Big Sean connects with fans through “Beware” Freestyle Competition

“I’m a real dude,” says 25-year-old rapper Big Sean, speaking exclusively to SoundCloud earlier this week. “I appreciate everything, every single listener, every single person who purchases anything, even if you just appreciate anything… it just means a lot.”

As the interaction between artists and fans continues to evolve in this digital era, Big Sean believes that connecting online with fans is just as meaningful as meeting them in person: “You never know how you can change someone’s life.”

That’s why he used SoundCloud to invite fans and aspiring rappers to throw their best 16 bars over the instrumental of his new single “Beware” from his upcoming studio release Hall of Fame. The “Beware” freestyle competition on SoundCloud was an opportunity for Big Sean to directly connect with his fans’ aspirations and dreams just as much as it was an opportunity for them to bring their best flow.

“When I was trying to get on and get noticed before, I wish I had a competition like that. If Kanye was like ‘Yo, send your 16 bars here, I’ll listen to it,’ that would have been awesome, so I put myself in that situation,” Big Sean says.

Over 500 submissions have been submitted to the official freestyle competition group since July. As Big Sean works to determine the winner, he makes it clear that he wants to help people be heard.

“The Beware Competition on SoundCloud is just awesome. I want to sit and go through them and find the next big person. That’s the one thing that makes it easier to try and narrow it down. Not only do I want to find the next artist, I want to help give them a platform, help put them in a right place,” he says.

Hear more about Big Sean’s thoughts on the “Beware” competition, the inspiration behind Hall of Fame, his advice to aspiring artists and more in the exclusive audio interview above.