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

Don Felder

Don FelderSongwriter Interviews

Don breaks down "Hotel California" and other songs he wrote as a member of the Eagles. Now we know where the "warm smell of colitas" came from.

Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty

Rob Thomas of Matchbox TwentySongwriter Interviews

Rob Thomas on his Social Distance Sessions, co-starring with a camel, and his friendship with Carlos Santana.

Meshell Ndegeocello

Meshell NdegeocelloSongwriter Interviews

Meshell Ndegeocello talks about recording "Wild Night" with John Mellencamp, and explains why she shied away from the spotlight.

Sub Pop Founder Bruce Pavitt On How To Create A Music Scene

Sub Pop Founder Bruce Pavitt On How To Create A Music SceneSong Writing

With $50 and a glue stick, Bruce Pavitt created Sub Pop, a fanzine-turned-label that gave the world Nirvana and grunge. He explains how motivated individuals can shift culture.

Eric Burdon

Eric BurdonSongwriter Interviews

The renown rock singer talks about "The House of the Rising Sun" and "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood."

Jim McCarty of The Yardbirds

Jim McCarty of The YardbirdsSongwriter Interviews

The Yardbirds drummer explains how they created their sound and talks about working with their famous guitarists.