Summer

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I'm a man in the wild and the wild is the best. 

My intentions all summer have certainly been this. 

-Kid Cudi

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This is the second year of Converse's 3 Artists 1 Song series and they've struck gold the second time around. While last year's lineup of Santigold, Pharrell and Julian Casablancas from the Strokes  might have looked more stellar on paper, the song itself didn't live up to the storm that the lineup unintentionally built up. Google it to find out for yourself but I'm just saying don't bother, this song right here is truly something else and that's not just my love for Kid Cudi coming on strong. BUT he does rise this song above from being just another hazy lo fi cute kid lost his glasses at the beach sounding romp that Pitchfork nuts all over. While Pitchfork uses words and explanations to try and wrangle out the true meaning out of moments that touch the Heart & Mind with, the most enlightening experiences are always a feeling and that involves no thinking at all. No calculating, comparing, contrasting, competing, analyzing or summarizing anything at all. It's just about simply Being. Cudi always tries his best to translate that feel right there across in his music and I absolutely love it. Don't jump all over me for this but on a very related note, do drugs always have to be in the picture when speaking of feeling Life's truly important moments? Not at all. Let's be real clear: by themselves, not ever no never. Are drugs way more often than not used as an attempt to touch something real? Absolutely. But what if in conjunction with glimpsing something truly of beauty and not as an end to itself? That's up for you to decide. While considering the fact that everything less than best detracts, all you have to do is think of the moments that you would most want to be taken above and beyond yourself, overwhelmed by joy? Watching your favorite song being played? A roof top terrace overlooking the Mediterranean? Seeing the sun set behind a sand dune? Mountain peaks? Peering off the top of the Hilton Chicago at the world below? Strange places with the best of friends? Cudi's on a beach with his newest best friends and loving it and summer and all its splendor. Love is being overstimulated in joy, whatever the means. Immerse yourself in love. Best give the song a play too, no doubt about it. 

Kid Cudi + Rostam Batmanglij + Best Coast- All Summer