The Mixtape,” was released in September 2007. It marked his official debut after signing with Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music. This mixtape served as his introduction to the music industry and a platform for another Detroit rapper to share his story. Initially conceived as a crew, the “Finally Famous” title symbolized Sean’s aspirations for his career’s next chapter. After freestyling for Ye two years prior, it was time for him to showcase his raw, hungry, and metaphorical flow. The mixtape featured a blend of original production and popular industry beats. Songs like “Get’cha Some” were released as a single, while “Intro”, “Story To Tell” and “I Get Money (Freestyle)” offered introspective wordplay. This project also laid the foundation for Sean’s signature Supa Dupa rhyme pattern, which later became popular among artists like Drake and Nicki Minaj. Ironically, this pattern was already used earlier in the industry by Cam’ron and Ludacris, but it wasn’t as advanced as Sean’s or as widely recognized as the “hashtag flow.” You would hear more of this cadence and wit on his subsequent “Finally Famous” projects, Vol. 2 and Vol. 3. The mixtape was widely recognized and considered a staple on “blog-era” sites like 2DopeBoyz and NahRight. It remains a favorite among fans for capturing a fresh sound for Detroit music after the success of Eminem. With our new series, Class Mixtape Run, we are here to bring that feel back like it was 2007 all over again! On behalf of Live Mixtapes listen to it below!
