Big Sean Opens Mental Health
Big Sean reflected on his "very deep battle of depression" following the death of friend and collaborator Nipsey Hussle in 2019. In a new interview, he discussed the importance of therapy and the courage it took to publicly share his struggles. The Detroit rapper's candid comments further vital conversations about mental health in the hip-hop community.
- Before his more recent reflections, Big Sean first opened up around his 31st birthday in 2019, explaining that he canceled his 2018 tour with Playboi Carti partly because he felt "lost" and his passion for music was starting to feel like a "burden." - His 2020 track, "Deep Reverence," featuring Nipsey Hussle, directly addresses his mental state, with lyrics like, "In high school I learned chemistry, biology, but not how to cope with anxiety / Or how I could feel like I'm by myself on an island with depression on all sides of me." - Through his Sean Anderson Foundation, the rapper and his mother, Myra Anderson, launched a video series covering low-cost wellness techniques for Mental Health Awareness Month. The foundation also previously hosted a mental health panel at its annual "DON Weekend" in Detroit. - Big Sean has discussed the impact of generational trauma, noting his grandparents, who served in WWII, did not express their emotions, a trait he feels was passed down. His journey inspired his own father to begin therapy at the age of 75. - He is releasing a book titled "Go Higher" that further details his personal battles with anxiety and depression, the transformative role of spiritual practices, and tools for self-care. - The trend of rappers addressing mental health is growing; a 2020 study of popular rap songs from 1998 to 2018 found a significant increase in references to depression, suicide, and mental health metaphors over that period.
