Big Sean: On the Way to the Top

The University of Maryland's NAACP, BSU, and ASA organizations helped to create an amazing experience last week, April 27th 2011, at the Kay Theatre inside the Clarence Smith Performing Arts Center. Signed to rapper Kanye West's record label, G.O.O.D Music, Detroit native rapper Big Sean hit the stage with a crowd of more than two hundred people. Students from Maryland and other local fans were able to enjoy this show without paying anything. However, many had to pay the price of standing in line starting at 3pm until 6:30pm when the doors opened. Students brought computers, music, homework and socialized during these hours in order to pass the time.

Before Big Sean hit the stage, local UMD musicians/artists were able to showcase their talent first. Bands such as Urban Cartel and rappers; Ike Da Kid and Moshadee all were given 20-minute segments to showcase their considered "greatest hits." These artists alone already set a high standard for the concert that night as they left a very big impression on the talent within our University.

Before the show I was able to ask Big Sean a few questions in regards to his latest success and first debut album, which is scheduled to drop June 21st, the same day as Lil Wayne's The Carter IV. When asked on how he feels about the stiff competition Big Sean replied stating, "its a honor to share an album release the same day with an idolized rapper like Lil Wayne." Big Sean went on to continue saying his biggest inspiration comes from his fans back at home and support from his biggest fan, his grandmother.

When asked what was one of his greatest moments in hanging out with Kanye he replied "when Kanye drove my mom and I around New York City in a Maybach, I've been in a Maybach before but never my mother, and at that moment tears filled my eyes because I couldn't believe that the Kanye West was actually doing this for me and my mother."

Throughout the show Big Sean gave us a mix of his latest songs as well as his older songs from previous mixtapes.  It was very apparent that his mother and grandmother mean the world to him as he dedicated many of his more personal songs to his family. When closing out Sean thanked his fans for all of the continued support.

Big Sean is truly a star on the rise and with all of his recent success he knows that this is only the beginning to something even better.