Kid Cudi released an album last week. If you want to generally get a background for what Cudi went through this year prior to this release, you can check that out here (shameless plug, I know).
Anyway, before I listened to the album, I wanted to get a taste as to what the reviews were saying, what the vibe was around the album, and what to expect. It's reasonable to say that even the biggest fans were pretty disappointed with his last release and frankly, it would've been reasonable to expect the same with this one.
What really struck me in looking up the hype around the album was that none of it was really related to how good the album would be, but more along the lines of how Cudi's legacy was already set in stone, particularly as somebody who writes music that has saved lives. In a world where the casual listener has forgotten about him, we still get articles like this that show how important he is not only to the rap world, but to the world in general.
Here's an example of it, with the Breakfast Club and Pete Davidson: (talks about Cudi at about the 10:30 mark)
One of the questions asked in the video is a great one: Cudi is seen as somebody who cares for all those who are depressed, anxious, loners, stoners, or really anybody who shows him love, but who's gonna care for Cudi?
When Cudi posted this on his Facebook back in October, it was pretty clear that at that particular moment the answer was nobody. He's not married, doesn't really have a family, is divorced and isn't always able to see his daughter Vada. He talked about how his depression and anxiety made it so he could barely leave the house. Combining that with the fact that he lashes out against mainstream artists such as Kanye West and Drake (and the subsequent arguments with Drake, who probably shouldn't be talking) and it's easy to be concerned.
The first person I thought of when Kid Cudi checked into rehab was Robin Williams. They weren't in the same industry, didn't have the same background, and frankly, between Cudi constantly being open about his depression in his music and Williams being involved in many of the more pleasant comedies of our lifetimes, couldn't be more different.
What they do have that is similar is a tendency, and in Williams' case, a legacy, of being known as someone who put their own issues aside and worried about making others happy, no matter how that may be. They both have always been willing to do whatever they can to make others happy, and in both cases, when we were having a bad day or going through some stuff, we could watch a Robin Williams movie or listen to Cudi and feel a little better. That's powerful.
Yet, seeing how Williams is no longer with us after his suicide last year, that only makes the question of "who's gonna care for Cudi?" more valid, although while the general public was stunned at Williams' suicide, we've always been exposed to Cudi's mental health issues, and it's had an impact.
While it's totally reasonable to say that Cudi may not be the best rapper out there today, there is a case to be made that he is the most impactful one, and if you listen to any Drake song you can see how Cudi's openness has translated into Drake's work, to the point where you get memes like this about Drake:
(there's a lot more but I can't post them here)
Anyways, getting back to Cudi's recent album release, it has seen good reviews, with people saying he's back, and that's all fine and dandy. Frankly, I've listened to most of the album, and I agree, and think it's easily the best thing he's put out in a few years, albeit still not quite as good as his early work. Yet I couldn't care less.
To me, the music isn't even totally relevant relative to the impact Cudi continuing to live his dream has on those who need somebody to look up to. One of the biggest problems in my view with the rap industry is that of being relatable. On one side, I certainly can't relate to growing up in a terrible neighborhood, being exposed to drugs, murder and all these terrible things at a young age like some are. At the same time, I also can't quite relate to throwing hundreds at the club, sippin' champagne and getting with models on a daily basis (although some validly question whether this is just talk):
What many can relate to is what Cudi raps about: loneliness, depression, drugs, alcohol, using those things to deal with the pain. It's not exactly mainstream, but these topics are prevalent enough in today's culture to where just by being honest and open Cudi has been able to save lives. From me, I want to thank him. At my worst I don't know what I would've done without his music, and I hope he continues to do his thing, regardless of the results, and continue on his pursuit of happiness. There are millions of people rooting for him.
