Big Sean Dark Sky Paradise Zip
Quirino Rico
In a review for Exclaim!, Samantha O'Connor noted that "stormier production and moodier lyricism replace Sean's predictable sunny wordplay and pop culture puns", further concluding that "Big Sean has reached a personal high by finding his Dark Sky Paradise, and it's his honesty that takes listeners there with him".[14] David Jeffries of AllMusic said, "Artistically, three is the charm 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".[10] John Kennedy of Billboard said, "With sterling wordplay and a consistent melancholy vibe, the Detroit native took all the tension, the highs and lows, and laid it out on wax, compiling the strongest project of his career".[11] Justin Charity of Complex said, "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".[12] Eric Diep of HipHopDX said, "With Dark Sky Paradise, Big Sean is prepared to leave his mark".[15]
His new LP Dark Sky Paradise quiets at least a few of the haters. The biggest difference that sets this album apart from his other projects is the darker production that permeates throughout the album. Heavy, hard-hitting drums, eerie violins, and dark, moody keys make a permanent mark on the overall mood of the album with contributions from prolific producers such as DJ Mustard, Kanye West, and Boi-1da. The production by far is the most consistent and standout quality of the album.
Sean warned that the album would be "darker" and more "intense" than his previous efforts, and those are the tracks that give Dark Sky Paradise a dimension that he's rarely, if ever, explored before on record. Both songs with Jhene Aiko, "Win Some, Lose Some" and "I Know," explore the underside of the celebrity Sean so enthusiastically chased earlier in his career. The former is a self-examination of the sacrifices that come with fame, whether they be reduced time for family and friends or the decisions that are made in a moment that have lasting repercussions. The latter is a moody reflection on a relationship gone astray from the perspective of a long lost friend offering a helping hand, again spinning the narrative around in a way that sets it apart from a regular heartsick love song.
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