Dark Sky Paradise

''Dark Sky Paradise'' is the third studio album by American rapper Big Sean. It was released on February 24, 2015, by GOOD Music and Def Jam Recordings. The album features guest appearances from Drake, Kanye West, E-40, Chris Brown, Ty Dolla Sign, Jhené Aiko, Lil Wayne, and Ariana Grande, while the production was handled by a variety of collaborators, including Kanye West, DJ Mustard, DJ Dahi and Key Wane, who also serves as the album's executive producer alongside Big Sean himself. The album was supported by five singles: "I Don't Fuck with You", "Paradise", " Blessings", "One Man Can Change the World" and "Play No Games".

''Dark Sky Paradise'' received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised the change in Sean's production and lyricism being more atmospheric and substance-filled. The album debuted at number one on the US ''Billboard'' 200, earning 173,000 album-equivalent units in its first week. In August 2020, the album was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Singles

The album's lead single, "I Don't Fuck with You" featuring E-40, was released on September 19, 2014. The song peaked at number 11 on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100.

The album's second single, "Paradise", was released on October 7, 2014. The song peaked at number 99 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.

The album's third single, " Blessings" featuring Drake and Kanye West, was released on January 30, 2015. The song peaked at number 28 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.

"One Man Can Change the World" featuring Kanye West and John Legend, was sent to rhythmic contemporary radio on June 19, 2015, as the album's fourth single. The song peaked at number 82 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.

"Play No Games" featuring Chris Brown and Ty Dolla Sign, was sent to urban contemporary radio on September 22, 2015, as the album's fifth single. The song peaked at number 84 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.

Critical reception

''Dark Sky Paradise'' was met with generally positive reviews. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications, the album received an average score of 72, based on 19 reviews. Aggregator AnyDecentMusic? gave it 6.4 out of 10, based on their assessment of the critical consensus.

In a review for ''Exclaim!'', Samantha O'Connor noted that "stormier production and moodier lyricism replace Sean's predictable sunny wordplay and pop culture puns", further concluding that "Big Sean has reached a personal high by finding his ''Dark Sky Paradise'', and it's his honesty that takes listeners there with him". David Jeffries of AllMusic said, "Artistically, three is the charm Big Sean as ''Dark Sky Paradise'' is much more expansive than previous efforts, sometimes grinding with executive producer Kanye West's love of the dark, and other times bouncing with the snark, swagger, and style that propelled this Detroit rapper to the top". John Kennedy of ''Billboard'' said, "With sterling wordplay and a consistent melancholy vibe, the Detroit native took all the tension, the highs and lows, and laid it out on wax, compiling the strongest project of his career". Justin Charity of ''Complex'' said, "Occasionally clumsy but wonderfully plainspoken, and impassioned when he wants to be, Sean has advanced (if not graduated) from the tepid mythmaking of ''Hall of Fame''. Here he's dynamic, and a pretty good rapper". Eric Diep of ''HipHopDX'' said, "With ''Dark Sky Paradise'', Big Sean is prepared to leave his mark".

Kyle Anderson of ''Entertainment Weekly'' said, "A spirited combination of grown-man statement-making and round-the-way bull". Jon Caramanica of ''The New York Times'' said, "In the last year, he's made real strides toward lucidity, and on ''Dark Sky Paradise'', his third and best album, he is more human than ever before". Jordan Sargent of ''Pitchfork'' said, "''Dark Sky Paradise'' is a big leap in the direction of the ideal Big Sean full-length". Dan Rys of '' XXL'' said, "'One Man Can Change the World' in particular, which deals with the loss of his grandmother and his acceptance of her passing, really underlines what the entire work is about: dealing with the ups and downs in life and figuring out the best way to accept them and move forward. With ''Dark Sky Paradise'', Big Sean has finally found that balance". Michael Madden of '' Consequence'' said, "Mostly, though, ''Dark Sky Paradise'' is an ambitious tasteful album from a rapper who's often viewed as neither". Dan Weiss of ''Spin'' said, "More of the same, really, and what same is that anyway? His beats, hooks and musicality tread slightly above water". Christopher R. Weingarten of ''Rolling Stone'' stated, "His third and best record isn't that moment yet, but he's one step closer".

Year-end lists

Industry awards

Commercial performance

''Dark Sky Paradise'' debuted at number one on the US ''Billboard'' 200, with 173,000 album-equivalent units (including 139,000 copies as pure albums sales) in its first week. This became Sean's first US number one debut and his highest first week sales to date. In its second week, the album dropped to number six on the chart, earning an additional 58,000 units. In its third week, the album dropped to number ten on the chart, earning 38,000 more units. By the end of 2015, ''Dark Sky Paradise'' was ranked as the 22nd most popular album of the year on the ''Billboard'' 200. On August 19, 2020, the album was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for combined sales, streaming and track-sales equivalent of two million units in the United States.

Track listing

Notes
* signifies a co-producer
* signifies an additional producer

Sample credits
* "All Your Fault" contains a sample from " How Much I Feel", written by David Pack and performed by Ambrosia.
* "I Don't Fuck with You" contains elements from "Say You Love Me, One More Time", written and performed by D. J. Rogers.
* "Play No Games" contains a sample from "Piece of My Love", written by Timothy Gatling, Gene Griffin, Aaron Hall, and Edward T. Riley, as performed by Guy.
* "One Man Can Change the World" contains an interpolation from " Sanctified", written by William Roberts, Kanye West, Sean Anderson, and Dijon McFarlane, as performed by Rick Ross featuring Kanye West and Big Sean.
* "Outro" contains elements from "Didn't I", written by William Pulliam and John Tanner, as performed by Darondo; and an interpolation from "Find a Way", written by Ali Shaheed Muhammad, James Yancy, Kamaal Fareed, and Malik Taylor, as performed by A Tribe Called Quest

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