Double Or Nothing [Explicit Content]

In a busy 2017, Detroit emcee Big Sean and producer Metro Boomin issued a handful of projects before teaming up for the collaborative effort Double or Nothing. Months after the release of Sean's chart-topping fourth LP, I Decided., and in the same year that saw Metro Boomin collaborate with NAV (Perfect Timing) and Offset/21 Savage (Without Warning), the pair delivered an album that feels more like a mixtape than a fully realized full-length. With Metro's dark trap production, Double or Nothing is sonically cohesive and maintains its cool vibe throughout, even though many of the songs are indistinguishable to the passing ear. Reuniting after a trio of tracks from I Decided., Sean and Metro continue to play well off each other. Highlights include the popping single "Pull Up N Wreck" with 21 Savage; the absolutely filthy "So Good" with Kash Doll, a which is reminiscent of Run the Jewel's "Love Again" romp; and the sweeping "In Tune," a melodic, string-drenched pause in the overall intensity. Another one of the four solo Sean moments is the serious heart of the project. "Savage Time" is a quick turn in subject matter, hopping from boasting, sex, and hedonism to focus on political turmoil, racial disparity, and the crisis in Flint, Michigan, a cause close to Sean's heart. Even though it follows the horniness of "So Good," "Savage Time" swiftly reminds listeners of Sean's sincerity and substance outside of the studio. Overall, Double or Nothing is mostly a party, boosted by guests like 2 Chainz, Travis Scott, Young Thug, and Swae Lee. While it doesn't feel like a fully realized album statement, it's a satisfying dose of content from Big Sean and Metro Boomin. ~ Neil Z. Yeung