Big Sean sat down with Billboard on Thursday to talk about producer/rapper relationships as part of Remy Martin’s Producer series with Big Sean and DJ Mustard. When asked to list his favorite emcee x producer combination, the Detroit Spitter had an interesting response.
“I’d pick DMX and Swizz Beatz because I really loved that era in the ’90s. It really inspired me when I was coming up. Lil Wayne and Mannie Fresh and Me and Key Wane, too,” the “IDFWU” rapper told Billboard.
Obviously, Sean’s list is all subjective but the Grammy-nominated rapper noticeably left Dr. Dre x Snoop Dogg off of his list, a duo that made a killing in the 90’s era of Hip-Hop that Big Sean says he loved. Sean also later added that he likes his G.O.O.D. music CEO, Kanye West, and his work with Jay-Z on The Blueprint.
However, his choices aren’t bad ones, but the pick you’re most drawn to is himself and Key Wane who is responsible for tracks like “RWT,” “Higher” and “4th Quarter.”
“Just because we’re both from the city of Detroit. We got a lot of work to do still, but I really feel like he carved a lot of the sound from my Detroit mixtape, which is one of my favorites,” Big Sean tells Billboard when asked why he likes working with Key Wane. “He’s on every project and I think all those collabs earlier with Mustard, Key Wane was a part of. Key Wane did “Play No Games,” he did my favorite songs and I think me and him got crazy chemistry.
Big Sean was supposed to start his Unfriendly Reminder tour this past Spring but ultimately canceled the tour dates to focus on his music. The 29-year-old rapper said that he’s been in a “deep creative space” and doesn’t want to lose that fire by touring.
