Big Sean

Did you know a kid from Detroit could make songs heard by millions? Meet Big Sean!

Big Sean, whose real name is Sean Michael Leonard Anderson, was born in 1988 and began making music as a teenager. He rose to fame in the 2000s and 2010s as a rapper and songwriter. Today we'll focus on his journey from practicing rhymes in Detroit to creating hit records that many people listen to.

Sean first got noticed by releasing mixtapes and catching the ear of producers. He signed to Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music label, which helped him reach more listeners. His first studio album, Finally Famous, came out in 2011. In 2015 his album Dark Sky Paradise became his first number-one album on the Billboard charts. Along the way he recorded popular songs and worked with artists like Kanye West, Drake, and Ariana Grande.

Big Sean's biggest achievement is using music to tell his story — about working hard, being confident, and dreaming big. His songs have inspired fans, especially young people from cities like Detroit, to be creative and keep trying. If you like music with bold beats and clever words, Big Sean shows how practice, honesty, and imagination can turn a dream into something the whole world can hear. Ask an adult to help you find his kid-friendly songs to listen to.