Music Theory: Kid Cudi

-Kid Cudi's long-awaited album Man on the Moon: The End of Day dropped today, and after a few listens I must say I am quite impressed. I've slowly become a fan of Cudi's introspective lyrics and wholly unique approach to hip hop, but some people are apparently hesitant to jump on the bandwagon. The Washington Post sees Cudi as a mediocre Kanye clone: "Signed to Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music imprint, Ohio rapper Kid Cudi has ripped off his label owner's formula."
-Of course, had they done their research, they would know that Cudi is quite the opposite. Most know that Kanye actually hired Kid Cudi to help write four songs on his 808s and Heartbreak album (including my two favorites, "Welcome to Heartbreak" and "Paranoid"), and many speculate that Cudi's mixtape actually inspired Kanye to do the album in the first place. BET's Rising Icon special (above) features some solid performances as well as some insight into Cudi's much-publicized issues, and is a must-watch for anyone who is not yet familiar with his work.