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Mr. Rager

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"Mr. Rager"
Single by Kid Cudi
from the album Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager
ReleasedOctober 25, 2010
Recorded2010
Genre
Length4:56
LabelGOOD Music, Universal Motown
Songwriter(s)Scott Mescudi, Emile Haynie, Dion Wilson
Producer(s)Emile
Kid Cudi singles chronology
"Erase Me"
(2010) 		"Mr. Rager"
(2010) 		"Just What I Am"
(2012)
Audio sample
Music video
"Mr. Rager" on YouTube

"Mr. Rager" is a song written and recorded by American recording artist Kid Cudi, taken from his second studio album Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager (2010). The song, produced by Emile, was officially released as a digital download on October 25, 2010.

Background

Cudi took his persona of playing the part of a brooding loner several steps forward on his studio second studio album Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager (2009).[1] His sophomore effort contains a five-part narrative following a character who attempts to act like the hip-hop star he has since become. Hence, he plunges into a world of bravado and after-parties, with their never-ending supply of drugs and women.[1] In an interview with Complex magazine, Cudi shed light on the title track's meaning. He explained "Mr. Rager" is about someone who is tired with reality and looking for thrills and excitement by any means. Cudi said, "It's just kind of how I was feeling at that point. I was just so angry. Doing coke revived me, and knowing I was so close to death every time intrigued me. I liked the thought of it."[2] On October 20, 2010, Complex released a video for a shoot their cover story on where he continued explaining the concept of "Mr. Rager". He elaborated, "The whole 'Mr. Rager' thing is not really like a split personality, it is me. However, it's just kinda talking about a certain mind state I was in, a very destructive mind state, where I wasn't thinking clearly.[3]

"Mr. Rager" is a song with a meaning that is close to Kid Cudi.[2] His character embodies a battle between instinct and impulse, both good and bad, still coming to terms with.[2] The song's lyrics are about Cudi's battle with drugs, with lines referencing about almost overdosing one time.[4] Cudi acknowledged using cocaine during a Converse show back in July 2010, said he going to be around until he was "old as fuck" and apologized to his fans for letting them down down. Cudi said, "Every time I snap. I'm sitting there making songs like "Heart of a Lion" and talking about getting through anything, and rising up, and I'm up here snapping and letting people break my shell. I have to practice what I preach. I get strength, and the kids use it.[2] Cudi conceded that death was a recurring theme for him. He imparted, "...but I'm at a different point in my life, and I don't even like talking about that. I've been thinking positive and keeping my mind out of the clouds. You can't take things so seriously, but I gambled for a long time. Shit was intense, it was a journey."[2]

On December 26, 2011, Kid Cudi went on Tumblr to share an open letter written for one of his fans.[5] Ben Breedlove, an 18-year-old internet personality from Austin, Texas, had died on Christmas Day due to a heart condition.[5] In one of his viral videos, the late Ben Breedlove, relayed a message about his near-death experiences and visions of heaven, stating that "Mr. Rager" was his favorite song.[6] He had battled with the disease hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) his entiere life.[7] Nearly one week before his passing, Breedlove shared his personal story with viewers through YouTube in a touching two-part video series. He narrated his life experience with HCM by means of writings on index cards. They imparted his hopes, dreams and fears concerning life, death and the heart condition that would ultimately take his life on Christmas Day.[7] Beginning when he was 4-years-old, Breedlove's heart condition sent him into cardiac arrest three times prior to the attack that killed him.[8] His latter memory involved passing out in school and paramedics trying to revive him. Ben's heart ceased beating and he stopped breathing for three minutes. During that time he saw a vision of Kid Cudi, who was his favorite rapper.[5] In his vision, Breedlove found himself recalling lyrics to "Mr. Rager": "When will the fantasy end/when will the heaven begin."[7] A memoir about Ben Breedlove, written by his sister Ally Breedlove, was released in October 2013. The memoir's title was When Will the Heaven Begin?, taken from the line in the song.[9]

