Kid Cudi

• 1. Introduction

  ›

  Kid Cudi was born Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi in Cleveland on the 30th of January 1984. One day, while he was working at the BAPE store in New York, Kanye West came in and bought a few jackets. Cudi had forgotten to remove a security sensor from one of them. He had to run out of the shop to catch West before he left. Cudi later recalled, "Pretty funny me chasing after him in SoHo."

  Within a few years, that customer was his mentor, and Cudi was an artist the music press told readers to watch. He has since sold over 22 million units in the United States and won two Grammy Awards. He works as a rapper, singer, songwriter, producer, actor and fashion designer.

  How did a young man from the Cleveland suburbs, with little else to his name, become a major force in music? Why do his songs about loneliness and depression matter so much to the people who hear them? Why did he later walk away from the label of the man he once chased down the street? And how did one musician end up in studios, on film sets and on runways?

  1723182235

• 2. Cleveland Roots

  ›

  Shaker Heights and Solon, two suburbs of Cleveland, are where Scott Mescudi grew up. He had two older brothers, Domingo and Dean, and an older sister named Maisha. His mother, Elsie Harriet, taught choir at Roxboro Middle School in Cleveland Heights. His father, Lindberg Styles Mescudi, worked as a house painter and a substitute teacher. He was also a World War II Air Force veteran of African-American and Mexican descent.

  At the age of 11, Cudi lost his father to cancer. That loss left a deep mark on his personality and, later, on his music.

  Two years at Shaker Heights High School were followed by a transfer to Solon High School. Solon expelled him for threatening to punch the principal, and he went on to earn his GED. The University of Toledo gave him a year of film studies before he dropped out. His next idea was to join the Navy, but his juvenile police record ended that plan.

  The Pharcyde and A Tribe Called Quest, two alternative hip-hop groups, inspired his first attempts at rapping. A demo tape he recorded in 2002 and 2003 under the name Kid Mesc, titled Rap Hard, leaked online in November 2011. Cudi wrote on Twitter, "I actually never wanted anyone to hear those songs ever, but its cool. Ha"

  1723242285

• 3. New York Beginnings

  ›

  Five hundred dollars and a demo tape were all Cudi carried when he left Cleveland in 2005. He moved in with his uncle, the accomplished jazz drummer Kalil Madi, in the South Bronx. He later shared a Brooklyn apartment with his friend and collaborator Dot da Genius.

  In 2006, inside a Virgin Megastore, Cudi spotted a pendant gleaming at the edge of his vision. He told SPIN in 2009, "I was looking at CDs, saw the gleam of a Jesus piece in the right side of my eye, looked up, and it was Kanye West." Cudi introduced himself and offered West some of his music.

  During 2007, the song "Day 'n' Nite" began appearing on several music blogs after Cudi first posted it on his MySpace page. West's then-manager Plain Pat brought the song to West's attention. West then signed Cudi to his GOOD Music imprint.

  In July 2008, Cudi released his first mixtape, A Kid Named Cudi, as a free download with the New York street-wear brand 10.Deep. Plain Pat and Emile Haynie executive produced it. A 2013 article in The BoomBox noted that Cudi rapped and sang over samples and interpolations of Gnarls Barkley, Paul Simon, Band of Horses, J Dilla, Nosaj Thing, N.E.R.D. and Outkast. The article said he blended indie rock, electronica and dubstep with hip-hop before Drake broke through with So Far Gone in 2009.

  West's own 2008 album, 808s & Heartbreak, leaned heavily on Cudi. West first asked him to reference hooks for Jay-Z, and in the studio they moved from The Blueprint 3 to 808s & Heartbreak. Cudi received co-writing credits or vocals on "Heartless", "Welcome to Heartbreak", "Paranoid" and "RoboCop". "Heartless" and "Paranoid" were released as singles, and "Welcome to Heartbreak" peaked at number 87 on the Pop 100.

  West credited Cudi's sound with inspiring the record. He said the two were "the originators of the style, kinda like what Alexander McQueen is to fashion.... Everything else is just Zara and H&M." Cudi made his first television appearance at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards, alongside Travis Barker and DJ AM.

  1716283544

• 4. Man on the Moon

  ›

  XXL magazine's 2009 Freshman Class put Cudi on its cover beside Asher Roth, Wale, B.o.B, Charles Hamilton, Cory Gunz, Blu, Mickey Factz, Ace Hood and Curren$y. Rolling Stone, Vibe, The Source, XXL and the BBC News Sound of 2009 poll all flagged him as one to watch. On the 19th of February 2009, Cudi joined West on BET's 106 & Park to debut the video for "Day 'n' Nite".

