See Big Sean Squeeze Himself and 12 Musicians Behind NPR’s Proudly Tiny Desk

Kory Grow
·2 min read
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Big Sean. - Credit: youtube
Big Sean. - Credit: youtube

Just exactly how did NPR think they would be able to fit Big Sean behind their Tiny Desk? Don’t they know that this is the “I Don’t Fuck With You” guy? If that Desk is too Tiny, Big Sean will tell you. Plus, his name sorta suggests catastrophe with the whole setup.

Fortuitously, not only did Big Sean fit, but he brought an even bigger band, a DJ, a vocal quartet, and a string quartet. Plus, he and his retinue performed what even NPR acknowledges is “one of the longest setlists in Tiny Desk history.” It’s enough to make you wonder if NPR has been misleading us all along about the size of this desk.

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But Big Sean wanted to make the event special. “[This is] something my kids can look back on, something my family can look back on to see where I was at in my career,” he told the Tiny audience before a sentimental rowdy rendition of “I Don’t Fuck With You” that included all 12 of his disciples rapping along. Other highlights included the opening number, “Memories,” with a swooning string quartet, and the live premiere of “On Up,” which he dedicated to his son Noah.

Sean wore a hat with the legend “DILLA” on the front of it, paying tribute to the late J Dilla and the Detroit Tigers with its Gothic D typeface. NPR reports that Sean was kind enough to leave the hat as a souvenir of his visit. Somehow, with such a Tiny Desk, they found room for it.

Big Sean’s Big Tiny Desk Set List:

“Memories”
“Nothing Is Stopping You”
“Blessings”
“Play No Games”
“Light”
“My Last”
“Marvin & Chardonnay”
“All Me”
“Beware”
“I Know”
“Bounce Back”
“One Man Can Change the World”
“On Up”
“I Don’t Fuck With You”

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