Ever since I heard Day and Night, I've been hooked. I can't get enough of this guy. My friend sent me a link to his new single just to shut me up about Day n Night haha Plus it has Lady GaGa and Common on the track as well. I though I would give you guys the link if you want it, https://www.imeem.com/store/promo/S3-31324-D6LQ232SHW-9/DP04/?log=1 What do you guys think?

Yeah man, Kid Cudi is a beast haha. One of my favorite songs by him is "Switchin Lanes". You should give it a listen! It has a killer bass line, and a smooth feel. Just a good song to cruise to.

Cudi is really unorthodox, and I'm still trying to warm up to his new stuff. I will say though, with the arrival of artists such as "Kid Cudi" and "Drake" into the mainstream, that some of the veteran MC's that are clogging up the airwaves with their mundane, auto-tune afflicted noise are seriously going to have to blow the dust off the crates and start writing some real lyrics. Jay-Z has got the ball rolling already, so hopefully others follow suit.

I agree, and I think drake is just what we needed right now, I see a lot of potential in him. But I have to say my interest lies in underground rap though, specifically with interest in sampling masters such as MF Doom, Jedi Mind Tricks and even RJD2. I would love to see a more active interest in the extremely talented lyricists, and people need to start to realize how weak some of the hot tracks today are, like Stunnaman's Mollywhoppin. Honestly, is this what rap has come to?

JMT is fire, but I can't really get behind DOOM, his rhyming is gratuitous and I find myself uninterested, quickly. I feel you on the talent end of it, though. Royce Da 5'9 is a good example of an "extremely talented" lyricist, as you say, who is consistently trying to open the eyes of true hip/hop fans everywhere by trying to combine intricate and profoundly clever lyrics with world class production. However, their gift is unfortunately what is stopping them from reaching the younger demographic because of its complex message.

I understand what you mean with DOOM, I can say the same with JMT though, sometimes it just feels like they just say a string of words with no meaning, and it ruins the flow. I have to say, Its nice to talk to someone like you, that has a knowledge of music and a open mind to music. You seem very intelligent, and i'm really feeling what your saying, and im really liking where this discussion is going! haha. What are your feelings towards Tupac?

I feel like Tupac set the standard for what it means to be honest or "real" with yourself when you compose your music. When I was a young, confused teenager I felt like whenever I would listen to his music that he was telling me to not let anybody dictate my life for me and just be myself. I studied his words and knew all the lyrics and became familiar with his message to the youth and would become genuinely upset whenever someone would try and tell me that his music was meaningless and all it was is "bitches" and "niggas". It was simple, and crude and violent at times, but he was just angry and paranoid in some particular songs because he was extremely talented and people took advantage of him, people close to him. Having said that, his paranoia and recklessness lead to his demise and I wish he could have just relaxed a bit, and focused more of that passion on the kids, he would more than likely still be here making remarkable music as we speak.

So true, his music is misinterpreted so often, and I wasn't introduced to him until just recently. I'm 18 and He wasn't really there when I was growing up lol. But I watched Tupac Resurrection and other interviews and documentaries and have been listening to his music, and really analyzing his lyrics. The things he writes about is very deep, and if people knew more about his life they would be more accepting of him. Its just sad that some people think of Tupac as a "thug" or just another rapper preaching about, like you said "bitches and "niggas", and they have no idea how much of a visionary (is that the word i'm thinking of?) he was. I have to say that discovering Tupac has honestly affected who I am as a person. I think near then end, with the suit filed against him regarding the "forced entry" with the woman in the hotel room and the protests against him, etc, put him over the edge. He had a big heart, but again like you said, he was taken advantage of and wasn't treated how he deserved to be treated.

Yea he's cool... recently saw him perform in Riverside, CA... I like that track "whenever"