So what about love? What is this new song that has exploded on the internet? Cudi revealed that this song was originally supposed to be on the Satellite Flight, but it was cut at final production. He released this single on March 3rd, just in time for me to abuse the replay button for a week straight. Not to be a comedian, but I LOVE "love." It is exactly what I and everyone else has been waiting for. This song is special. If there is a one word to describe it, it is special. It may be one song, but there is an incredible amount of meaning stemming from this 5 minute 39 second track.
Right off the bat the listener hears the familiar haunting guitar riffs of Ratatat. Ratatat was featured on his first album and I always wanted them to return to future albums. The guitar riffs command attention and drag the listener into the song. Upon first hearing it I told myself, "The man is back. He is FUCKING back!" As I said in the last post, I did not hate the filler albums, however I did want Cudi to come back with the sound I fell in love with in high school.
The song is special because it is a map to the release of Man on the Moon III. Cudi stated that the album would be ready in 2015 and he has been toying with the fans issuing spoilers and pictures of studio time. The release of "love." is a statement. It says that Cudi is ready with the album, he is in the right mindset and is creating a masterpiece. In 2013 Cudi had this to say about MOM3, "You’ll see it coming from a person who is looking at things from a more mature mindset, with more understanding and growth." This album has been hyped up for a while for good reason. Cudi had a goal in mind with it and wanted to make sure his head was in the right place before writing. I want to show you some lyrics from "love."
Don't be so down, c'mon young homie
You'll be ok, you'll find real love
All of the stories, the hero gets lonely
Now is the time to show what you're made of
These are the lyrics of a mature Cudi. No longer struggling with depression or identity issues, the artist sings lyrics of motivation. To the fans worried about love, Cudi gives them advice and words to push forward. It is not a time of lows, but highs. This song is special because it shows a mature Cudi, and a mature Cudi means a Man on the Moon III. To the fans wondering where he went he sent a personal message by releasing this track. Be patient, the album is in the works, and I am ready this time. "love." is a teaser, something to hold people over until the ultimate release of the long-awaited album.
I am excited about the coming months and I will brush up on the story of Scott Mescudi to ensure I will be ready for Man on the Moon III.
Sunday, March 8, 2015
Return of the Moon Man
If you don't listen to Cudi or even know who he is I highly suggest you venture over to his music kingdom and give him a listen. I grew up listening to Cudi's unique hip-hop style in high school and have followed his releases ever since. His first two albums, Man on the Moon: The End of Day and Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager, were a breath of fresh air in the hip-hop culture and a great new musical experiment. Each of these albums offer a continuos story and a look into the mind of Scott Mescudi. These albums hold an important place in my heart as they do in many people my age. The stories of these two albums match perfectly with the lives of high schoolers; the struggles of attempting to find yourself, being misunderstood, and experimenting with different people and things resonate within these two. While everyone was expecting for the story to continue and Man on the Moon III to be released, Cudi had different intentions.
Instead of following the path everyone expected, Cudi split from his record label and produced three albums the way he wanted to. The first was his experimental rock group WZRD where he released one album conveniently named WZRD. His next move was Indicud, followed soon by Satellite Flight: The Return to Mother Moon. For many, these three releases came off as disappointing and lacking in the Cudi style of the first two albums. I disagree. The reason why I love Cudi as an artist and respect and revere him as a musician is his ability to express himself. He is not confined by a record company and strays away from the hip-hop culture. I am disappointed with the hip-hop/rap culture as of late; creativity is at an all time low and the same drum beats and drops are overused and ruined. The lyrics are crass and lack ingenuity. There appears to be a major inferiority complex going on with the males in hip-hop; all they do is brag about "bitches, hoes, guns, and partying." It is all about THEM. They don't tell stories anymore they just vomit words that don't resonate in anyone.
Cudi on the other hand stands out in hip-hop. He's different and this is immediately apparent upon first listening to him. What makes him different is his lyrics, music samples, and the direction of his music. His lyrics send a message to his audience; they range from feelings of loneliness to words of inspiration.
I'm super paranoid, like a 6th sense
Since my father died, I ain't been right since
And I tried to piece the puzzle of the universe
Split an eighth of shrooms just so I could see the universe
I tried to think about myself as a sacrifice
Just to show the kids they ain't the only ones who up at night
The moon will illuminate my room and soon I'm consumed by my doom
In his song "Soundtrack to my life" from his first album, Cudi lets the people know he has struggled with identity issues and with that normalizes the phenomenon so people know its gonna be ok.
Wish I could tell my brother something for some motivation
And get him out that gutter
He's leaving behind a family and a mother
Damn you must understand when I speak about a song its how I really am
Yeah this is how I really think
You could see what I see, yes I really wink
And get him out that gutter
He's leaving behind a family and a mother
Damn you must understand when I speak about a song its how I really am
Yeah this is how I really think
You could see what I see, yes I really wink
In his song "Mojo so Dope" from his second album, Cudi tells his fans that his music is about his life. Through his music, Cudi lets the people inside his mind to see the world from his point of view. There is a special bond between Cudi and his fans because he really lets them into his life. For people struggling with personal issues, his music is uplifting because it shows raw emotion. For someone struggling top explain how they feel, a Cudi song can perfectly sum it up with a few quick stanzas.
His music samples are far-reaching and offer a new sound to listeners. He has used everything from deep bass infused themes to the psychedelic, electronic sound of MGMT and Ratatat. He stands out because he is not afraid to experiment and be different. He ventures into unknown territory and allows other artists to influence his music. His albums, Indicud and Satellite Flight, received mixed reviews because of this experimentation. The sound was different, the production unique, and storyline was choppy. That being said I liked both albums. Cudi is doing exactly what he is supposed to be doing. He is not letting others tell him how to produce, he is doing it himself. He is experimenting and trying to find happiness. Satellite Flight was the final clue the fans needed. This album revealed that Man on the Moon III was coming. This was his last attempt at filling in the blanks between the last Man on the Moon album. His journey to happiness has weeded out the bandwagon fans and created a strong, loyal group of space travelers.
And this brings us to the present and the release of "love."
To be continued....
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