Recording

The recording sessions for "Mr. Rager" took place at Nightbird Studios at The Sunset Marquis, California and Avex Studios in Honolulu, Hawaii. The track was mixed at Larrabee Studios in Los Angeles, California.[10] The song as well as its studio album, Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager musically and thematically expands on what Cudi had previously built, but with a closer look into his life.[11][1] The record experiments with crossover music, boasting flashes of rock guitars alongside marching production.[1][12] Alongside guitar, the track features low bass, electro flourishes and ticking percussion.[13][14] Regarding the song, Cudi stated, [The track] is very important to me… it made me switch the whole theme on my album. It was time to show off another side of me — a side that’s more aggressive."[13] Both the writing and recording of "Mr. Rager" was influenced by Cudi's former addiction to cocaine.[15] He made his first attempted to record the title track around 2010. However, he could not hit the high notes. so he decide to quit and try the song again months later.[15] 

Composition

"Mr. Rager" is an arena anthem tinged with rock guitars that runs for four minutes and fifty-six.[16][1] The ghostly, hypnotic musical arrangement is driven by a teasing, descending guitar riff .[17][18][16] An epic slow-jam, it has a glimmery, ticking background underscored with low bass and guitar.[17][4][14][19]They are anthemic in nature, with Cudi intoning lines in a sing-a-long manner.[16][11] The track features a repeated hook, with Cudi wailing: "Mr. Raaggggeeerrrrrrrrrrrr."[13][15]

The song’s lyrics address death, escapism and the quest for excitement.[4] "Mr. Rager" acts a dark, foreboding theme song in which Cudi magines himself an anti-heroic role model telling kids about his adventures.[13][14][17] From the perspective of his errant title character, he softly about envy of the birds just "singin’, flyin’ around."[16] Mr. Rager is a tall imposing figure who, upon being released from worldly restrictions, sets off on a cryptic journey.[20][12] Upon asking their enigmatic anti-hero: "Mr. Rager, tell me some of your stories," a warped voice mysteriously replies, "I’m off on an adventure," to which Cudi pleads, "Can we tag along?".[20] Cudi sings to himself, pleading, "Tell me where you’re going…when will the fantasy end?"[14] His lyrics ambivalently allude to rapture and death, singing, "I’m on my way to heaven."[14]

Critical reception

Rolling Stone writers Steve Appleford, Matt Diehl and Gavin Edwards called the song an "infectious hit" and found it emotional.[21] Simon Vozick-Levinson for Entertainment Weekly cites "Mr. Rager" as one of the best songs from Man on the Moon II. He commented, "Eight-minute epic Mr. Rager, his spooky theme song.[17] Within the album’s context, Spin's Charles Aaron remarked, "'Mr. Rager,' a would-be arena anthem with a teasing guitar riff that never ascends, is the ingenious anticlimax."[16] William Goodman, from the same publication, claimed that "the dark soul jam featured sinister electro flourishes, clacking percussion, and a repeated hook about partying too much — "Mr. Raaggggeeerrrrrrrrrrrr" — that could find its way into the heads of rap fans worldwide."[13] Jon Pareles from The New York Times likened the song's "ticking, tinkly foreboding" background to "Money" by Pink Floyd.[14] Chicago Tribune critic Greg Kot stated, "The music struts (and flirts with crossover acceptance, ala OutKast or West)."[1] 

Respect. claimed that Cudi brought on a classic with "Mr. Rager ".[22] Robby Seabrook of XXL considered "Mr. Rager" one of the tracks from Man on the Moon II which are key to his career. He praised the song for its "sing-a-long factor and embodiment of Cudi's ethos."[11] Ian Servantes of The Red Bull Music Academy deemed "Mr. Rager" Cudi’s second best song. He stated, "Mr. Rager is an alter ego just as necessary for Scott Mescudi as he is for us. Unbound by earthly shackles, he’s off on a journey cryptic enough for anyone to project their own destination. ... It’s an intoxicating message, an inspiring decree, made only more enticing by the march of Emile’s production."[12] Andy Bustard from The Boombox described the song as the parent album's "glimmering and wondrous centerpiece." He stated, "'Mr. Rager' is naturally a Kid Cudi song that resonates deeply with a lot of people. Just take the story of Ben Breedlove, a teenager diagnosed with a severe heart condition who had a vision of hearing 'Mr. Rager' and meeting Kid Cudi, who he believed was his angel. That right there epitomizes the impact Scott Mescudi, and this song, has on peoples' lives.[4] Calling the song "strangely hypnotic," Billboard's Jason Lipshutz regards "Mr. Rager" as one song from Cudi’s interim period that deserved more attention than it received.[18]

