Kid Cudi's SNL Looks are the Epitome of Rock and Roll
The timeless, frequently reposted A Devil Wears Prada one-liner comes to mind when I consider Kid Cudi’s recent look on Saturday Night Live: “Florals? For Spring? Groundbreaking.” Meryl Streep’s perfectly executed sarcasm aside, the florals, in this case, were legitimately exactly that: groundbreaking.
This past Saturday, hip-hop's moon man graced the SNL stage for the standard two performances, paying tribute to Kurt Cobain through unique fashion statements — one bold, the other much bolder. It’s obvious Cudi’s 2016 tweet, “U cant is rock n roll caring what others think about you,” still rings true in 2021. Cudi has never been a stranger to polarizing clothing choices. He opened the door to “crop tops for dudes” when he donned an iconic red, midriff-baring top during his 2014 Coachella set. At the time, the look lit social media ablaze, and to this day remains proof that perhaps the cliché rings true: confidence is ultimately the best accessory.
He painted a beautiful picture of how much Cobain means to him as a human being and creator who faces similar demons.
For “Tequila Shots,” a “Man on the Moon III” cut, Cudi rocked a Cobain-inspired, pilly green cardigan, a colorful patterned button-up, ripped jeans, glittering Nikes, and a t-shirt honoring SNL’s late great Chris Farley. Cudi’s tributes add up — he’s no stranger to rock and roll or comedy culture. His 2012 album, “WZRD,” was the rapper’s first official venture into a full-length alt-rock project along with producer Dot Da Genius. On 2015’s “Speedin’ Bullet 2 Heaven” the rapper secured skits from animated comedy duo Beavis and Butthead. Again, on the Kanye collaborative album, “Kids See Ghosts”, the pair sampled Cobain’s “Burn the Rain” on the track “Cudi’s Montage.” The simple outfit, inspired by Nirvana’s notorious MTV “Unplugged” performance is a perfect representation of who Cudi is and will always be.
Cudi’s second performance of “Sad People” allowed his tribute to the Nirvana frontman to come full circle and during the week of the legend’s 27th death anniversary. After his second introduction from host Carey Mulligan, a veil of smoke cleared to reveal Cudi on the studio 8H stage in an Off/White spaghetti strap ankle-length gown, designed by Virgil Abloh and inspired yet again by Cobain, who frequently wore dresses. On the custom floral gown, Virgil says it was “specially reserved for Mr. Rager only.” Combined with Cudi melodically delivering the lyrics: “close call, life on the edge / ahh, when the time comes, I'll find peace / it's in the search of nights, I'm sittin' wishin' / I can find love in me / lettin' go, ooh, this ain't livin' / I swim in pain”, he painted a beautiful picture of how much Cobain means to him as a human being and creator who faces similar demons.
Cobain famously said, “Wearing a dress shows I can be as feminine as I want. I'm a heterosexual... big deal, but if I was a homosexual, it wouldn't matter, either.” Cudi’s decision to rock a floral dress was a courageous move that exemplified the importance of the freedom that comes with owning your identity. The dress’s nod to Cobain is powerful not only for undermining heteronormative gender norms and stereotypes but for what it represents in the landscape of hip-hop and rap. Cudi is one of the most vocal icons in the genre for his open discussions about mental health, depression, anxiety and even suicidal ideation. The rapper has always been an advocate for expressing emotions as vulnerable as these as a means of healing.
Kid Cudi continues to set a new standard. His daring statements through fashion, genre-bending, and raw lyrical vocality about mental health have opened the door to fellow cis-het male performers to don styles that might’ve previously been considered taboo. He consistently subverts the status quo through his artistry and every choice he’s made thus far embodies what true rock and roll look like — rebellion, fearlessness and most of all, autonomy.
