Big Sean, Bounce Back | Track Review 🎵

Detroit MC Big Sean returns fiercely with “Bounce Back,” a single filled with agile rhymes, personality, and a heaping dose of swagger.  

Dark Sky Paradise gave Big Sean his breakthrough album.  While his debut album (Finally Famous) performed well on the charts, Dark Sky Paradise elevated the MC to new heights.  Ahead of his fourth album, he returns with a new single, “Bounce Back.” Much like his work on Dark Sky Paradise, Big Sean is “on.” 

“Bounce Back” opens enigmatically. It features an intro by Future (“If Young Metro don’t trust you, I’ma shoot you”). The track is characterized by tight production work – slick drums and dark synths, set in a minor key. As always, Big Sean’s rhymes are agile. His flow continues to be a selling point.  He delivers compelling wordplay, particularly with “bounce.” The hook is catchy:

“Last night took an L, but tonight I bounce back
Wake up every morning, by the night, I count stacks
Knew that ass was real when I hit, it bounce back
(You ain’t getting checks)
Last night took an L, but tonight I bounce back
Boy I been broke as hell, cashed a check and bounced back
D town LAX, every week I bounce back
If you a real one, then you know how to bounce back.”

The second verse has more oomph than the first. It’s as if Sean’s confidence has soared. Additionally, the production work on the second verse has more bite, matching the growing lyrical intensity.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, “Bounce Back” is filled with swag. The record is well-produced and features agile rhymes and an electrifying persona by Big Sean. A catchy hook with great wordplay on the titular lyric puts “Bounce Back” over the top in regards to soundness.

Big Sean • I Decided. • Def Jam • Release: 2.3.17

Photo Credit: Def Jam