Music video

Kid Cudi first spoke of the music video on March 5, 2011, via his Twitter feed, when he announced: "[the] maniac horror short will be released on halloween, rager short this summer, marijuana video this spring. I got you guys, no worries."[23]

The music video for "Mr. Rager" was directed by Jeremie Rozan of Surface to Air Studios.[24] Rozan had been behind the EMA-winning video for Justice x Simian's "We are Your Friends".[24] Kid Cudi collaborated with his studio's fashion line  to create an exclusive line of jackets.[24] His video screened at Surface to Air’s Fashion Night Out Party in New York on September 8, 2011.[24] It debuted on a Thursday afternoon, almost ten months after the release of his second studio album.[24] The video arrived in support of the new line of jackets by Kid Cudi’s clothing boutique Surface to Air.[25]

The music video for "Mr. Rager" took the form of a six-minute short film.[24][25] It displays Cudi fighting his way through hordes of gritty yet gritty yet well-dressed gang members.[24] Situated in a post-apocalypic life, Cudi engages in battle with a gang of violent psychopaths.[25] For a time, Cudi performs quite well for himself and lands a myriad of blows against his opponent; until he's gutted by his evil doppelganger.[25] 

Live performance

Kid Cudi provided a live rendition of "Mr. Rager" during a concert held at the University of Illinois’ Assembly Hall in Champaign, Illinois. The concert was the second stop on a mini-tour of colleges leading up to the release of his third studio album, Indicud.[19] The emotional performance was accompanied by audiences holding lighter.[19] 

Cudi performed "Mr. Rager" for a set held at Barclays Center in Brooklyn during his extended his fall "Cudi Life Tour" on March 22, 2015. A few of his prior shows from the tour had been cancelled and rescheduled due to his illness.[15] Cudi performed atop a stage that featured a prickly, frigid-looking cave. He wore his "Satellite Academy Space Suit," a matte grey neck-to-toe 'fit is that is of a variant of Iron Man’s uniform.[15] After a groaning rendition of "Soundtrack 2 My Life", Cudi closed the song with a brief story about his cocaine addiction and how it negatively affected his singing years ago. He then segued into "Mr. Rager," during which Cudi wailed the song's chorus and humorously said, "Say no to coke!"[15]

Kid Cudi gave a live performance of "Mr. Rager" before a crowd of 90,000 fans for the annual Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, in the Coachella Valley in the Colorado Desert.[21] With a grin on his face, Cudi leaped across the stage and sang the song wearing a red cut-off T-shirt matching his microphone. He cheerfully told the audience, "Let's get through this, I want to go catch MGMT after this."[21] His performance was cited as one of the fifty greatest moments of Coachella by Rolling Stone staffers, who labeled him, "Happiest First-Timer."[21] They wrote, "It's one of the Coachella rituals: performers from Los Angeles announce how many years they attended the festival as fans before they got tapped to play, while first-timers from out of town declare how excited they are to be there. But nobody seemed happier to be making his Coachella debut than Kid Cudi."[21]

Legacy

"The next thing that happened, I'm not sure if it was a dream, or vision, but while I was still unconscious I was in this white room. No walls, it just went on and on...There was no sound. But that same peaceful feeling I had when I was 4. I was wearing a really nice suit and so was my fav rapper, Kid Cudi. Why he was the only one there with me, I'm still trying to figure out [sic] ... [5] ... Kid Cudi brought me to a glass desk and put his hand on my shoulder. Right then my favorite song of his came on, 'Mr. Rager.' The part where it said 'When will the Fantasy end ... When will the heaven begin?' And he said, 'Go Now.' Right then, I woke up and the EMS were performing CPR. I didn't want to leave that place. I wish I never woke up."[26] 

—Ben Breedlove in his YouTube video farewell, on index cards.

