When he’s not hard at work in his home studio—he’s been finalizing his forthcoming album, Don Life—Big Sean is tending to his backyard herb garden. Fresh mint and rosemary offer energizing aromas. He considers himself a homebody, spending most of his time in his Beverly Hills mansion (previously owned by notorious party monster, Guns N’ Roses’ guitarist, Slash). What was once a hub for rockstar debauchery, Sean now describes as “super zenned out.” Slash left behind an oversized, interior nightclub of Playboy proportions, but Sean says he’s only used it once. Over a decade into his career, work-life balance is both a luxury and a necessity for Sean, and he’s mastered his own unique approach.

Raised in Detroit, Sean remains indebted to its culture, highlighting the city’s prosperous creative scene in the video for his latest hit, “Single Again.” He’s also been working closely with his mom to establish their annual D.O.N. (Detroit’s On Now) weekend, a project dedicated to giving back to the community and supporting young local talent. This year’s lineup of activities included coding lessons, yoga classes, and a mental health panel hosted by Sean. “I think from now on I'm going to stop calling it mental health and just call it health,” he says, contemplating his words: “It is what it is.” He’s proud to use his platform to urge others to take care of themselves.

With the demeanor of a friendly neighbor and a taste for collaboration—Sean’s worked with Nicki Minaj, Pusha T, E-40, Kanye, 2 Chainz, Eminem, Lil Wayne, and more—it makes sense that his latest endeavor, a small-screen acting debut, was the result of a shared meal with award-winning screenwriter, Lena Waithe. (“I did very well, according to Lena,” says Sean.) The new BET series, Twenties, is a comedy depicting Waithe’s own transition to the L.A. scene. She cast Sean to play a character not dissimilar to who he really is: a “workout guy” who’s mindful of his emotions. Here, between wrapping up Don Life, following his wellness routines, and performing his new single “Bezerk” with A$AP Ferg at the 2019 MTV VMAs, Sean opens up about how all this self-care is serving him success.