Beware (Big Sean song)

"Beware"
Single by Big Sean featuring Lil Wayne & Jhené Aiko
from the album Hall of Fame
Released	June 25, 2013
Format	Digital download
Genre	Hip hop
Length	3:57
Label	GOOD, Def Jam
Writer(s)	Sean Anderson, Dwayne Carter, Dwane Weir II, Alexander Izquierdo
Producer(s)	Key Wane, Mike Dean
Certification	Gold (RIAA)
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 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 infidelty 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 Gold 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

"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 infidelty 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 utillize 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]

Reception

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

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 singles 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

Weekly charts

Chart (2013)	Peak position
Germany (Official German Charts)[17]	42
UK R&B (Official Charts Company)[18]	28
UK Singles (Official Chart Company)[19]	183
US Billboard Hot 100[20]	38
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[21]	10
US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[22]	7

Year-end charts

Chart (2013)	Position
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[23]	40
US Rap Songs (Billboard)[24]	33

Certifications

Region	Certification	Sales/shipments
United States (RIAA)[25]	Gold	500,000
^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone

Radio and release history

Country	Date	Format	Label
United States	June 25, 2013[26]	Digital download	GOOD, Def Jam
	July 9, 2013[27]	Rhythmic contemporary radio
	October 14, 2013[28]	Mainstream radio

References

1. "Big Sean & Jhene Aiko Perform "Beware" On Jimmy Kimmel (VIDEO) - Global Grind". Global Grind. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
2. "No Eminem on Big Sean’s ‘Hall Of Fame’ Tracklist". The Boombox. 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". 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. 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. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
16. "Rap-Up TV: Big Sean Elevates His Artistry with ‘Beware’ Video". Rap-Up. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
17. "Musicline.de – Big Sean Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
18. "Archive Chart: 2013-08-31" UK R&B Chart. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
19. CHART: CLUK Update 31.08.2013 (wk34) (in German). zobbel.de. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
20. "Big Sean – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Big Sean.
21. "Big Sean – Chart history" Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for Big Sean.
22. "Big Sean – Chart history" Billboard Hot Rap Songs for Big Sean.
23. "2013 Year End Charts — R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
24. "2013 Year End Charts — Rap Songs". Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
25. "American single certifications – Big Sean – Beware". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
26. "Beware (feat. Jhené Aiko & Lil Wayne) – Single by Big Sean". iTunes Store. Apple. June 25, 2013. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
27. "FMQB: Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Nielsen Ratings, Music News and more!". Retrieved 4 March 2015.
28. "FMQB: Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Nielsen Ratings, Music News and more!". Retrieved 4 March 2015.

External links

• "Beware" on YouTube