Double Or Nothing is pure determination distilled into album form. The surprise joint venture between Detroit MC Big Sean and Atlanta-based superproducer Metro Boomin features the two musicians bouncing off each other’s creative energies as they navigate a crucial point in their trajectories. While crafting the late 2017 release, Sean Don and Metro—then several years deep into their respective careers—felt they hadn’t been given the respect they knew they deserved. This project was their way of demanding it. As individuals, the two were hot on the heels of their own dominant works: Metro Boomin, on a collaborative tear with artists like 21 Savage, Nav and Offset; and Big Sean following up on the release of his fourth studio album, 2017’s I Decided., home to the Top 10 Metro-produced single “Bounce Back”. On Double Or Nothing, Metro Boomin sonically picks up where he left off in Big Sean’s universe and expands even further. By upholding his recognisable trap sound that has come to fuel the hip-hop landscape, and selecting unassuming samples from varied artists, including disco soul legend Diana Ross and Brazilian musician Nazaré Pereira, Metro flips far-flung sounds into cohesive, affective beats. Big Sean’s distinct lyrical style—marked by his ability to weave together disparate topics and land on eccentric punchlines—floats atop Metro’s production, injecting a much-needed dose of excitement into rap. Presented as a victory lap, Double Or Nothing also harks back to the golden era of hip-hop, when a rapper’s project was handled by a single producer. Sean Don maintains an enviable grasp on language and cadence, fitting squarely into the flexible soundscapes Metro provides (see: “Who’s Stopping Me”). With this synergistic partnership in place, the lyricist and the beatmaker accept the trials and triumphs that inevitably come with being on top of their game, as heard on the Travis Scott-assisted “Go Legend”.