Kid Cudi's Music: Why Critics Can't Relate

Kid Cudi, born Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, and fashion designer. Cudi has been in the public eye since the release of his first mixtape, A Kid Named Cudi, in 2008. While Cudi has a large fan base and is critically acclaimed for some of his work, he has also received backlash for certain career choices.

Cudi's experimental albums, Satellite Flight: The Journey to Mother Moon (2014) and Speedin' Bullet 2 Heaven (2015), were not well-received. Critics described his early attempts at producing beats as amateur. Cudi's ventures into other genres, such as rock, through projects like WZRD and Speedin' Bullet 2 Heaven, were also criticized. Cudi's characteristic singing style has been described as off-key.

In addition to his musical choices, Cudi has also received criticism for his fashion choices. In 2021, Cudi received backlash for posting a picture on Instagram with his nails painted. He also faced hate for wearing a floral dress as a tribute to Kurt Cobain on Saturday Night Live. Cudi has been open about his mental health struggles and has pushed back against toxic masculinity, but these actions have resulted in negative comments and even slurs from some detractors.

Kid Cudi's experimental albums were poorly received

Kid Cudi's experimental albums, Satellite Flight: The Journey to Mother Moon (2014) and Speedin' Bullet 2 Heaven (2015), were poorly received by critics. However, it is important to note that Cudi's work, including these albums, has been praised for its experimental nature and vulnerability in addressing mental health.

Cudi's debut album, Man on the Moon: The End of Day (2009), was a critical and commercial success, receiving quadruple platinum certification. His second album, Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager (2010), also received critical acclaim and commercial success. However, Cudi's subsequent experimental albums, Satellite Flight and Speedin' Bullet 2 Heaven, were not as well-received.

Cudi has been recognised for his willingness to experiment with different genres and styles, incorporating elements of psychedelia, R&B, electronica, synthpop, dance, house, punk, and indie rock into his music. His lyrics often explore personal experiences and struggles with mental health, including depression, loneliness, and alienation.

Despite the mixed reception of his experimental albums, Cudi has continued to enjoy success and critical acclaim with subsequent releases. His sixth album, Passion, Pain & Demon Slayin' (2016), saw an improvement in critical reception, and his 2018 collaboration with Kanye West, Kids See Ghosts, was met with widespread critical acclaim. Cudi's more recent releases, such as Man on the Moon III: The Chosen (2020) and Entergalactic (2022), have also been critically praised.

Critics disliked his singing style

Kid Cudi's singing style has been described as off-key by critics. His early attempts at producing beats on Indicud were also described as amateur.

Cudi's singing style is just one part of his artistic identity, and he has never changed it to sell more records or appease critics. His work is known for its experimental nature, combining psychedelia, R&B, electronica, synthpop, dance, house, punk and indie rock.

Cudi's singing style has been influential, with artists from every corner of the music world recognising his artistic ability and creative power. Andre 3000, Selena Gomez and Kendrick Lamar have all collaborated with Cudi, and he has sold over 22 million units domestically.

Cudi was criticised for his fashion choices

Kid Cudi, born Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, and fashion designer. Cudi has been recognised as an influence on contemporary hip hop and alternative acts. In 2021, Cudi was praised for wearing a dress in tribute to Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, who wore a similar dress on the cover of Face magazine in 1993. Cudi's performance in a floral dress on Saturday Night Live was applauded by social media users who celebrated his gender non-conforming fashion.

However, Cudi's fashion choice was criticised by members of the LGBTQ+ community, who pointed out a double standard. They contrasted the praise the rapper received with the bullying and violence that trans people often experience when dressing in the same way. Model and activist Munroe Bergdorf wrote:

> "As fab as it is to see cisgender straight men embracing femininity through fashion... let's remember that they also won't face nearly as much hatred or the physical danger that visibly queer folk will when they do the exact same thing."

Cudi's choice to wear a dress was also criticised by Dr Kit Heyam, an academic researcher and trans awareness trainer, who expressed disappointment that Cudi did not acknowledge the different stakes for himself as a cis man wearing a dress, compared to trans women and trans femmes. Eden Loweth, the creative director of unisex fashion label Art School, agreed that Cudi would not face the same dangers as trans people when wearing a dress.

Cudi's floral dress also sparked a discussion about whether clothes should be gendered at all. Loweth strongly believes they shouldn't be, arguing that society perpetuates narratives onto items that restrict and negatively impact children from a young age.

While Cudi's fashion choice sparked an important conversation about gender norms and the dangers faced by the trans community, it also attracted criticism from those who felt that he was praised while trans people continued to face violence and discrimination for dressing in the same way.

Cudi's early attempts at producing were panned

Kid Cudi's third album, Indicud, was his first self-produced album. It peaked at number two on the Billboard 200 and was led by the platinum-certified single "Just What I Am" featuring King Chip. However, it was followed by the tepidly-received experimental albums Satellite Flight: The Journey to Mother Moon (2014) and Speedin' Bullet 2 Heaven (2015). Critics ridiculed Cudi's early attempts at producing, panning the beats on Indicud as amateur. His attempts to cross over into other genres, like rock, through projects like WZRD and Speedin' Bullet 2 Heaven, were also critically humiliated and written off.

Cudi's early attempts at producing were likely panned by critics because they deviated from the popular sounds of the time. When Cudi released his debut mixtape, A Kid Named Cudi, in 2008, it sounded nothing like the work of his popular contemporaries. Instead of following the trend of ringtone rap and autotune-heavy club jams, Cudi consciously went against the grain. This may have been a factor in the criticism he received for his early production work.

Despite the initial criticism, Cudi's influence on the current soundscape of hip-hop is undeniable. His willingness to deviate from the popular sounds of the time and address taboo subjects in his lyrics, such as mental health and substance abuse, resonated strongly with his generation. Cudi's work helped to establish a lane in hip-hop where vulnerabilities were laid bare, cultivating a sense of shared empathy with his audience.

Cudi's rock projects were critically humiliated

Kid Cudi, born Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, and fashion designer. Cudi's rock projects WZRD and Speedin' Bullet 2 Heaven were critically humiliated and written off. Cudi formed the rock band WZRD with long-time collaborator and producer Dot da Genius. Their self-titled debut album debuted at the top of the Billboard Top Rock Albums chart in 2012. WZRD included a cover of Nirvana's "Where Did You Sleep Last Night?", inspired by blues guitarist Lead Belly's rendition of the traditional folk song. Cudi's sixth album, Passion, Pain & Demon Slayin' (2016), saw an improvement in critical reception.

Cudi's music has been described as "an atmospheric take on melodic rap, with a dollop of charming, off-key singing". He has been called "introspective, with the ability to lay his insecurities on record and expose his fallibility." Cudi's sound is what inspired Kanye West to create his cathartic album 808s & Heartbreak (2008). West later stated that he and Cudi were "the originators of the style". Cudi's early work, which tackled mental health, loneliness, substance abuse, and other taboo subjects in hip-hop culture, made him a singular voice for his generation.

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