Mixtape Rapper Big Sean Delivers Career-Spanning ‘Tiny Desk Concert’ Backed By 12-Piece Ensemble

Detroit rapper Big Sean made his Tiny Desk Concert debut one to remember. Big Sean and 12 musicians fit themselves into the cozy space at NPR headquarters that hosts the video series, where they performed a whopping 14 songs from the multi-platinum superstar’s nearly two-decade career.

The setlist was the longest in Tiny Desk Concert history. Big Sean pulled material from his early days, his highly successful run on Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music imprint and even premiered a new song. The rapper — who was accompanied by a DJ, full band, string quartet and four backing vocalists — took time in between songs to discuss his music.

The result was a masterful 25-set which he made clear was a special performance for him. “It’s something my kids can look back on, something my family can look back on to see where I was at in my career,” Big Sean explained towards the conclusion of the session.

Big Sean, sporting a Beastie Boys t-shirt and special Detroit Tigers/J Dilla hat, kicked off his Tiny Desk Concert with the apropos “Memories.” He then led the massive crew through such hits as “My Last,” “Marvin & Chardonnay,” “Beware” and “Bounce Back.”

The 36-year-old musician went on to perform “One Man Can Change The World,” his 2015 Grammy-winning song recorded in collaboration with John Legend and Kanye West, late in the set. Big Sean followed with the premiere of “On Up,” which he dedicated to his son Noah. The performance concluded with the hard-hitting anthem “I Don’t Fuck With You.” The rapper also revealed a new album is “coming soon.”

Watch Big Sean’s Tiny Desk Concert below: