Big Sean, Single Again | Track Review

Big Sean is reflective and thoughtful on his single “Single Again” without necessarily being particularly exciting, innovative, or game changing.

“I’m single again (single again) / Told her we’ll be better off friends / Maybe I should just focus on me / And slow down, don’t rush romance.” Relationships and sex are common topics in popular music. Big Sean has definitely embraced both topics in his music, both separately and simultaneously.  Once, again, love – or the lack of love or the necessity for it currently – is on the rapper’s mind on his single, “Single Again.”

For the most part, “Single Again” finds Big Sean in a more mellow, more reflective place. He had plenty of reflective, mellower moments on his fourth studio album, I Decided. (2017). “Single Again” seems to opt for maturity.  Sure, he references one of his least mature career hits (“Got me feeling like ‘I Don’t Fuck with You’”) on the first verse, but follows the line, saying, “Oh nah, nah, that’s the old me.”  Throughout, both singing and pop-rapping at times, Sean reflects on himself and his issues with love and etc.  Again, an instance from the first verse stands out:

“And you know I suck at lying, don’t go do it to me
Maybe ‘cause my mama never worked it out with my dad
Maybe ‘cause she had insecurities and she had ‘em bad
Maybe ‘cause single parent love was all I ever had
Who knows.”

Notably, Big Sean gets some ‘uncredited’ assistance courtesy of Jhené Aiko and Ty Dolla $ign.  One of the biggest assists comes from the backdrop, which samples the 2000 Carl Thomas hit, “I Wish”.

Final Thoughts 

So, the premise of “Single Again” is thoughtful.  That said, how good is the song itself? “Single Again” is okay by my estimations.  This is by no means the greatest Big Sean single I’ve ever heard, nor is it an epic fail.  Basically, the Carl Thomas sample and reflective message kick it up a notch. But, it’s NOT the ‘second coming’ by any means.

Big Sean • Single Again [Single] • G.O.O.D. / Def Jam • Release: 7.26.19

Photo Credits: G.O.O.D. / Def Jam