American internet personality Ben Breedlove died from his life-long heart condition shortly after making a YouTube tribute to Kid Cudi.[26] According to ABC News, he passed away on Christmas night at the age of 18 from a heart attack.[27] ABC News reported Ben Breedlove suffered from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a condition that makes it hard for his heart to pump blood and causes part of the heart to thicken.[27][6] Kid Cudi, who Breedlove had said came to him in a vision during YouTube videos he posted before his death, was among the millions touched by his memory.[7] Upon coming across Breedlove's story, Cudi was moved by his strength.[5] Cudi broke down after watching the two-part YouTube video the young fan posted.[26] Shortly afterward, Kid Cudi wrote a heartfelt letter on Tumblr dedicated to Ben Breedlove expressing his condolences.[5][6]

On December 18, 2011, Breedlove posted a sequence of YouTube videos in which he used notecards to describe the three times that he "cheated death."[27] Breedlove's words were written in bold black ink. They imparted his hopes, dreams and fears about life, death and the heart condition.[7] Over the course of the videos, Breedlove recalled his brushes with death at the age of 4, another in 2007 and once more on December 6, 2011.[5]  During the videos, he explained that the third occasion happened in early December after passing out at school. As paramedics worked to revive him, Breedlove said he had a vision of Kid Cudi, whom he idolized.[27][5] Alongside Cudi appearing to him, "Mr. Rager" played, which is his favorite song.[27] He wrote, "Why he was the only one there with me, I'm still trying to figure out." At the end of the vision, according to Breedlove, Kid Cudi told him, "Go on."[27] He wrote that vision came to him on December 6 as he was being resuscitated after collapsing in the hallways of his high school.[7][26] Breedlove’s saw Kid Cudi in a bright white room where there seemed to be no sound or walls, and both were dressed in suits.[6][5][26] Breedlove describes a sense of overwhelming calm, a peaceful feeling which last experienced at the age of 4 during a life-threatening seizure.[26][5] The messages of his handwritten index cards were read by more well over a million people.[7]

Ally Breedlove (pictured) co-authored a memoir of the life of her brother Ben titled When Will the Heaven Begin?, named after a lyric from "Mr. Rager.[8]

Ben's sister Ally Breedlove has written a book about the life of her brother in which she remembers the visions of heaven he experienced.[28][8] The book is entitled When Will the Heaven Begin?, named after a lyric from Cudi song, which Ben said he heard when he saw heaven.[8] After leaving college to work on the book, Ally interviewed friends and family, including her parents, Shawn and Deanne, as well as her younger brother, Jake. Ally was assisted in writing by co-author Ken Abraham, whom she calls a "mentor." She reflected on her time with her brother and celebrated his life. Ally shared stories of Ben's struggle with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy as well as his love of wake-boarding, pranks and pop music.[8] She revealed one of her most poignant memories she had with Ben was the conversation regarding what he called his "vision" in the YouTube video, about observing seeing when he was in cardiac arrest.[8] Ally imparted, "Ben told me when we were sitting on the dock [at their house on Lake Austin]. Ben was never serious, he was always joking around. But I could hear in his voice and see in his facial expression how earnest he was when he said to me, 'I call this a dream or a vision because I don't know how else to describe it. But I was awake.'"[8] When Will the Heaven Begin? reached the top ten on The New York Times Best Seller list beginning the first week of its release date.[28] Her memoir follows other best-selling releases of spiritual books about heaven, including Heaven Is for Real by Todd Burpo, Proof of Heaven by Eben Alexander and To Heaven and Back by Mary Neal.[8] However, Ally Breedlove, who herself believes in heaven, says she has no religious agenda.[8] She said, "I am really just trying to stay true to the message in Ben's video. He wasn't trying to convince anyone of anything. He simply told his story. He said, 'This is what I've experienced. This is what I've felt throughout my life. These are the things that were so real to me and this is the profound peace I felt. This is my story.'"[8]

