Detroit rapper Big Sean hasn’t been shy about his personal struggles with his mental health in the past. Over the weekend, the “IDFWU” rapper released his fifth studio album “Detroit 2” (a sequel to his 2012 mixtape “Detroit”), and in the midst of celebrating the imminent success of the album (currently on track for the #1 slot on the Billboard Top 200 Albums charts), Sean has taken to his Twitter to get some things off his chest.
Back in 2018, Big Sean announced he would be scrapping the rest of his tour in support of his “I Decided” and “Double or Nothing” albums, the latter a collaborative album with producer Metro Boomin. He explained he was “in a deep creative space and decided I need to stay focused in the studio.” Sean, who also went through a break-up with then (and now, back on-again) girlfriend Jhene Aiko, spoke with Billboard, where he also revealed that he “had some things to work out in his head.”
“I never really took the time out to nurture myself, to take care of myself,” says the Detroit native. “It took me a lot of depression having a lot of anxiety to realize something was off. I’ve been getting myself together, getting my mind right. So I have been taking better care of myself and…not only am I bringing my best self to the music but I’m bringing my best self to the table, to my city, to my fans, to the people who are about me.”
Sean got even more candid about his mental health on his 31st birthday last year, where after removing all of his social media posts, he made a return to Instagram with video clips expressing he went through difficult times around his 30th birthday and had to seek therapy. “Around this time last year, around my birthday, it was good for me,” he said, “but it was wild for me too because I felt like something wasn’t all the way connecting with my energy. I wasn’t feeling like myself and I couldn’t figure out why.”
“I stepped back from everything I was doing, he continued, “from everything I had going on because somewhere in the middle of it, I just felt lost.” It was then he revealed he sought a therapist out in attempts to help him out. He began to feel clarity and even begun to reevaluate certain relationships within his life, including with his mother. It was through this process his was able to find himself and create what he described as the “best music in his life”. “I definitely rediscovered myself and found a whole new energy and me being a source of it, not somebody else,” he said. “Then I started getting back to making the music and it started being fun again.”
With the release of Detroit 2, Big Sean seems to be in a much clearer and healthier headspace, and he’s taken to his Twitter to once again, release a series of candid tweets, letting fans know he had (amongst other things) developed thoughts of suicide in the past. However, as the rapper seems to be in a reflective space, the “Bounce Back” superstar seems to be closer to doing just that.
“I don’t feel like this currently,” he explains, “but I had never gone through wanting to kill myself, give up on my life until the past few years and I didn’t realize how important it was to embrace the ups n downs of life and enjoy (in joy) taking active steps to better it. it’s the Journey!” He continued to explain that throughout doing what he loved to do, he grew tired of it rather than becoming satisfied and it drove him insane, until adapting a new mentality and rediscovering his passion.
“That’s the hardest thing I’ve ever had to learn how to do. I pray if and when it happens to you, you just hold on to your faith! You may discover more passions if it’s meant to be as well. Not sure if we are only meant to do one thing in life, who knows for sure,” says Big Sean.
See the tweets below as he also discussed his anxiety whilst recording his latest album, how he got over, and more encouraging words from the rapper.
Lotta things I learned making this album… I feel a like I should share a couple on my heart, a lot of it is in the music tho. Feel like I’m finna tweet a lot right now ??♂️
— Sean Don (@BigSean) September 7, 2020
I don’t feel like this currently, but I had never gone through wanting to kill myself, give up on my life until the past few years and I didn’t realize how important it was to embrace the ups n downs of life and enjoy (in joy) taking active steps to better it. it’s the Journey!
— Sean Don (@BigSean) September 7, 2020
I thought doing what I loved would always make me happy and satisfied, so when I got tired of it, I was confused and it drove me insane. Later i realized I was just growing n had to gain a new mentality and foundation on many levels n re-discover my passion! And try new things..
— Sean Don (@BigSean) September 7, 2020
That’s the hardest thing I’ve ever had to learn how to do, I pray if and when it happens to you, you just hold on to your faith! You may discover more passions if it’s meant to be as well. Not sure if we are only meant to do one thing in life, who knows for sure…
— Sean Don (@BigSean) September 7, 2020
While I was working on me and figuring things out (still am everyday but I just mean while I was making the album) I was worried that it was taking too long, and adding extra stress to my life worrying if people will even still want to hear from me, but even then I still…
— Sean Don (@BigSean) September 7, 2020
I couldn’t rush it. I listened to God and myself for when the time was right. That’s one of the hardest things to do as an artist was be on my time, and not the time everyone kept telling me is right for me. I had to learn MY timing isn’t everyone else’s timing n that’s fine.
— Sean Don (@BigSean) September 7, 2020
To the fans, listeners, even other artist who feel me through the music, or share it, or mention it on their platforms have inspired me to be more supportive of art and speak up. I feel a sense of community in music and less competition and that feels amazing! So thank you!
— Sean Don (@BigSean) September 7, 2020
When I see someone say “you was speaking to me” or people being inspired in some way even if it’s just to turn the fuck up n go get it, it makes me feel incredible because that was my goal, in my heart that’s what I hoped for. That’s why stayed so late every night for ??
— Sean Don (@BigSean) September 7, 2020
I don’t know if my album Detroit 2 is goin #1 or not, that would be crazy if it did, but I feel like it’s already #1 to me because all I put into it, what I went through to make it and the impact it’s had on some of you. I’m too grateful for that alone!
— Sean Don (@BigSean) September 7, 2020
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