Here’s Why Big Sean’s ‘Yes’ Video Is Being Criticized Online

Big Sean has a had a hard time on the Internet over the last couple of years (something he’s touched on in the past), and his latest song and video show that rap fans aren’t letting up.

If you noticed that Baby Keem was trending on X earlier Wednesday, that’s because some fans on social media are claiming that Sean is using his flow, while others are pointing out that he’s channeling his older stuff like “Paradise.” There isn’t a consensus, as fans on social media seem to be split. We think he’s just trying something different and folks are letting his rocky relationship with Keem’s older cousin Kendrick Lamar get in the way.

The Detroit rapper talked to Charlamagne tha God earlier this month, where they talked about a leaked version of Lamar’s song “Element” where he dissed Sean. “That song came out and he changed that bar, it wasn’t on the song anymore, it was a leaked verse,” Sean said. “I had to keep that in mind because I was pissed when I heard it. He changed that on his own. He probably came to the conclusion it was nothing.”

He then revealed that he and Kendrick talked and they hashed things out. “He apologized in a sense for going that far to that sh—t coming out,” Sean told Charlamagne. “When that sh—t leaks, people are like, ‘Oh, you heard what he said about you?’ I’m not a clout-chasing a– n—a, I’m solid and I stand on mine. We already talked about it, I already got an apology for it.”

The Detroit rapper has been on fire and he continues his hot streak with a new song and video that arrived Tuesday (Aug. 20). Directed by Diamond Visuals and presented by Lyrical Lemonade, “Yes” shows the artist at his most confident. He’s playing around with flows and rapping like his rent is due.

“New s—t might get spooky, had to bring the ways back/ Stupid lil’ b—-h wan’ reminisce about some s—t from way back/ When you slackin’ on the job, that’s when they try and take that,” he spits.

Sean has been extremely active this year.

This is his fourth single already this year as he gears up to drop his highly anticipated sixth album. He’s started the year off with “Precision” in March, then he dropped “Yes” in July (which makes this Keem “controversy” all the more confusing,) and in August he followed up with “On Up” about his newborn and the Alchemist-assisted “Together Forever.”

He’s also featured on “Shut Up” with Jessie Reyez, “Tobey” with Eminem and BabyTron, and DJ Premier with Lil Wayne and Rick Ross. And let us not forget about his impressive On the Radar freestyle over Aaliyah‘s “If Your Girl Only Knew.”

Better Me Than You was originally supposed to be released on Aug. 9, but Big Sean decided to push it back due to scheduling conflicts. There’s still no word on an official release date.

Check out a few fan reactions to Sean’s “Yes” video below: