Reception Įmma Silvers of SF Weekly, called the song a 'self-aware 2009 party anthem - or chronicle of a person's thinking as they veer into a drunk and drugged out downward spiral, depending on how you spin it - is a pretty lonely song to begin with.' Chart performance In 2021, Cudi reworked the song into an acoustic rendition for Amazon’s Prime Day Show, released in June of that year. Also in May 2012, Kid Cudi received a nomination for Best Song from a Movie at the MTV Movie Awards, for the Steve Aoki remix to 'Pursuit of Happiness', being used in Project X. On May 1, 2012, an 'Extended Steve Aoki Remix' was released via digital distribution, such as iTunes and. In 2012, the remix was featured on the trailers for the comedy film Project X and was later included on the film's soundtrack. Steve Aoki released his remix on December 5, 2009.

Upon the song's release, American electro house DJ Steve Aoki, produced a remix of 'Pursuit of Happiness', which went on to become as popular as the original and became a staple at Aoki's concerts. Cudi later performed the song on September 23, 2009, on Jimmy Kimmel Live. The song made its US television debut on the Late Show with David Letterman on September 11, 2009.

The final version of the song was premiered on September 4, 2009, on the DJ Semtex BBC Radio 1 show. On the album, the track is titled ' Pursuit of Happiness (Nightmare)', following the album's dream sequence.

Lissie pursuit of happiness