Back in August, just before unleashing tweets that started the most surprising hip-hop beefs (Cudi vs. Kanye; Cudi vs. Drake,) Kid Cudi premiered the Pharrell produced “Surfin’” at Trillectro Music Festival, and the propulsive-beat track instantly won the crowd over. In hindsight, what really made the moment so great, though, wasn’t the audience’s immediate embrace of his brand new music, but the sheer joy on Cudi’s face as he danced along to it. Ironically, it was only a short while later that he checked himself into rehab to seek treatment for depression and long-term suicidal ideation.
This morning, Cudi – whose tweets also apparently reignited a years-long beef with Lupe Fiasco – dropped the video what will surely be an anthem for carefree Black folks everywhere. (In the statement he released from the clinic, he stated that he’d shot multiple music videos and done a lot of promotional work in advance the upcoming release of the album Passion, Pain & Demon Slayin’ could continue as he sought help. Issues over sample clearances have delayed its release.) If there’s any doubt who the hip-hop/post-hip-hop track speaks for, video cameos by free spirits Jaden Smith and A$AP Rocky miming the words and dancing along underscore the point – and the liberatory lyrics. But carefree doesn’t mean cuddly. Cudi’s lyrics sharpen points he’s made about his own influence in hip-hop being shortchanged its due while others feast on his aesthetic contributions:
Kid Cud in concert. Courtesy Getty Images.
The industry is so full of shit
Welcome y’all to the enema
Nah man, no subliminal
‘Cause they insecure, they know who they are
Feelin’ awesome to be black, and I’m murkin’ all competition
Everything that I do is a flex
If you don’t get me, not my issue, bitch
Slow up for no one, the shogun
Got the magic in my palms
Rhythm go dumb with them hums
Now I ain’t ridin’ no waves
Too busy makin’ my own waves, baby
I ain’t ridin’ no waves
Too busy makin’ my own waves, baby
I ain’t ridin’ no waves
Too busy makin’ my own waves, baby
I ain’t ridin’ no waves
Too busy makin’ my own waves, baby
Surfin’ on my own wave, baby
Surfin’ on my own wave, baby
Surfin’ on my own wave, baby
Surfin’ on my own wave
See the new video here.
Top image courtesy Michael Hickey/Getty Images.
