Kid Cudi may be famous for lonely stoner anthems like “Day ‘N’ Nite,” “All Along” and “The Prayer,” but it appears he’s leaving those kind of records in his rearview mirror.
While answering fans’ questions about his upcoming album INSANO (NITRO MEGA) on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday (February 21), the Cleveland rapper declared he is no longer making “sad songs.”
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In response to a follower who asked if “there any sad songs” on his new project, Cudi responded: “No. I dont do sad songs anymore. Sorry.”
“Tortured was the last sad song i wrote 2 years ago,” he added, referencing his recent INSANO ballad. “We on some new shit now. We in the light. If ur not ready, I have about 9 older albums w that vibe u can still listen to [winking face emoji].”
Cudi’s announcement was met with mixed reactions, with one fan replying: “To remove sadness from your work entirely is like painting in black and white without any black paint. Can’t have happy without some sad.”
Another said: “Everyone respects the growth but the ‘sad’ songs arent to keep us down when we’re listening. Its some of the most inspirationally accurate music I enjoy listening to.”
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Others were more supportive, with one fan writing: “Happy for you man. You saved my life with a lot of your music back in the day, but I’m glad to know you’re in a better place now. Most people call your old songs sad, but they were always more motivational and comforting to me than sad.”
Kid Cudi has previously spoken about achieving happiness since he checked into rehab for “suicidal urges and depression” back in 2016.
In a 2020 interview with Esquire, he said: “I have a more solid foundation. If I ever get to that place where things might feel a little out of control, I can always take a step back. I just want people to know that I’m really, really happy.”
He also touched on his newfound approach to music: “Turn the beats up. Bring those BPMs up. Get the party fucking started. That’s what I’m on now. I think I’ve made all the mid-tempo, slow records I could ever make in my career, and now it’s all about fucking turning up.”
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That attitude was reflected in his latest album INSANO, which Kid Cudi revealed was inspired by a Kendrick Lamar show he attended in Paris.
“This muthafucka, it blew my fucking mind,” he told Zane Lowe following the album’s release in January. “I’m sitting there, I’m watching the crowd reaction from the beginning of the show ’til the end. People were in it, party mode, singing every fucking word.
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“I’m not saying this doesn’t happen at my shows, ’cause it does. But all the way through, I don’t have that experience. I had this moment where I was like, ‘You know what? This is the reaction I want.’ I want people to feel good and it to be a joyous occasion when I’m performing.”
Its follow-up, INSANO (NITRO MEGA), is set to be released on Friday (February 23), although Cudi has insisted it is not a deluxe version.
