Kid Cudi has shared his affection for herbal refreshment in the mind-tripping music video for “Day ‘N’ Nite” and filled his hotel room up with smoke in the silly clip for “Cudderisback”, but his alternate vid for “Pursuit of Happiness” takes his love of bud (and other mind-altering hallucinogens) to the extreme. If the track’s first video was much more of a hoppin’ party (hey, even Drake was invited to the soiree!), Cudi’s take two of “Happiness” is the sleepy comedown when the hangover starts to hit. Reminiscent of a Michel Gondry brain-twister, the clip is one hell of a hazy fantasy, and it’s not to be missed. Check it out after the jump.

Unfortunately there’s no MGMT appearance in the vid (maybe they were too busy riding the waves on acid while conceiving their latest cover art), but Ratatat shows up to slay a guitar solo from the inside of Kid Cudi’s couch. Yes, you heard us right—the inside of Kid Cudi’s couch. Just watch it below and it will all make sense (or not).

Kid Cudi feat. MGMT and Ratatat – “Pursuit of Happiness” (alternate video)

The clip, helmed by Antville’s 2009 Director of the Year Megaforce, comes freighted with a bit of controversy. This “alternate” version is evidently the first filmed for the single, but was scrapped in favor of the Josh Hartnett version. The Megaforce camp tweeted late last year that it was “angry and disappointed in Kid Cudi” (in a tweet since removed) but now it appears their differences have been settled, at least to the degree necessary for their version to see the light of day. And now everybody wins.

Although the original clip made us want to raise our champagne flutes in the air and get toasted with Cudder, this one raises the bar and actually gives us the light-headed feeling of what it must be like chillaxin’ on his couch in a smoke-enhanced state of mind. Plus, we really want that sweater made of munchies.

With his own collection of creative and eye-catching clips and the ones he’s simply featured in (like Dan Black’s cinematic “Symphonies” remix), Kid Cudi is becoming synonmous with quality videos. Who knew Kanye West could be such a good influence?