Big Sean just let the world in on a secret behind-the-scenes convo he had with hip-hop royalty, JAY-Z and Beyoncé, before dropping his 2014 smash, “I Don’t Fuck With You (IDFWU).”
Pulling up on the St. Brown Brothers Podcast with Amon-Ra and Equanimeous St. Brown earlier this week, Sean was asked if he knew “IDFWU” was gonna be a hit while making it.
“I was just having fun,” he said. “I was in the studio with Mustard. I was just fucking around. I was really tryna make a song like this Too $hort joint I fucked with, but in my own way… I heard the beat, and I just freestyled that shit.”
Despite the energy in the track, Sean admitted he wasn’t sure about putting it out at first. That hesitation led to a moment where he played it for none other than the Carters. And that’s when the perspectives split.
Beyoncé wasn’t feeling the disrespect toward women in the song and let Sean know straight up. “Bey was like, ‘That’s a little disrespectful. Maybe you should put Nicki Minaj on it, for a female’s voice,'” Sean recalled.
It wasn’t about shutting the track down, Bey still thought it was fire. But she wasn’t about to let it slide if it came off as degrading to women.
Hov, though? He saw where Sean was coming from creatively.
“JAY-Z was like, ‘Nah. People are going to get it, that it’s just you having fun.'”
And just to make sure Sean didn’t second-guess himself, Hov hit him with a text later that sealed the deal: “Every day you’re not putting that song out, you’re losing.”
That was all Sean needed to hear. He ran with it, and the song took off, now sitting at a monumental nine times platinum.
Check out the interview below—the IDFWU convo kicks in at the 39-minute mark.📺 Watch Here
Outside the booth, Big Sean has been putting on for his city. Last month, he announced a new partnership with the Detroit Pistons to support the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan. On March 25, when the Pistons face off against the San Antonio Spurs (which also happens to be his birthday), fans can cop a limited edition Big Sean bobblehead as part of a special ticket package. A large piece of the proceeds will go straight to the Pistons Foundation to benefit local Boys & Girls Clubs.
And if you’re one of the first 100 people to grab that package? You’ll get a signed copy of Sean’s new book, Go Higher, PLUS a meet-and-greet after the game to chop it up with him. Tickets are on sale now here. Don’t sleep!