  Man on the Moon: The End of Day came out on the 15th of September 2009 on Universal Motown Records. It sold 104,419 copies in its first week and charted at number four. Common narrates the album. "Make Her Say", originally titled "I Poke Her Face", samples Lady Gaga's "Poker Face" and features West and Common.

  In January 2010, "Pursuit of Happiness", featuring MGMT and Ratatat, became the album's third single. It later went platinum and, in December 2022, reached diamond status, which means 10 million units. The album itself was certified quadruple platinum. Cudi earned three Grammy nominations at the 2010 ceremony, for "Day 'n' Nite" and "Make Her Say".

  On the 20th of April 2010, Cudi announced that his second album would be a direct sequel, Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager. It replaced an earlier plan for a compilation called Cudder and the Revolution of Evolution. The album came out on the 9th of November 2010 and debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 with 169,000 first-week copies. Its lead single, "Erase Me", features West and was produced by Jim Jonsin.

  On the 11th of June 2010, Cudi was arrested in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan. He was charged with felony criminal mischief and possession of a controlled substance. He was released and still reached Bonnaroo, in Manchester, Tennessee, in time to play. That year he also lent his voice to the remake of the charity single "We Are the World", recorded for the 25th anniversary and to benefit Haiti after the earthquake.

  3334355057

• 5. Vulnerability and Sound

  ›

  In March 2014, Cudi put his goal into words: "my mission statement since day one … all I wanted to do was help kids not feel alone, and stop committing suicide." His lyrics are often autobiographical. They describe childhood depression, loneliness and alienation, as well as a struggle with drugs in adulthood, spirituality, heartbreak and celebration. Kris Ex of Billboard wrote in 2015 that "he's always been an emotional artist, dealing with expansive and nebulous feelings in acute and often destructive ways."

  A vlogger named Ben Breedlove mentioned Cudi in a viral video about his near-death experiences in late 2011. Breedlove died on the 26th of December 2011. Cudi wrote on his Tumblr blog, "this is why I do what I do. Why I write my life, and why I love you all so much."

  On the 24th of April 2014, Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services honored Cudi as a mental health advocate at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles. He performed at their annual Erasing the Stigma Leadership Awards.

  One writer described his style as "an atmospheric take on melodic rap, with a dollop of charming, off-key singing." He is known for harmonizing and humming. On WZRD and Speedin' Bullet 2 Heaven he used screamed vocals, and he yodels on Passion, Pain & Demon Slayin'. In 2021, speaking for The Hollywood Reporter's Songwriter's Roundtable, he called his music "space punk rock".

  In 2011, Cudi's manager gave him a guitar, and he taught himself to play it. He is also a self-taught producer. On the television show The Shop in 2021, he said that on early albums he wrote whole verses. For Kids See Ghosts and Man on the Moon III he adopted West's method instead. He records a reference track, freestyling and humming over the beat to find a melody, then fills in lyrics as they arrive.

  Snoop Dogg is Cudi's favorite rapper, and he told Complex in 2012 that Doggystyle, from 1993, is one of his favorite albums. He has also cited the Notorious B.I.G., Tupac, Jay-Z, Run-DMC and N.W.A, plus fellow Ohio native Camu Tao. When he began experimenting with rock in 2010, he looked to Electric Light Orchestra, Jimi Hendrix, Nirvana, the Pixies and Pink Floyd. David Bowie is a "huge inspiration". His four favorite producers are Dr. Dre, Swizz Beatz, Timbaland and West.

  During his 2013 tour, Cudi wore a custom astronaut-style outfit designed by the Hollywood costume designer Jose Hernandez. It was dubbed the "Satellite Academy Space Suit". Joe La Puma of Complex wrote that the suit "represents a transition in his mind-state back to the highly anticipated Man on the Moon III."

  39112110

• 6. Going Independent

  ›

  On the 26th of February 2011, Cudi announced on Twitter that his label Dream On had been dissolved. He had launched it in 2009 alongside his managers at the time, Patrick "Plain Pat" Reynolds and Emile Haynie. Dream On released the first two Man on the Moon albums. Cudi told Complex, "I wanted to try something new, and I wanted to take control of things myself." He added that he would call Pat and Emile when work started on Man on the Moon III.

  In October 2010, Cudi had announced a rock band with Dot da Genius, tentatively called Wizard. In April 2011, onstage at New York's Roseland Ballroom, he launched a new label, Wicked Awesome Records, and renamed the band 2 Be Continuum. He explained, "I needed something more original, something different, but it's still wizardry at its finest." On the 18th of November 2011, he renamed it a second time, as WZRD.

