Kid Cudi, Change in Music

*The first media link is one of Kid Cudi’s original and most popular songs titled “Pursuit of Happiness.” The second media link is Cudi’s most popular “rock” song titled “Erase Me.”

“Although a company will have a schedule of planned releases, there is no way of knowing if an artist is going to continue producing similar music, lose their touch or simply decide to change direction. The company has a contract for a product, but it is a human product that is often tempera- mental and unpredictable.”

The most prominent example that directly relates to the above quote is hip-hop/alternative rock global superstar, Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi (Kid Cudi). Over the course of his career, Kid Cudi has sold over 5.2 million digital singles and has worked with music legends such as Snoop Dogg and Jay Z. He gained national attention after he released his first official full-length project titled A Kid Named Cudi in 2008. The mixtape caught the attention of American rapper and producer Kanye West, who subsequently signed Cudi to his label in late 2008. After a bright start to his young career in the late 2000’s, Cudi lost popularity after his music took a dramatic, depressing turn. Cudi had been fighting a long battle with depression and drug abuse that shifted his attitude, demeanor, and ultimately his music. “I thought about how much of a struggle it has been the past eight years, to be in the news and pretend to be happy when, really, I was living a nightmare” (https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/magazine-feature/7341594/kid-cudi-reveals-struggle-with-drugs-and-depression-working-with-kanye-west-new-music). As a result his music shifted from a hip-hop type production to a near rock and roll centered style. His music, which began as very soothing and relaxing, turned to head banging and chaotic. Due to this change, Cudi lost many fans, and his career has never really been the same since. However, it is important to mention that Cudi is mentally healthy and healed, which will be interesting to see if he changes his style back to how it was.