Kid Cudi is frustrated.
The G.O.O.D. Music affiliate went off on his record label, Universal Republic, over a perceived lack of support. Ranting on Twitter, Cudi cited YouTube views and compared his relatively few radio placements to those of Atlanta rapper Trinidad James.
“King Wizard 3.4 million views on Vevo, Just What I Am has 4.3 million and my s— is not on regular rotation on radio. Hmmm,” Kid Cudi tweeted. “Trinidad James got 4.1 million views on his hit (rightfully so), and I hear that jam EVERYWHERE. Wheres my f–kin’ spins???”
Cudi has a point. If James’ could get his song all over radio–before and since he signed a six-figure deal with Def Jam Recordings, why is an established artist finding so much trouble getting airplay. Especially, if he’s getting the kind of YouTube views Cudi claims?
“I’m talkin numbers. Im talkin stats. To my label, I swear to all that is f–kin holy in this world, if things dont change soon, theres gonna be some problems,” Cudi ranted. “I worked too hard on all this s—. Producing, writing, directing AND executing the s— proper. I did my part, I put in work. Wtf”
“Yall kno I cuts no slack. Not w my music. Every song is my life. A piece of my f–kin tormented soul. It matters to me. I give a f–k,” he added.
He finally wrapped his rant with a little humor. “Done goin off and snappin my head side to side :). Aint nobody got time for that!!”
Now, of course, once-upon-a-time, Kid Cudi was the new kid on the block with the monster hit–2008s smash “Day N Nite” was everywhere. But after his previous solo album and last year’s rap-rock hybrid WZRD underperformed compared to his debut, did he become less of a priority? And if so, that begs the question:
Do labels wash their hands of hip-hop artists too early? Are they invested in shaping artists’ careers for the long term; or has the industry become one quick smash-and-grab for major labels?
–stereo williams
