In a busy 2017, Detroit emcee
Big Sean and producer
Metro Boomin issued a handful of projects before teaming up for the collaborative effort
Double or Nothing. Months after the release of
Sean's chart-topping fourth LP,
I Decided., and in the same year that saw
Metro Boomin collaborate with
NAV (
Perfect Timing) and
Offset/
21 Savage (Without Warning), the pair delivered an album that feels more like a mixtape than a fully realized full-length. With
Metro's dark trap production,
Double or Nothing is sonically cohesive and maintains its cool vibe throughout, even though many of the songs are indistinguishable to the passing ear. Reuniting after a trio of tracks from
I Decided.,
Sean and
Metro continue to play well off each other. Highlights include the popping single "Pull Up N Wreck" with
21 Savage; the absolutely filthy "So Good" with
Kash Doll, a which is reminiscent of
Run the Jewel's "Love Again" romp; and the sweeping "In Tune," a melodic, string-drenched pause in the overall intensity. Another one of the four solo
Sean moments is the serious heart of the project. "Savage Time" is a quick turn in subject matter, hopping from boasting, sex, and hedonism to focus on political turmoil, racial disparity, and the crisis in Flint, Michigan, a cause close to
Sean's heart. Even though it follows the horniness of "So Good," "Savage Time" swiftly reminds listeners of
Sean's sincerity and substance outside of the studio. Overall,
Double or Nothing is mostly a party, boosted by guests like
2 Chainz,
Travis Scott,
Young Thug, and
Swae Lee. While it doesn't feel like a fully realized album statement, it's a satisfying dose of content from
Big Sean and
Metro Boomin. ~ Neil Z. Yeung