Hip-Hop’s Debt to the man on the moon

Kid Cudi's Influence on Hip Hop Culture is Irreplaceable

Kid Cudi laid out the blueprint for a lot of artists today. Whether that means their vulnerability with their mental health struggles or the way they use melodies, autotune or just an ordinary sound, like a hum, to make music. Kid Cudi has grown into one of the most influential artists of his generation. He’s inspired an entirely new generation of artists, and it’s not hard to see why. Cudi’s music is raw, real, and authentic. It comes from a genuine place with layers of meaning. His music is honest, catchy, and above all else — unapologetic. He’s not afraid to be emotional and rap about what can be considered “taboo” subject matter.  If you're a fan of hip-hop, it's impossible to deny the influence of Kid Cudi on the genre. Cudi has established himself as one of the most innovative and influential artists of his generation.

Cudi first burst onto the scene with the release of his debut album, Man on the Moon: The End of Day, in 2009. This deeply personal album explored themes of mental health, identity, and finding one's place in the world, and was notable for its raw and authentic approach to these subjects. Cudi's willingness to be vulnerable and open about his own struggles with mental health in his music helped to destigmatize these issues and made his music relatable to many listeners. Tracks such as “Soundtrack 2 My Life” and “Mr. Rager” delved into Cudi's personal struggles with depression, loneliness, and addiction, and helped to show fans that they were not alone in their struggles. These themes, combined with Cudi's innovative use of melodies and genre-blending, helped to make Man on the Moon a critically acclaimed and groundbreaking album.

Cudi's second album, Man on the Moon: The Legend of Mr. Rager, released in 2010, continued to delve into personal and vulnerable subject matter, this time focusing on the negative aspects of fame and the overwhelming pressure of being a celebrity. There are many moments on the album where Cudi seems to be questioning his own sanity and his ability to deal with such fame. Cudi rapped a lot about depression, anxiety, and loneliness and that made his bars super relatable. It’s not often that you hear rappers talk about mental health and show what’s behind the bravado. The album featured tracks such as “Pursuit of Happiness” and “Erase Me”, which touched on themes of love and the struggles of maintaining relationships while in the public eye. These tracks, along with others on the album such as “Mojo So Dope” and “Ashin' Kusher”, showcased Cudi's ability to blend different sounds and genres and to create a distinct and innovative sound.

In addition to the themes explored in his music, Cudi's unique and innovative approach to making music has helped to shape the direction of the industry as a whole. His willingness to experiment with different sounds and genres and to push the boundaries of what is considered "hip hop" has inspired many artists to follow in his footsteps and take creative risks. Cudi's open-minded approach to music-making has allowed him to create a sound that is both familiar and fresh and has helped him to stand out in a crowded industry. Cudi showed that it was possible for this kind of hip-hop to be successful and that you don’t have to follow a strict formula. Kid Cudi's "Soundtrack 2 My Life" is a deeply emotional and introspective track that explores the rapper's personal struggles with grief, sadness, loneliness, and depression. With its captivating sounds used in the production, a hip-hop style clap and kick throughout the bassline, and a pop-influenced chorus where Cudi sings, the song quickly became a fan favorite and an anthem for those who related to Cudi's honest and vulnerable lyrics. In "Soundtrack 2 My Life," Cudi delves into some of the problems he had growing up, including the death of his father and the subsequent feelings of sadness, loneliness, and depression he struggled with. The song is a fan favorite that rapidly became an anthem for kids who felt validated by Cudi's music, and it helped show fans that they weren't alone in their struggles. Remember, this is a time when mental health struggle wasn't talked about a lot, so "Soundtrack 2 My Life" and other tracks like "Pursuit of Happiness" and "Day N Nite" were particularly impactful in bringing these issues to the forefront of the rap genre. Other tracks on the album, such as "Erase Me," explore themes of love and fame, while "Mr. Rager" deals with drug addiction and the destructive power of a party persona and addictive personality. These tracks, along with "Soundtrack 2 My Life," showcase Cudi's authentic and vulnerable side, and they helped establish him as one of the first "emo rappers" in the genre. But beyond its lyrics, "Soundtrack 2 My Life" also stands out for its innovative production style, which blends trippy synths, guitar, deep bass, and singing in a way that was unlike anything the rap genre had seen before. In this sense, the song can be seen as a pioneering work that helped lay the foundation for a new wave of rap music that was more experimental and diverse in its sounds and themes. In short, "Soundtrack 2 My Life" is a timeless masterpiece that continues to inspire and resonate with listeners to this day.

Kid Cudi's influence on hip-hop culture is undeniable, as his authentic and vulnerable lyrics and innovative approach to music-making have inspired an entire generation of artists and continue to be a major influence in the industry. Cudi's music has consistently pushed the boundaries of what is possible in hip-hop and has left a lasting mark on the genre. His influence can be traced back to the origin of many sub-genres and themes in hip-hop, as many of today's pioneers can be found resting on the shoulders of previous giants. For example, Drake and Noah 40's approach on "Take Care" evolved from the more lurching R&B of "House of Balloons." The Weeknd's industrial bedroom bangers on "Starboy" fused hip-hop and pop sounds in an unexpected way that was influenced by Kanye West's classic album "808s & Heartbreak."  Kanye West destroyed the idea of "traditional" rap albums and took a complete 180 from his past projects and basically built the entire following decade of melodic hip-hop subgenres, yet even Ye based his game-changing fourth studio album on the influence of a teenage loner from Cleveland, Ohio. It is clear that Cudi's impact on the music industry will be felt for years to come, as his contributions have been cited by countless artists and will be remembered for their significance.

Kid Cudi is often hailed as the godfather of contemporary hip-hop, with a far-reaching influence that has shaped the sound and style of the genre for more than a decade. From Kanye West and the Weeknd to Drake and Travis Scott, many of today's most popular and influential artists have cited Cudi as a major influence on their work. In fact, Travis Scott's stage name is a nod to Cudi's real name, and Cudi's signature hum can be heard on tracks like Scott's "Stop Trying to Be God" and Kanye's "Father Stretch My Hands Pt 1." But Cudi's impact goes beyond the artists he has directly inspired. His innovative approach to music-making and his willingness to push the boundaries of what is possible in hip-hop has influenced a whole generation of artists who have followed in his footsteps. From Chance the Rapper's unique adlibs to the "mumble" rappers who have dominated the charts in recent years, Cudi's influence can be heard all over the genre. Without him, it's hard to say where hip-hop would be today.

Kid Cudi is a pioneer of contemporary hip-hop whose impact on the genre is immeasurable. From his innovative approach to music-making and his authentic and vulnerable lyrics to his signature hum, Cudi has left a lasting mark on the industry and continues to inspire and influence artists to this day. His music has helped to shape the cultural identity of a generation, particularly for young people who were struggling to find their place in a world that often seemed hostile or unaccepting. Cudi's music showed them that they were not alone in their struggles and that they could fight to achieve great things in spite of cultural and economic pressures. For those of us who are part of Generation Z, Cudi's music has been a constant presence in our lives, shaping our identities and inspiring us to stay true to ourselves and fight for what we believe in. Cudi's message of authenticity and resilience has always been a reminder that we don't have to fit the mold to succeed and that we are enough just as we are. His music has been an inspiration to us, and it's only fitting that he has redefined hip-hop and inspired a whole new generation of kids to embrace their individuality and follow their dreams.