In between shooting of the second season of How to Make it in America and the “Cud Life Tour”, Kid Cudi has just dropped three new hits: Perfect is the Word, the Marijuana music video and a teaser/trailer for the upcoming “Maniac” short film.

Late May 30th, Cudi tweeted “tomorrow, be ready”. Speculation flew. The sun had sank, rose and was slowly sinking again when Cudi finally announced that 10 PM would be the debut.

After a short delay, the big surprise came. Those who guessed the first single from “2 Be Continuum”—the newly formed rock band between the Lonely Stoner and Dot Da Genius—were correct. The track is titled Perfect is the Word (download) and is unlike anything most have heard before: a mix of rock, electronica and pop with some subtleties like violins that are recognized only after multiple replays. Dedicated fans had a preview of the song on ustream months ago, but Perfect is the Word is the first indication of what the “Wizard rock album” will sound like.

Mixed responses followed. Response ranged from “sooooo Fuckn Dope!!! A Fuckin Legend!!!!!” to “a little different, but its cudi what’d you expect? he keep pushin the line of music” and then there were the just plain harsh ones like “this song is a piece of shit.”

Cudi took the comments in stride though, tweeting “Peaceeeee, see yall tomoro. Jam out, more to come! Love to those who love me unconditionally, forever.”

More certainly did come. On June 1, the Marijuana music video arrived. The video is documentary-styled and follows Cudi around Amsterdam during the “2010 Cannabis Cup”. In the film, expect to see Kid Cudi smoke more than his fair share of weed while he wanders through Amsterdam street’s, the Red Light District and more. Director Shia LaBeouf (yes, the one from Transformers) adds hazier elements to video with his jittery camera work.

The four and a half minute adventure to Cudi’s “higher state” is set to rock inspired Marijuana from his sophomore album. The video has brought into question Kid Cudi’s statement made earlier this year that he no longer smokes weed. However, the video was shot in late 2010, long before the start of his drug free lifestyle. So with this video, the Lonely Stoner offers a tribute to the mystifying green leaf.

Cudi confronted mixed reviews head on with a lengthy tumblr post:

I love the mixed reviews on the new jam, when they aint talkin about you then its a problem ha Im pleased with this new project and no negative write up or comment will make me feel any different. Not everyone will like what you do, known fact. All that matters is I LIKE what I DO, i have fun doing it and I got enough riders and believers that love me and support my artistic vision and thats more than I could’ve ever asked for. “If you dont like the new direction, cool. It cost you nothing, pay me no mind! Ima proceed as scheduled, cause I can.

@WizardCud, Cudi’s (unverified) twitter account, has been going crazy over the past two days, trending three times. And as Cudi says “Not fucking around as you can see, Cudder Season”. Cudi then dropped a trailer (more of a teaser) for his upcoming “Maniac” short film. The trailer shows what appears to be the Cleveland streets on a cloudy, snowy winter day. The camera—once again controlled by Shia LaBeouf—passes over several houses and then a single house that is on fire. As the camera continues to pan, Cudi and Dot Da Genius come on to screen. It ends with a shot of half of Cudi’s face, half of Dot Da Genius’ face and the date “10.31.11”. Suggesting that the short film will arrive Halloween 2011.

Cudi explains the video further in a recent tumblr post:

MANIAC is a short film inspired by the song. It is not a music video and it has no reference to the song content. It will be scored by Dot and I as a film with all new music. Directed By Shia LaBeouf for Grassy Slope and Ragin4Dayz Productions.