Hip-Hop artist Kid Cudi will perform this Saturday at the Eastern Michigan University Convocation Center. Tickets for the show are $33 each and first come, first serve
The concert is promoting the rapper’s upcoming album, “Man On The Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager,” which is set to release Nov. 9.
Cudi’s last album, “The Man on the Moon: The End of the Day,” featuring hit songs like “Pursuit of Happiness” and “Make Her Say,” has fans anxious to see how he can follow up his second album. Saturday’s concert will be a chance for those in attendance to be among the first to hear new tracks.
Since gaining mainstream popularity in 2009, with the hit single “Day ‘n Nite,” which peaked at number five on the Bilboard Top 100, Cudi has collaborated with other iconic hip-hop artists such as Jay-Z, Kanye West and Snoop Dogg.
One of the traits that sets Cudi apart from other rappers is he is known to incorporate styles from various genres that do not typically appear in hip-hop songs. For example, in his hit song, “Pursuit of Happiness,” Cudi collaborates with the psychedelic pop group, MGMT, and indie rock band, Ratatat.
“He basically came into the game and made up his own style” freshman James White said. “Cudi is in his own level of music; I know he is going to put on a good show Saturday. I saw him perform a couple times back home and it was good every time.”
Cudi’s music is not only known for its unique style of fusing genres together, but his lyrical content is different from many other hip-hop artists as well.
“His music and lyrics are like life philosophy. He is so real and as an artist I can respect him for staying true to himself,” Chris Grant, who describes himself as very familiar with the artist, said. “He just does not care what other people think and raps about doing his own thing no matter what.”
Cudi makes a point to have a message that goes deeper than what many modern hip-hop artists convey, evidence of this can be heard in his song “The Prayer,” in which he raps about what he wants people to remember him for: “So if I slip away, if I die today the last thing you remember won’t be about some apple bottom jeans with the boots with the fur, baby how I dreamed of being free since my birth cursed but the demons I confronted would disperse.”
Cudi has been known for finding controversy in his career. He was kicked out of Lady Gaga’s Monster Ball tour in December 2009 following an incident in which he punched a fan at a concert in Vancouver.
Cudi was also sentenced to two days of community service after pleading guilty to criminal possession of a controlled substance.
The controversy surrounding the rapper has not gotten in the way of his commercial and musical successes. He was recently covered in Complex magazine, has been nominated for three Grammy Awards and is starring in the Mark Wahlberg produced HBO series, “How To Make it in America.”
As the anticipation builds for his next album to drop, Cudi already has made the Billboard Top 100 with his newest single “Erase Me,” which features Kanye West. It debuted at No. 22.
The upcoming album features collaborations with artists from R&B singer Mary J. Blige, to rappers Snoop Dogg and Chip tha Ripper, as well as indie rock group Ratatat.
“His style is so real and I am really excited to hear his new music,” freshman Cameron Spears said. “It is not often that people get to see their favorite artist come to their school for their homecoming.”
