Kid Cudi discovered himself on the middle of a heated on-line debate this week after calling Michael Jackson’s artistic output “just music,” a phrase that instantly set off alarm bells amongst followers of the King of Pop.
The dialogue started when Cudi tweeted about his long-term ambition: “My mission has always been to at some point in my life be recognized as one of the greatest artists of all time. Everything I make is a stamp in my journey to greatness. The ride ain’t over no time soon.”
A fan replied bluntly, “Can never surpass MJ.” Cudi wasted no time answering with a now-deleted follow-up message that tried to clarify the distinction he sees between his personal artistic targets and Jackson’s legacy.
“Michael was the greatest, but he was just music,” he wrote. “I’m thinkin more than music. I wanna be known as one of the greatest becuz of my range creatively in the arts. Music, visual arts (painting), fashion, directing, acting, etc.”
Those phrases had been sufficient to set off a firestorm amongst MJ’s devoted fanbase. Several folks instantly pushed again, arguing that Jackson’s contributions prolonged far past recorded songs. Many highlighted his dominance in efficiency, style, music movies, choreography, international pop affect, and his wide-ranging artistic management.
“Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Songwriters Hall of Fame. Dance Hall of Fame. MTV‘s Video Vanguard Award named after him. But he was just music. Right…” one individual wrote. Another added, “Imagine being so ignorant of michael jackson’s artistry to imply he wasn’t a fashion icon, visual arts pioneer, writer, artist, director, and actor. he was all that and MORE.”
Kid Cudi’s feedback replicate his ambition to broaden past the music trade and construct a multi-disciplinary artistic identification. His debut album, Man on the Moon: The End of Day, was lately named one in all Complex’s finest rap albums of the twenty first century, and his affect in opening mainstream conversations about psychological well being in hip-hop stays important. Beyond music, he is starred in HBO’s How to Make It in America, X and Trapand he is presently writing and directing his first Netflix characteristic, Teddy.
The multihyphenate has additionally launched a number of clothes strains below his artistic umbrella, together with Members of the Rage and WZRD, and his personal art work has additionally been included into initiatives together with his memoir.
Interestingly sufficient, Cudi appeared to have been impressed by MJ when large 33-foot statues of the rapper popped up in Southern California, New York, and Paris to promote his 2024 album, INSANE. Michael Jackson’s legendary 1995 HIStory marketing campaign included a 32-foot statue of the singer put in in main cities around the globe.