Big Sean’s Rap hiatus is over as the Detroit, Michigan MC recently was a guest on Joe Budden’s Pull Up. In his first interview of 2020, the G.O.O.D. Music/Def Jam artist spoke about dealing with depression, losing passion for rapping, and closing himself off to his family. This came after Budden had criticized Sean for allegedly exploiting mental health issues. The two subsequently spoke, leading Joe to recant his comments on his podcast. Now, the two artists talked at length to reveal the realism behind Sean’s hiatus.

“I am nervous to sit and talk, I haven’t done it in years,” Big Sean says in the conversation’s opening moments. “I didn’t feel like myself. I’m sure a lot of people go through this. I’ve been rapping since I was 11 years old. I realized [that] I didn’t have the same passion I had when I was eleven when I wrote my first rap or when I put out my mixtapes.”

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Anxiety and depression disorders alone affect nearly 40 million people every year, and no celebrity is exempt from this number. “I didn’t have the passion for life anymore,” Sean shares with Budden, who has rapped and spoken about his own battles with depression. Young people who are also struggling with depression may benefit from teen therapy.

“I write all my stuff, I don’t have people sending me records. I have to think about that. It’s hard to think of that when all your experiences are the same — essentially like, you sit in the studio, you do a show, you do this, do that. I didn’t take time to live life between those moments and the balance caught up to me.”

Big Sean’s revelation about his struggles with depression and losing his passion for music sheds light on the often unseen pressures of fame and success. For many people, including celebrities, mental health can be an unpredictable force that shifts everything in its path. It’s a reminder that even those who seem to have it all on the outside can be fighting silent battles. In Sean’s case, the grind of constant work, from shows to recording sessions, blurred his sense of self and robbed him of the joy that once fueled his art. Without moments to pause and reconnect with life outside the studio, the weight of the routine grew unbearable, and he found himself disconnected from his true purpose.

This feeling of disconnection isn’t rare, and it’s not limited to the world of hip-hop or entertainment. Mental health struggles, including anxiety and depression, affect millions of people every year, cutting across all demographics. For those who are constantly on the move, the absence of downtime can leave them feeling overwhelmed and detached. It’s not just about being physically present, but emotionally and mentally engaged in the world around you. Taking time to pause, reflect, and seek support can be key to getting back on track, and even those in the spotlight like Sean can benefit from professional care. Platforms such as Riverdale Psychology provide an accessible way for individuals to begin addressing their mental health concerns before they spiral too far.

It’s crucial for people to understand that depression isn’t just a mood—it can be a profound disconnect from life’s pleasures and a constant struggle for inner peace. Recognizing the signs early and taking the necessary steps to heal can make a world of difference. The journey to recovery often involves reclaiming those lost passions, embracing vulnerability, and learning how to navigate life with balance and awareness.

The platinum, two-time #1 artist continues, “I realized I had to take care of myself first. I woke up every day and was over life. Literally.” At the age of 30, which is a milestone for many Black men, the change was life-altering for him. “I moved into Slash from Guns N’ Roses’ old house. This is my dream house. I spent a year remodeling. [The] point is, I got in there and felt the worst I ever felt. This is a clear example of me getting one of the things I always wanted, and it not affecting how I’m feeling.”

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Things got scary for Big Sean in a real way. “My relationship at the time with my family was completely disconnected.” He would later share with Joe Budden that he told his mother he wanted some distance from her, a decision that even surprised him. It proved to be a choice most beneficial in lifting him up from his dark place of hopelessness.

Elsewhere in the interview, Big Sean refuted reports that he had been beefing with “Control” and “Holy Key” collaborator Kendrick Lamar. “One of the people that, especially after Nipsey [Hussle] died, was important for me to connect with was Kendrick [Lamar],” Sean says. “Me and Kendrick got a history…a relationship as peers. When this whole Big Sean [vs.] Kendrick beef was going on, it was something I wish I would have spoken up [about].” Sean refutes that “No More Interviews” or “Me, Myself, and I” were subliminally aimed at the Compton, California superstar.

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“So then I remember going online and seeing like, ‘Oh, is he talking about Kendrick?’ ‘Cause I’m talking about people who rap fast. … I wasn’t beefing with nobody. I’m just rapping n***a. It wasn’t like a specific person, or else I would’ve said his name.”