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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