An Open Letter To Kid Cudi

An Open Letter To Kid Cudi

This last Friday Kid Cudi released a track entitled “Surfin” off his upcoming album “Passion, Pain & Demon Slayin”.  Featuring Pharrell Williams, the joint was a banger- the type that instantly puts a smile on your face.  Sounding like the Cudi of old with a slight twist, the peek into the upcoming album reminded fans why he is a legend in every sense.  However, even legends have their struggles as was unfortunately witnessed in a letter to fans that Scott posted on his Facebook last night. 

The first time I listened to “Man on the Moon”, I refused to like it because I was one of those kids into garage music that would not admit that rap was “real music”.  That changed.  I couldn’t stay away for long as the melodies hooked me and the beats soothed.  I soon found myself finding peace through my teenage years with my earphones in listening to the reflective lyrics of “Man On The Moon 2” and blaring “Indicud” on my way to my senior prom.  After my first heartbreak, listening to “The Frequency” for hours on repeat while driving seemed to be the only thing that calmed me.  This last February I was lucky enough to witness Cudi live at The Observatory in Santa Ana and realized while watching the performance just how much his music has helped me out over the years.  I know millions of others can say the same, finding comfort in the midst of turmoil through his art.  If Scott Mescudi was to ever see what I have to write here’s what I would say:

You mention feeling ashamed to have been “living a lie”.  There’s no shame in admitting difficulty and imperfection.  There’s no way you’d ever be able to impact so many kids the way you have if you ignored your own struggles and painted a picturesque portrait of life through your music.  There’s enough of that.  We love you because we can sense and listen to your struggle and see absolute determination through the midst of it.  It’s inspiring and that’s why we eat it up and look up to you.  It might be scary to hear that people look up to you because I’m sure you’re acutely aware of your flaws as only you can, and would never want the responsibility to act as an inspiration as someone who has figured things out.  Just know we do look up to you, and it’s because you’re honest and transparent.  Your music is a comfort and a peace and we thank you for giving it to us as well as for your positive energy. 

You’ve done enough for us.  Give back to yourself.  Take time away with your family and get closer to that peace you’ve been searching for.  If you never release another track but find a break from the “ragin violent storm inside your heart”, just know that’s all we want.  Free your mind from any pressure you may feel to give to others and feed that love to yourself.  You deserve it.  We wish you the best and are sending up prayers.

A Brief Description Of Just How Much Millennials Suck

A Brief Description Of Just How Much Millennials Suck

Photography by Brandon Stanciell.  Featuring Kristopher Young.  Issue 15.

I work at a sandwich shop.  Last week a gentleman came in two minutes before we closed who had obviously had a rough day because his rude level was at a 10/10.  It didn’t bother me or my coworker until she apparently asked a question too quickly and he made some comments about how “kids these days need to slow down and take themselves less seriously because we aren’t that important.”

I’m sure this gentleman had read one of the multiple articles I see daily explaining how entitled, selfish, and lazy the millennial generation is and how we are going to ruin the country over the course of the next few years.  That may have been part his reason for the condescending attitude, or it may have been possible that the 6-pack he proudly bragged about consuming while watching football caused him to loosen his mouth just a little bit too much. Or maybe it was the fact that he had obviously dropped his pizza on his Avengers t-shirt earlier in the day and he’d have to do the laundry sometime during the week that caused his miserable mood.  Either way, his condescending attitude, rude comments, and smirks weren’t welcome but still were received with a smile and a “thank you”.  Well here’s what I wished I could tell him: 

I woke up that morning at 6:30 in order to get homework done before class.  I finished up over some coffee and headed to a couple of classes before finishing up at 12.  I immediately started and finished a 5-page paper due the next day and wrote last week’s article before starting my shift at 3.  I had stayed up until 2 A.M. the night before so, by this point, I was already worn out.  Obviously, I should’ve prepared myself better and gotten more sleep but I’m young and like to have fun because one day I’ll most likely have kids and struggle to stay up past 9:30.   Anyways, by the time this customer came in I had been working hard for nearly 15 hours.  I’m sure he thought that as soon as he exited the store we would lock up and I’d go home and smoke a bowl because that’s all teenagers are good for, right?  What he didn’t know is I’d go to the back of the store and finish my third venti coffee of the day and spend the next hour closing the store before going home and studying for my test at 8 a.m. the next morning.  Obviously, a long day is one thing and happens to everyone.  I’m used to it and had no problem knowing I’d do the same thing for every day of the rest of the week.  I easily served every customer that day with a smile except for this one because of his lack of respect for what students are doing and his clear lack of understanding as to why we are forced to take our lives “too seriously”

I know that me, my friends at school, and my coworkers aren’t as successful as this man has been (his Crocs screamed high-salary businessman), but I think we deserve some credit.  Contrary to his comment about me being his “wife for the night because she’s out of town” (I wonder how much he has to pay her to stay with him), I am of a little more worth than just making a sandwich.  I’m in the classroom for 24 hours a week, in addition I spend at least another 24 doing homework for those classes, I also work for 29 a week.  If a “full-time” work week is 40 hours, then I am just 3 away from doubling that each week.  Not to mention the fact that I rage my face off at least three nights a week and write for this magazine. 

The reason I mention all of this because I’ve noticed that hardly anyone from the older generations has any idea how hard we work.  What makes me upset is that people like this gentleman have such an obviously low view of my peers and I.  I hear all the time how “easy” my generation has things or how we “don’t know the value of anything”.  There seems to be a common belief that we waste all our time “going on the facebook” and have the intelligence of small children “because of all the marijuanas we smoke”.  There is next to no recognition of how hard we work to prepare ourselves for the future.  Instead, all I hear is negativity about how we will ruin the country (thanks for all the debt by the way). 

I know the older generations have had hard lives (I mean walking uphill both ways to school is rough), but I know for a fact that my friends who bust their asses everyday don’t deserve to hear how little they think of us.  We are doing our best, working hard, and trying to be decent people.  Yes, we have fun.  No, we aren’t as conservative as our parents would like us.  Either way, it is my generation that will be taking care of that man fifteen years from now so I think we deserve a little more respect.  Thanks for the 18 cent tip though.  We’re good now.

An Open Letter to the Class of 2017

An Open Letter to the Class of 2017

photo credit

I guess we've made it! We're so close to going our separate ways and becoming the people we've always wanted to be. It's bitter sweet- isnt it? Next year we'll be gone. There are some things I wanted to tell y'all before were all really drowning in applications and exams, or (if I'm being completely honest) too lazy.

I wanted to thank you. I know we haven't all been the closest over the years but each and every one of you has had an effect on my life and has helped me become the person I am today. Whether we spent every weekend together or never did anything but smile at each other in the hallways, I hope we'll remember each other.

You've given me the stories that I'll tell my own children years from now.  In them you'll become gladiators and princes and dragons and tools to teach lessons. You've taught me countless over the years, whether it be obscure latin phrases, the proper way to hug someone, or even the depths of my own strength and resilience. I'm so grateful for each and every moment.

It's taken me years to come out of my shell, so to speak, and I'm so glad I got to do so with y'all. 20 years from now we may have not spoken since graduation, or we might not even remember each other's names, but I'll always remember the smiles in the hallway and the feeling of solidarity in knowing that you're feeling the same things I am right now. Being a part of our class has meant the world to me. As the year goes by I hope we can continue to make memories to last a lifetime, and a legacy to last even longer.