Charts

Charts Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100[29] 77

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Kot, Greg (November 5, 2010). "Review: Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on November 6, 2010. Retrieved November 6, 2010.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Kid Cudi: Mad Man On The Moon (2010 Cover Story)". Complex. 17 September 2010. Retrieved 2011-10-05.
  3. ^ "Kid Cudi Talks "Man On The Moon II: The Legend Of Mr. Rager" Album (VIDEO)" (Video), Complex, October 20, 2010, retrieved 2011-10-05
  4. ^ a b c d Bustard, Andy (2014-03-04). "Best Kid Cudi Songs". TheBoombox. Retrieved 2017-09-15.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Cline, Georgette (2011-12-29). "Kid Cudi, Ben Breedlove: Rapper Cries Over Fan's Death". The BoomBox. Retrieved 2015-03-08.
  6. ^ a b c d Venutolo, Anthony (January 9, 2012) [December 29, 2011]. "Rapper Kid Cudi acknowledges late teen Ben Breedlove". The Star-Ledger.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g Schwartz, Alison (2011-12-29). "Ben Breedlove Is Kid Cudi's Hero". The BoomBox. Retrieved 2015-03-08.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Deutsch, Lindsay (October 31, 2013). "Sister writes about her brother's vision of heaven". USA Today. David Hunke. Retrieved 2015-03-08.
  9. ^ "When Will the Heaven Begin?: This Is Ben Breedlove's Story". Penguingroup.com. Pearson PLC. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  10. ^ Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager (CD liner notes). Kid Cudi. Universal Motown Records. 2010. 46803-7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. ^ a b c Seabrook III, Robby (April 29, 2020). "Best Hip-Hop Projects From 2010". XXL. Townsquare Media. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  12. ^ a b c Servantes, Ian (2017-03-31). "12 Best Kid Cudi Songs". Red Bull. Retrieved 2017-09-13.
  13. ^ a b c d e Goodman, William (2010-07-21). "Live in NYC: Kid Cudi, Best Coast, Vampire Weekend". Spin. Retrieved 2017-11-30.
  14. ^ a b c d e f Pareles, Jon (November 8, 2010). "Review: Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 11, 2010. Retrieved November 8, 2010.
  15. ^ a b c d e f Wete, Brad (2016-12-12). "Kid Cudi Brings 'Cud Life Tour' & A$AP Rocky to Brooklyn: Live Review". Billboard. Retrieved 2014-03-23.
  16. ^ a b c d e Aaron, Charles (October 21, 2010). "Review: Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager". Spin. Archived from the original on December 10, 2010. Retrieved November 6, 2010.
  17. ^ a b c d Vozick-Levinson, Simon (November 3, 2010). "Review: Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved November 6, 2010.
  18. ^ a b Billboard Staff (May 5, 2020). "Five Burning Questions: Travis Scott and Kid Cudi's Hot 100 No. 1 Debut as 'THE SCOTTS'". Billboard. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  19. ^ a b c Hyman, Dan (2013-03-31). "Kid Cudi Opens Up On College Tour". Rolling Stone. Jann Wenner. Retrieved 2018-08-04.
  20. ^ a b Beaumont, Mark (November 5, 2010). "Review: Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager". NME. Archived from the original on November 11, 2010. Retrieved November 8, 2010.
  21. ^ a b c d e Hyman, Dan (April 14, 2014). "50 Best Things We Saw at Coachella 2014". Rolling Stone. Jann Wenner. Retrieved 2018-08-04.
  22. ^ RESPECT. Staff (2014-03-03). "Album Review: Kid Cudi – SATELLITE FLIGHT: The Journey To Mother Moon". Respect. Retrieved 2014-03-14.
  23. ^ Mescudi, Scott (5 March 2011). "Tweet". Twitter. maniac horror short will be released on halloween, rager short this summer, marijuana video this spring. i got you guys, no worries
  24. ^ a b c d e f g "Kid Cudi Drops 'Mr. Rager' Video". MTV News. September 8, 2011. Archived from the original on November 4, 2016. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
  25. ^ a b c d Coplanon, Chris (2011-09-08). "Video: Kid Cudi – "Mr. Rager"". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  26. ^ a b c d e f Sacks, Ethan (2019-12-29). "Kid Cudi responds to Ben Breedlove's video farewell shortly before teen fan died from heart condition". New York Daily News. Mortimer Zuckerman. Retrieved 2015-03-08.
  27. ^ a b c d e f Hughes, Sarah Anne (2011-12-29). "Kid Cudi pens letter to fan who passed away from heart condition". The Washington Post. Katharine Weymouth. Retrieved 2015-03-08.
  28. ^ a b Taylor, Ihsan (2013-11-24). "Paperback Nonfiction Books - Best Sellers - Nov. 24, 2013". The New York Times. Arthur Ochs Sulzberger, Jr. Retrieved 2015-03-08.
  29. ^ "Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr.Rager – Billboard Singles". allmusic by Rovi. Retrieved 25 November 2012.
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