Guap

Album: Hall of Fame: Memoirs of a Detroit Player (2012)
Charted: 71
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The first single from Big Sean's sophomore album, Hall of Fame: Memoirs of a Detroit Player, finds Sean splashing his cash out left, right and center. "I'ma throw money in the air like I'm tryna pay the sky," he raps. Sean admitted to Hiphop-N-More that the cut goes in a different direction than his fans may be used to. "It ain't no turn-up song," he said. I wanted to do something a little bit different. I wanted to do some s--t that I really was inspired by, something that strikes an emotional chord in people. I'm not going by the label's standards. I'm not going by the club standards. It's just what the f--- I wanna do."
  • Key Wane and Young Chop produced the tropical track. Key Wane, whose other credits include co-producing Meek Mill's "Amen," is the primary beatsmith on Hall of Fame: Memoirs of a Detroit Player. Sean has known the knob twiddler since they both attended Cass Technical High School together in Detroit. "I'm helping to put him on as much as I can," the rapper told The Boombox. "He's definitely gonna be one of the greatest producers coming up for sure and he will be one of the greatest of all time."
  • According to our dictionary, 'Guap' is an urban term for a considerable amount of disposable money. It originated on the streets of Harlem, New York to indicate the large, handsome sums acquired through the sale of illicit drugs. The word comes from the Spanish "Guapo" meaning handsome or pretty.
  • Sean told MTV News: "It's just a fun song and it's crazy because I originally didn't want that to be the very first single, but when it came down to it, it just seemed like the perfect time. Sometimes life be so goddamn serious, you just need them songs to get away from it, turn up to and just feel good to."

    "I feel like 'Guap' is inspirational in the sense that it's for anybody who's ever had to clock in, for anybody who got that check," he added. "I used to be a telemarketer, I used to have to get that $140 check every week and I' d be happy as hell. So it's just that feeling, it's that moment, and if you listen to the verses, everything in there is just too real."
  • The song's music video was shot in Sean's home city of Detroit on November 18, 2012. It was filmed close to a couple landmarks that meant a lot to the rapper, including club Bleu, where he performed early in his career, as well as his high school. The Motor City spitter had to shut down Woodward Ave. and most of downtown for the clip.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Matthew Wilder - "Break My Stride"

Matthew Wilder - "Break My Stride"They're Playing My Song

Wilder's hit "Break My Stride" had an unlikely inspiration: a famous record mogul who rejected it.

Subversive Songs Used To Sell

Subversive Songs Used To SellSong Writing

Songs about drugs, revolution and greed that have been used in commercials for sneakers, jeans, fast food, cruises and cars.

Chris Squire of Yes

Chris Squire of YesSongwriter Interviews

One of the most dynamic bass player/songwriters of his time, Chris is the only member of Yes who has been with the band since they formed in 1968.

Janis Ian

Janis IanSongwriter Interviews

One of the first successful female singer-songwriters, Janis had her first hit in 1967 at age 15.

Billy Joe Shaver

Billy Joe ShaverSongwriter Interviews

The outlaw country icon talks about the spiritual element of his songwriting and his Bob Dylan mention.

Christmas Songs

Christmas SongsFact or Fiction

Rudolf, Bob Dylan and the Singing Dogs all show up in this Fact or Fiction for seasonal favorites.