Released: 2013 • Features: Lil Wayne, Jhené Aiko
“Beware” by Big Sean, featuring Lil Wayne and Jhené Aiko, is a layered narrative about the agonies and animosities of a toxic love affair. It tells a tale about the painful rift rooted in betrayal, jealousy, and misunderstanding, with Big Sean warning the listener about the perils of hurting a woman who loved you and got hurt in the process.
The track kicks off with Jhené Aiko’s hauntingly smooth hook, illustrating the ebbing love and hinting at the impending danger – “You should beware, beware, beware of a woman with a broken heart”. This is an adage-like caution, hinting at the vengeful nature of a woman scorned and the potential fallout one can expect from such a situation.
Big Sean’s initial verse is an introspective examination of a relationship gone south. He paints a picture of a man staring at his phone, hoping for a call back, but realizing that the lack of a raging text may be the final nail in the coffin of their relationship. His careless infidelity, nonchalance, and his inconsistent approach towards the relationship are highlighted, showing the damage inflicted on both sides of this love story.
Big Sean uses phrases like “girls only say ‘hate you’ to the guys they love” revealing the intense emotional pendulum swinging between love and hate in their relationship. By saying he kept his phone on silent “ever since you got a ring”, Sean throws a jibe at the idea of commitment – putting a ring on someone’s finger often signifies an escalation in the relationship, symbolizing a promise to be loyal and committed, an obligation Sean apparently shirked.
In the second verse, Big Sean delves deeper into the aftermath of the breakup, highlighting the lingering dysfunction and lingering resentment. References to tattoos and confrontations about condoms reveal a hurtful and accusing past, further exacerbating the tension. The verse ends on a hopeful yet hurtful note – the woman, hurt and rejected, is seen moving on to another man, handing over her baggage to him.
Lil Wayne’s verse adds a contrast, speaking from a perspective of a man who appreciates his woman but fills their relationship with mistrust and insecurities. Interestingly, Lil Wayne also infuses humor about his own failings in the relationship, acknowledging the hurt he caused but finding solace in laughter. His slick wordplay, as he raps “She said it’s gonna be me, myself and I / Damn, that would make me a one-eyed fuck” is a clever referential pun to his moniker – ‘Weezy F. Baby’, where the ‘F’ apparently stands for a multitude of adjectives, of which ‘Foresee’ is one.
The song culminates with Jhené Aiko’s soft yet decisive declaration – “last time calling me baby, last time calling me crazy”. Basically, she’s letting go, suggesting the end of their tumultuous relationship.
All in all, “Beware” is a cautionary tale, a vivid tapestry of love, heartbreak, betrayal, and the hypnotic chaos it all brings along. It’s Big Sean’s lyrical exploration of a failed relationship, laid bare for everyone to take heed from his experiences.
