Big Sean
Mike CarsonBig Sean's collaborative What You Expect EP with Hit-Boy wasn't the only surprise he had in store for fans Friday (Oct. 29). The Detroit emcee also announced on Twitter that after 14 years, he has stepped away from Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music label. After a fan asked, "Damn no more GOOD Music for Big Sean?" Sean responded in a tweet saying, "That’s a forever brotherhood, but business wise, I had to start getting a bigger cut! I worked my way out that deal."
In another tweet, he elaborated on his decision to release on his own label, adding "By the way this the first project where I’m on my own label as well, no more lil dawg s--t!!!! I bossed up! #DONLIFE"
What You Expect was released with credits to FF To Def Entertainment and Def Jam Recordings, a division of Universal Music Group that also distributes G.O.O.D. Music. FF To Def is an LLC based in Detroit -- Big Sean's hometown -- according to public filings, suggesting this is his own new imprint with Def Jam. Big Sean is managed by Zeno Jones.
Reps for Def Jam, UMG and Big Sean did not respond to requests for comment at time of publishing.
The six-song EP features Lil Durk, Bryson Tiller and fellow Detroit emcees 42 Dugg and Babyface Ray and follows Sean's album Detroit 2, which was also executive produced by fellow former G.O.O.D. Music signee, Hit-Boy.
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During his time with G.O.O.D. Music, Big Sean released seven albums, three of which -- Dark Sky Paradise, I Decided and Detroit 2-- peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. In an earlier tweet dated Oct. 21, Big Sean reminisced on the "GOOD ol days," adding, "I also really miss the brotherhood I use to have with GOOD music, I don’t know what happened."
Since 2010, the once-rich G.O.O.D. Music roster has dwindled, with Common, John Legend, Kid Cudi, Desiigner, Mos Def, Teyana Taylor and now Big Sean leaving in the last decade. Ye himself, Pusha T and 070 Shake are among the handful of artists who remain.
Sharleen Spiteri joined BBC Radio 2’s The Sara Cox Breakfast Show ahead of Texas taking the stage to launch the main live music programme at Radio 2 in the Park in Stirling.
Checking in from rehearsals, the Texas frontwoman spoke about getting ready for the band’s opening performance at City Park. Radio 2’s annual flagship festival takes place there from 11 to 13 September 2026. "I’m match fit because I’ve had a couple of days’ rehearsals," Spiteri said. "We’re kicking the whole weekend off, which we’re very much looking forward to, so everybody’s got to get ready to party."
Before the live acts take over, Friday’s DJ Pre-Party gets the weekend started with Radio 2 favourites Sara Cox, DJ Spoony, Gary Davies, Michelle Visage, and Rylan behind the decks.
Jo Whiley helped set the mood with a special programme from Stirling’s Tolbooth venue. Working with BBC Introducing Scotland, the broadcast put the spotlight on Scotland’s emerging music scene through performances and conversations with Fright Years, Alice Faye, and James Emmanuel.
Fright Years, a four member band from Edinburgh, played "Never Been Wrong" and offered their take on Simple Minds’ "Waterfront." Glasgow singer and songwriter Alice Faye, the BBC Introducing in Scotland 2026 winner, paired "Some Brief Encounter" with a rendition of Lulu’s arrangement of "I Started a Joke." James Emmanuel, who was born in Nigeria and now lives in Edinburgh, sang "Brothers & Sisters" before taking on Chaka Khan’s "I’m Every Woman."
"We’re all about celebrating BBC Introducing and all the music that’s come out of Scotland," Whiley told listeners. "It's about celebrating the local music scene and the incredibly important work that BBC Introducing does to support independent, up-and-coming artists."
Joining the conversation were Stephanie Cheape, presenter of BBC Introducing in Scotland, Tara McLoughlin, venue manager for Stirling Council, and student radio presenters representing the University of Stirling’s Air3 Radio.
Listeners can catch the complete interviews and live performances from the weekend’s programmes on BBC Sounds.
