The LZ Granderson Show

Big Sean: Detroit, Cass Tech, Vulnerability, and His Next Album | The LZ Granderson Show

Episode Summary

In this powerful episode of The LZ Granderson Show, LZ sits down with Grammy-nominated artist and fellow Cass Tech alum Big Sean for a deeply personal and thought-provoking conversation. They reflect on their shared Detroit roots, the cultural legacy of Cass Tech, and the powerful influence of artists like Marvin Gaye and Motown. Big Sean opens up about fatherhood, faith, mental health, and how he's navigating vulnerability in a genre dominated by hypermasculinity. 0:00 Welcome to The LZ Granderson Show 1:12 Three Things: Lakers, Diddy, and Big Sean 3:18 Big Sean Joins LZ 4:30 Creating art in today's culture 5:45 Being a father in this moment 9:05 Detroit artists involvement with civil rights historically 13:00 Big Sean's Icons of Strength and Perseverance 14:20 "It's now an advantage to be black" 18:35 Being vulnerable through music 21:30 Approach to writing 24:20 New song about "not recognizing myself anymore" 27:00 Reaction to Kendrick's Juneteenth Popout 29:05 James Brown's Influence on Big Sean 29:55 Detroit's Impact 31:45 Lessons from Cass Tech High School 32:50 Jay-Z Performing at Cass Tech while Big Sean was in high school 34:20 Having dinner with Jay-Z and Beyonce 35:45 Building the music studio as Cass Tech 37:00 What's the next project for Big Sean? 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations that blend culture, creativity, and conscience. #BigSean #LZGranderson #Detroit #HipHop #MentalHealth #Faith #CassTech #Juneteenth #Motown #TheLZGrandersonShow #Podcast #MusicIndustry From ESPN and CNN to ABC.and The L.A. Times, LZ Granderson hosts bold conversations that meet the beating pulse of entertainment, sports, pop culture, and beyond. Each week, LZ sits down with a compelling guest—from athletes and artists to activists and icons—for unfiltered, thought-provoking dialogue about the stories shaping our world. Emmy award-winning journalist and cultural commentator LZ Granderson is insightful, witty, and always real. This is the podcast where culture gets a conscience and nothing is off-limits. For more about LZ and his work check out: http://lzgrandersonshow.org/ Connect on Social Media Twitter/X: https://x.com/lzgranderson?lang=en Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lzgranderson/?hl=en Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lzgranderson?invite=4 Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@1lzgranderson Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/LZ-Granderson-100057700284324/

Episode Notes

In this powerful episode of The LZ Granderson Show, LZ sits down with Grammy-nominated artist and fellow Cass Tech alum Big Sean for a deeply personal and thought-provoking conversation. They reflect on their shared Detroit roots, the cultural legacy of Cass Tech, and the powerful influence of artists like Marvin Gaye and Motown. Big Sean opens up about fatherhood, faith, mental health, and how he's navigating vulnerability in a genre dominated by hypermasculinity.

0:00 Welcome to The LZ Granderson Show

1:12 Three Things: Lakers, Diddy, and Big Sean

3:18 Big Sean Joins LZ

4:30 Creating art in today's culture

5:45 Being a father in this moment

9:05 Detroit artists involvement with civil rights historically

13:00 Big Sean's Icons of Strength and Perseverance

14:20 "It's now an advantage to be black"

18:35 Being vulnerable through music

21:30 Approach to writing

24:20 New song about "not recognizing myself anymore"

27:00 Reaction to Kendrick's Juneteenth Popout

29:05 James Brown's Influence on Big Sean

29:55 Detroit's Impact

31:45 Lessons from Cass Tech High School

32:50 Jay-Z Performing at Cass Tech while Big Sean was in high school

34:20 Having dinner with Jay-Z and Beyonce

35:45 Building the music studio as Cass Tech

37:00 What's the next project for Big Sean?

🔔 Subscribe for more conversations that blend culture, creativity, and conscience.

#BigSean #LZGranderson #Detroit #HipHop #MentalHealth #Faith #CassTech #Juneteenth #Motown #TheLZGrandersonShow #Podcast #MusicIndustry

From ESPN and CNN to ABC.and The L.A. Times, LZ Granderson hosts bold conversations that meet the beating pulse of entertainment, sports, pop culture, and beyond. Each week, LZ sits down with a compelling guest—from athletes and artists to activists and icons—for unfiltered, thought-provoking dialogue about the stories shaping our world. Emmy award-winning journalist and cultural commentator LZ Granderson is insightful, witty, and always real. This is the podcast where culture gets a conscience and nothing is off-limits.

For more about LZ and his work check out: http://lzgrandersonshow.org/

Connect on Social Media

Twitter/X: https://x.com/lzgranderson?lang=en

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lzgranderson/?hl=en

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lzgranderson?invite=4

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@1lzgranderson

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/LZ-Granderson-100057700284324/