Review: Metro Boomin & Big Sean's 'Double or Nothing'

I'll admit it, this one took me by surprise. I wasn't necessarily shocked that Metro Boomin and Bug Sean would work together, but it was more so the fact that the album seemingly dropped out of nowhere. I was excited to hear what Metro had in store for us this time. After all, just a couple of months ago, he dropped his album Without Warning with21 Savage and Offset. Unlike Metro Boomin, this is Big Sean's latest addition to his growing discography since February's I Decided which featured chart-toppers like "Moves" and "Bounce Back." Becuase of all of this, I couldn't wait to listen to what the pair had in store.

The album starts with "Go Legend" ft. Travis Scott. Unlike the title of the song, there's nothing legendary about it. The song begins with a dreamy sample of "Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To)", then in true Metro Boomin fashion, the bass drops. I expect nothing less. Once his signature bass drops, Travis takes over. He actually saves the song. Sean's flow is tight, but his lyricism leaves much to be desired.

The rest of the album seems to drag on and on, with not even the features saving it. Songs like "Who's Stopping Me", "Reason" ft. Swae Lee, and "Even the Odds" ft. Young Thug sounds inauthentic and almost forced on Sean's behalf. Metro's sharp productions skills also seem sloppy on "Who's Stopping Me" and "Reason" (I'm not entirely sure if he intended on having the instrumental sounding incredibly similar to Play Boi Carti's Magnolia). It's one of those tracks where you can see where they were trying to go with it, but it was one of those things that can't happen.

One track, however, really stood out to me. "So Good" ft. Kash Doll is a raunchy work of art. Big Sean may be nasty, but Kash Doll proves that she is BY FAR the nastiest on the song, but in the best way possible. Big Sean says "P**sy so good, I never fuck you in the as*." Kash fires back with "And I still remember every single place you lick, so I suck the soul outcha just to thank that d*ck." Sean comes (no pun intended) right back with a staggering "C*m inside your face, oh baby, now you can't smile, c*m inside that pussy, I'ma give your mom a grandchild." I mean, COME ON! This is easily his nastiest song since 2016's Twenty88's duets with girlfriend Jhené Aiko.

I mentioned earlier how some (if not damn near all) of the songs sound inauthentic and others didn't. Big Sean has a very distinctive style when it comes to his music. It's an experience you can't really describe. The songs that truthfully sounded like Big Sean were "No Hearts, No Love," and "Savage Time." They were the only (and I do mean only) songs where his lyricism never fell flat. Whether he's being incredibly political like on "Savage Time" with lyrics like "I'ma take that water from Flint, and I'ma go up there to D.C, I'ma make the president drink, he wouldn't even let it touch his sink" or getting really personal with "No Hearts, No Love's" "Boy this sh*t intricate, working like a machine, they keep trying to throw a wrench in it, but I'm too intuitive and into it, no ghostwriting, no sixth sensing it." Sean flows so easily and with so much conviction.

All in all, this isn't an album I would listen to again if given the choice. Although it was more or less cohesive, a majority of the tracks left a lot to be desired and are easily forgettable.