Kid Cudi found himself at the center of a heated online debate this week after calling Michael Jackson's creative output "just music," a phrase that immediately set off alarm bells among fans of the King of Pop.
The discussion began when Cudi tweeted about his long-term ambition: "My mission has always been to at some point in my life be recognized as one of the greatest artists of all time. Everything I make is a stamp in my journey to greatness. The ride ain't over no time soon."
A fan replied bluntly, "Can never surpass MJ." Cudi wasted no time answering with a now-deleted follow-up message that attempted to explain the difference he sees between his own creative goals and Jackson's legacy.
"Michael was the greatest, but he was just music," he wrote. "I'm thinkin more than music. I wanna be known as one of the greatest becuz of my range creatively in the arts. Music, visual arts (painting), fashion, directing, acting, etc."
Those words were enough to set off a firestorm amongst MJ's devoted fanbase. Several people immediately pushed back, arguing that Jackson's contributions extended far beyond recorded songs. Many highlighted his dominance in performance, fashion, music videos, choreography, global pop influence, and his wide-ranging creative control.
"Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Songwriters Hall of Fame. Dance Hall of Fame. MTV‘s Video Vanguard Award named after him. But he was just music. Right…" one person wrote. Another added, "Imagine being so ignorant of michael jackson's artistry to imply he wasn't a fashion icon, visual arts pioneer, writer, artist, director, and actor. he was all that and MORE."
Kid Cudi's comments reflect his ambition to expand beyond the music industry and build a multi-disciplinary creative identity. His debut album, Man on the Moon: The End of Day, was recently named one of Complex's best rap albums of the 21st century, and his influence in opening mainstream conversations about mental health in hip-hop remains significant. Beyond music, he's starred in HBO's How to Make It in America, X and Trap, and he's currently writing and directing his first Netflix feature, Teddy.
The multihyphenate has also launched several clothing lines under his creative umbrella, including Members of the Rage and WZRD, and his own artwork has also been incorporated into projects including his memoir.
Interestingly enough, Cudi appeared to have been inspired by MJ when massive 33-foot statues of the rapper popped up in Southern California, New York, and Paris to promote his 2024 album, INSANO. Michael Jackson's legendary 1995 HIStory campaign included a 32-foot statue of the singer installed in major cities around the world.