Kid Cudi has gone undergone some serious changes in both his personal and professional life over the past several months. He stopped smoking marijuana, left his former label, Dream On, to start his own Wicked Awesome Records, and announced a new rock-tinged sound for his next album. And now Cudi is discussing his happiness over his new sound and single, “Perfect Is The Word,” as well his joy over quitting drugs.
In a recent interview with MTV News, the “Day N Nite” rapper explained that although hip-hop fans may not easily embrace the darker rock sound of his upcoming album, Wizard, he’s excited about pushing the boundaries of hip-hop. And on his latest single, the Dot Da Genius produced “Perfect Is The Word,” Cudi showcases his growing musical might by playing guitar on the track, a feat that he’s especially proud of.
“I’m very proud of it; it’s something that a year ago I wouldn’t have ever imagined that I’d be able to do. It’s different, I get that,” said Cudi. “Some people are going to get it, some people aren’t. That’s cool. I just don’t really give a f— who does and who doesn’t. I mean, I care about the people that do, because that means, all right cool, there some people who have an open mind, who are smart and who get art.”
Cudi also explains that in the wake of his announcement that he’d quit smoking marijuana, many fans have turned their backs on the man who once called himself “The Lonely Stoner.” But despite the backslash, Cudi maintains that he’s content with his life of sobriety.
“There were a lot of write-ups where people were just sh—ing on it and there were a lot of people who were like, ‘We liked you better when you were on drugs,’ ” he said with disappointment. “It’s kinda like, ‘Man, OK, well you weren’t a fan to begin with so f— you,’ and I like myself better off drugs. So it’s about me and it’s about evolving and it’s about change. It’s about becoming a man; it’s about becoming mature.”
As Cudi explains, life for him isn’t about being a crowd-pleaser, it’s about creating a positive legacy of well-crafted and thoughtful music.
“Ten years from now I’m going look at my discography and I’m gonna be proud of it,” he said. “I don’t want to be 10 years from now looking at my discography, like, ‘Man, I was a f—ing knucklehead when I made that.’ ” –nicholas robinson
