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Beware (Big Sean song)

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"Beware"
Single by Big Sean featuring Lil Wayne & Jhené Aiko
from the album Hall of Fame
ReleasedJune 25, 2013
GenreHip hop
Length3:57
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Big Sean singles chronology
"Wild"
(2013) 		"Beware"
(2013) 		"Right There"
(2013)
Lil Wayne singles chronology
"We Outchea"
(2013) 		"Beware"
(2013) 		"Good Time"
(2013)
Jhené Aiko singles chronology
"3:16AM"
(2012) 		"Beware"
(2013) 		"Bed Peace"
(2013)

"Beware" is a song by American hip hop recording artist Big Sean taken from his second studio album Hall of Fame (2013). "Beware" was released on June 25, 2013, as the album's third single, through GOOD and Def Jam.[1][2][3] The song was written by Sean Anderson, Dwayne Carter, Dwane Weir II, and Alexander Izquierdo, while production was handled by frequent collaborator Key Wane and Mike Dean and features guest appearances from rapper Lil Wayne and singer Jhené Aiko.[4]

Musically "Beware" is a hip hop song, backed by "poppy" and "head-bobbing" production, with lyrics that revolve around themes of infidelity and breaking up. Upon release "Beware" was met with generally positive reviews from music critics; who praised the song's musical direction and the inclusion of Jhene Aiko. Commercially the song fared well reaching the top forty of US Billboard Hot 100 and the top ten of the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, since its release the song has been certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.

An accompanying music video was directed by Matthew Williams and premiered on August 16, 2013, on Vevo, the video was later named one of "The 15 Best Hip-Hop Videos Of The Summer" by XXL. To further promote the song Sean performed at live on various inclusion including Jimmy Kimmel Live and the Hustle After Party.[5][6]

Background

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"Beware" was officially premiered through SoundCloud on June 24, 2013, after announcing the track a day earlier.[7] [8] The track was released for digital download on June 25, 2013, as the album's third single, through GOOD Music and Def Jam Recordings.[1][2]

The lyrics depict relationship tensions between a male and female. The themes of infidelity and breaking up are steered away from in Hall of Fame, making it the only piece on the album to focus on relationships.[9] Both Key Wane and Mike Dean produced the beat which helps utilize the piece's tone. The beat was described as "poppy" and "head-bobbing" by James Shotwell, writer for Spin Media's Under the Gun Review. He also said that it blends well with the three vocalists.[10] "Beware" contains an interpolation of "Ain't No Woman (Like the One I've Got)" written by Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter.[11]

Critical reception

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Upon release "Beware" was met with generally positive reviews from music critics. David Turner of Spin magazine praised the song and Big Sean for abounding the norm of hip-hop and moving away from "glossy resilience," Turner continued to commend Sean's choice to focus on "relationship tensions."[12] A reviewer from the BoomBox praised Sean's choice to include Jhene Aiko as a feature and praised her on the "infectious chorus" from Aiko, the reviewer also praised Sean's choice to make a "radio friendly" song as well as praising Lil Wayne's verse.[13]

Music video

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The music video was directed by Matthew Williams from Kanye West creative company DONDA and premiered on August 16, 2013, on Vevo.[14] The described "trippy" music video was named one of "The 15 Best Hip-Hop Videos Of The Summer" by XXL.[15] During an interview with Rap Up TV Sean described the concept behind the music video stating he wanted to have a video that was cohesive with the single's artwork, as well as the album's other artworks and videos, Sean continued to say;

“It's been great working with DONDA because they're somebody who is really trying to elevate artistry, elevate artists, put them on a new level of creativity,” I think they've done that for me, from the ‘Beware’ video to the ‘Fire’ video. I'm proud of the video. It took a while to get done, but the end result is good. It's cool to put out great videos that I can really be proud of.”[16]

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[26] Gold 30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[27] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[28] 4× Platinum 4,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Radio and release history

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Country Date Format Label
United States June 25, 2013[29] Digital download GOOD, Def Jam
July 9, 2013[30] Rhythmic contemporary radio
October 14, 2013[31] Mainstream radio

References

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  1. ^ a b "Big Sean & Jhene Aiko Perform "Beware" On Jimmy Kimmel (VIDEO) - Global Grind". Global Grind. 16 August 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  2. ^ a b "No Eminem on Big Sean's 'Hall Of Fame' Tracklist". The Boombox. 5 August 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  3. ^ "Big Sean – Hall Of Fame (Tracklist)". HYPETRAK. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  4. ^ Cooper, Roman (2013-08-05). "Big Sean "Hall Of Fame" Release Date, Cover Art Editions & Tracklist". HipHop DX. Retrieved 2013-08-16.
  5. ^ "Big Sean and Jhené Aiko Perform 'Beware' on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live'". Rap-Up. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  6. ^ "Big Sean and Jhené Aiko Perform 'Beware' on 'The Hustle After Party'". Rap-Up. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  7. ^ "New Music: Big Sean f/ Lil Wayne & Jhené Aiko – 'Beware'". Rap-Up. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  8. ^ "Rap-Up TV: Big Sean Talks New Single 'Beware,' North West, & Adele Collaboration". Rap-Up. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  9. ^ Turner, Dave (2013-08-28). "You Should Take Big Sean's 'Hall of Fame' More Seriously". Spin.
  10. ^ Shotwell, James. "Big Sean Debuts “Beware” | Under the Gun Review" Archived 2014-02-03 at the Wayback Machine. Under the Gun Review. Spin Media. 2013-07-25.
  11. ^ Brian Josephs and Rosa Barney (2013-08-27). "HYPER NOTED: The Definitive Guide to Big Sean's 'Hall of Fame' Album Credits". Myspace. Retrieved 2013-08-28.
  12. ^ "Big Sean, 'Hall of Fame' Review". SPIN. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  13. ^ "Big Sean Releases 'Beware' With Lil Wayne & Jhene Aiko". The Boombox. 25 June 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  14. ^ "Video: Big Sean f/ Lil Wayne & Jhené Aiko – 'Beware'". Rap-Up.com. 2010-10-18. Retrieved 2013-08-16.
  15. ^ "The 15 Best Hip-Hop Videos Of The Summer". XXL. 8 September 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  16. ^ "Rap-Up TV: Big Sean Elevates His Artistry with 'Beware' Video". Rap-Up. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  17. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  18. ^ CHART: CLUK Update 31.08.2013 (wk34) (in German). zobbel.de. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  19. ^ "Big Sean Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  20. ^ "Big Sean Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  21. ^ "Big Sean Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard.
  22. ^ "Big Sean Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard.
  23. ^ "2013 Year End Charts — R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on November 30, 2015. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  24. ^ "2013 Year End Charts — Rap Songs". Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  25. ^ "Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2013". Billboard. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  26. ^ "Brazilian single certifications – Big Sean – Beware" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  27. ^ "British single certifications – Big Sean/Lil Wayne/Jhene Aiko – Beware". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  28. ^ "American single certifications – Big Sean – Beware". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
  29. ^ "Beware (feat. Jhené Aiko & Lil Wayne) – Single by Big Sean". iTunes Store. Apple. June 25, 2013. Archived from the original on October 24, 2013. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
  30. ^ "FMQB: Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Nielsen Ratings, Music News and more!". Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  31. ^ "FMQB: Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Nielsen Ratings, Music News and more!". Retrieved 4 March 2015.
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