Technically speaking, Big Sean's not releasing his debut self-help book until January, but his new song "Typecast" feels like an earnest head start. There, he flexes his self-attributed knack for words of wisdom: "Could build a damn positive affirmation gallery." It's a boast and a product description for Better Me Than You, a competently constructed but bland album that too often confuses generic therapy speak for depth. Thematically, the dad raps are a sign of maturation from a skillful yet mischievous rapper who once bragged about being 10 feet tall when standing atop his own dick. But intentions and themes aren't replacements for effectively leveraged imagination, and artistically, personal evolution doesn't mean much if your songwriting skills don't grow with it.