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Media & Culture

Music

The artists I keep coming back to. A mix of hip-hop, alternative rock, and country that somehow makes perfect sense together.

Favorite Artists

Kid Cudi Favorite Hip-Hop / Alternative

Scott Mescudi is one of those artists who just gets it. His music is introspective, vulnerable, and unapologetically honest about mental health, loneliness, and finding yourself. He made it okay for hip-hop to be emotional.

Essential Albums

  • Man on the Moon: The End of Day (2009) — The one that started it all. "Day 'n' Nite," "Pursuit of Happiness"
  • Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager (2010) — Darker, deeper. "Mr. Rager," "Erase Me"
  • Kids See Ghosts (2018) — With Kanye. Short, powerful, transformative
  • Man on the Moon III: The Chosen (2020) — Full circle. Worth the wait

Why He Matters

Cudi paved the way for artists like Travis Scott, Juice WRLD, and countless others who blend hip-hop with raw emotional honesty. He talks openly about depression and anxiety in a genre that didn't always make space for that.

Portugal. The Man Favorite Alternative / Psychedelic Rock

These guys are criminally underrated. Started in Alaska, moved to Portland, and have been making some of the most creative rock music for nearly two decades. Every album sounds different but unmistakably them.

Essential Albums

  • In the Mountain in the Cloud (2011) — "So American," "Sleep Forever"
  • Evil Friends (2013) — Danger Mouse produced. "Purple Yellow Red and Blue," "Modern Jesus"
  • Woodstock (2017) — "Feel It Still" became massive, but the whole album is great
  • Chris Black Changed My Life (2022) — Experimental, ambitious, underrated

Why They Matter

They're not afraid to evolve. From early psychedelic stuff to polished alternative rock to experimental electronic sounds—they keep pushing without losing their identity. "Feel It Still" introduced them to the mainstream, but the deep cuts are where the magic is.

Morgan Wallen Favorite Country

Say what you want, but Morgan Wallen makes songs that stick. His voice is distinctive, his storytelling is genuine, and he bridges the gap between country, rock, and pop in a way that works.

Essential Albums

  • Dangerous: The Double Album (2021) — 30 tracks and somehow not one skip. "Wasted On You," "Sand In My Boots," "7 Summers"
  • One Thing at a Time (2023) — Another massive project. "Last Night," "Thought You Should Know"
  • If I Know Me (2018) — Where it started. "Whiskey Glasses," "Up Down"

Why He Works

There's authenticity there. The songs feel lived-in—heartbreak, small-town life, good times with friends. It's not trying to be anything other than what it is. Perfect for road trips, summer nights, and just vibing.

The Mix

Looking at this list—Kid Cudi, Portugal. The Man, Morgan Wallen—it's an eclectic mix that probably wouldn't make sense on paper. But that's the thing about music: it doesn't have to make sense. It just has to hit right.

Cudi for the introspective late nights. Portugal. The Man for the creative energy. Morgan Wallen for the good times. Each one fills a different space.

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