· Web viewI wanna see you say it to my face.” The problems between Drake and Kid Cudi started...
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Source 2: Rap’s Ugly Attitude About Mental Illness Emerges In Kid Cudi’s first tweet since entering a rehabilitation facility for depression, he called out Drake for referencing him in the song “Two Birds One Stone”, which premiered Sunday evening on Ep 32. of OVO Sound Radio. Kid Cudi hasn’t been one for back-and-forth dissing on rap tracks, though. Instead, he responded directly at Drake with: “Say it to my face… You think it’s a game? I wanna see you say it to my face.” The problems between Drake and Kid Cudi started when Cudi took aim at artists who proclaim themselves as great, but hire ghostwriters to write their lyrics. Drake has been known to diss artists in his tracks, but it’s his Kid Cudi attacks that have received criticism—primarily because he targets Cudi’s mental health and his attempts to manage his depression. For example, Drake says: You were the man on the moon/ Now you just go through your phases/ Life of the angry and famous.” “Still never been on hiatus/ You stay Xann’d and Perc’d up/ So when reality set in, you don’t gotta face it.” “Man on the moon” is, of course, a direct reference to Kid Cudi’s debut album, which has been credited as influential by many hip-hop artists—including Drake—who had a cameo in the video. The last two lines, however, which are a direct reference to prescription drugs for depression and anxiety, feel like an especially low blow. The problem with Drake’s diss is that it is a prime of example of why Cudi had trouble checking himself into rehab in the first place: we tend to label mental illness as a phase— as something that a person can and should easily overcome alone. Those attempting to deal with the conflicts and emotions of mental illness are often called soft. Many still don’t recognize their concerns as “real” problems. This stigma poses a real threat to teenagers and young people who struggle with mental illness, either in themselves or a close family member they love. Kid Cudi has used his music as an outlet for this fear in order to let kids know that they’re not alone in their problems. Saturday Night Live’s youngest comedian, Pete Davidson, stated it best on his interview with The Breakfast Club when he said, “If you’re 25 and under, I truly believe that Kid Cudi saved your life”. What he means is that Cudi’s honest vocalizations about the
Transcript of · Web viewI wanna see you say it to my face.” The problems between Drake and Kid Cudi started...
Source 2: Rap’s Ugly Attitude About Mental Illness Emerges
In Kid Cudi’s first tweet since entering a rehabilitation facility for depression, he called out Drake for referencing him in the song “Two Birds One Stone”, which premiered Sunday evening on Ep 32. of OVO Sound Radio. Kid Cudi hasn’t been one for back-and-forth dissing on rap tracks, though. Instead, he responded directly at Drake with: “Say it to my face… You think it’s a game? I wanna see you say it to my face.”
The problems between Drake and Kid Cudi started when Cudi took aim at artists who proclaim themselves as great, but hire ghostwriters to write their lyrics. Drake has been known to diss artists in his tracks, but it’s his Kid Cudi attacks that have received criticism—primarily because he targets Cudi’s mental health and his attempts to manage his depression.
For example, Drake says:
You were the man on the moon/Now you just go through your phases/ Life of the angry and famous.” “Still never been on hiatus/You stay Xann’d and Perc’d up/So when reality set in, you don’t gotta face it.”
“Man on the moon” is, of course, a direct reference to Kid Cudi’s debut album, which has been credited as influential by many hip-hop artists—including Drake—who had a cameo in the video. The last two lines, however, which are a direct reference to prescription drugs for depression and anxiety, feel like an especially low blow.
The problem with Drake’s diss is that it is a prime of example of why Cudi had trouble checking himself into rehab in the first place: we tend to label mental illness as a phase— as something that a person can and should easily overcome alone. Those attempting to deal with the conflicts and emotions of mental illness are often called soft. Many still don’t recognize their concerns as “real” problems.
This stigma poses a real threat to teenagers and young people who struggle with mental illness, either in themselves or a close family member they love. Kid Cudi has used his music as an outlet for this fear in order to let kids know that they’re not alone in their problems.
Saturday Night Live’s youngest comedian, Pete Davidson, stated it best on his interview with The Breakfast Club when he said, “If you’re 25 and under, I truly believe that Kid Cudi saved your life”. What he means is that Cudi’s honest vocalizations about the topic honor young people who wouldn’t otherwise have anyone to legitimize their feelings and fears. Though some rock and heavy metal artists have referred to the issue, it’s still an unusual topic in the hip hop industry—generally, a topic that is perceived to convey weakness.
While we are all hoping for Cudi’s recovery, a strong base of his fans is also hoping his influence is able to destroy the ugly and stereotypical messages about mental illness that still exist in the industry.Originally reported by Adrian Marcano for Inverse Magazine. October 18, 2016. Abridged and modified in 2017.