  Cudi said that sobriety left him with writer's block for almost five months, longer than anything he had faced before. WZRD includes a cover of "Where Did You Sleep Last Night?", which Nirvana recorded after Lead Belly's version of a traditional folk song. The self-titled album came out on the 28th of February 2012. It debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 66,000 copies and topped the Top Rock Albums and Top Alternative Albums charts.

  On the 25th of April 2012, Cudi returned to rapping with "Dennis, Hook Me Up with Some More of That Whiskey!". It was the first song he produced entirely by himself. That summer he tweeted, "My new album is entitled indicud, it will be my version of The Chronic 2001, some songs i'll produce, others i'll feat &/or play songwriter". Its lead single, "Just What I Am", features King Chip. The video, shot in Los Angeles with fans invited to take part, marked Cudi's directorial debut. Michael Bolton and ASAP Rocky were confirmed as guests.

  On the 2nd of April 2013, Cudi told listeners of Power 106 that he was no longer under GOOD Music. He said he left on good terms, and that West respected the decision and would always be "big brother". He wanted to focus on Wicked Awesome Records and on King Chip. After Indicud leaked on the 9th of April, Cudi moved its release up to the 16th of April. It debuted at number two, moving 140,000 copies. For the Cud Life Tour 2013, Big Sean, Tyler, The Creator and Logic joined him as supporting acts.

  78889793

• 7. Long Orbit

  ›

  Only a few hours of notice preceded the release of Satellite Flight: The Journey to Mother Moon on the 25th of February 2014. Cudi had first described it as an EP, then said on the 27th of January 2014 that it would be a full album. It arrived exclusively at digital retailers and debuted at number four on the Billboard 200 with 87,000 copies. Cudi told MTV News, "I've never done two albums within a year of each other." Critics were cool toward it and its follow-up.

  In January 2015, Cudi told an audience at the Sundance Film Festival, "there may be an album before that just to tide you over." He meant Speedin' Bullet 2 Heaven, which was set for the 4th of December 2015. On the 1st of December 2015, he cancelled his Especial Tour, citing production and personal issues. In an April 2016 Billboard interview, he said, "the Speedin' Bullet response tore me up. It made me realize what's most important."

  On the 11th of May 2016, Cudi revealed on Instagram that his sixth album would be Passion, Pain & Demon Slayin'. Its tracklist, shared on the 26th of September 2016, included guests Travis Scott, André 3000, Pharrell Williams and Willow Smith. It came out digitally on the 16th of December 2016, with a physical release a week later. After a rift between Cudi and West, West made an offer of peace. The two released Kids See Ghosts as a duo on the 8th of June 2018.

  On the 24th of April 2020, Cudi and Travis Scott, billed as the Scotts, released "The Scotts". It debuted atop the Billboard Hot 100, Cudi's first number-one hit in the United States. In July 2020, Cudi's daughter Vada announced a song with Eminem, "The Adventures of Moon Man & Slim Shady". It came out on the 10th of July 2020 and debuted in the Billboard Hot 100 top 40.

  Cudi posted a teaser for Man on the Moon III on the 26th of October 2020. He confirmed the title, The Chosen, on the 7th of December, for release on the 11th of December 2020. The concept album follows Cudi overcoming his darkness while fighting to win his soul back from his alter ego, "Mr. Rager". Reviews were mostly positive, though some found it derivative. It debuted at number two with 144,000 album-equivalent units, including 15,000 pure sales. In December 2021, it set a Nielsen record for the biggest vinyl sales week for a male artist and for a rap album.

  In April 2021, Cudi was the sole musical guest on Saturday Night Live. He played "Tequila Shots" and "Sad People" in tribute to Kurt Cobain, wearing a floral dress designed by Virgil Abloh for "Sad People". In June 2021, Amazon's Prime Day Show sent him on a mission to establish a community on the moon, performing with the International Space Orchestra.

  Entergalactic arrived on the 30th of September 2022, debuting at number 13 with 22,480 album-equivalent units. Cudi had told a fan, "I'm not doin an album every year." Its animated companion earned an 8.20 out of 10 average on Rotten Tomatoes, with 96% of 28 critics positive. In October 2022 on Hot Ones, he said he was "kinda nearing the end on all things Kid Cudi". On the 6th of November 2022, he said only one album remained on his contract.

  Insano, a trap-inspired album, came out on the 11th of January 2024. Its follow-up, Insano (Nitro Mega), arrived on the 23rd of February 2024. On the 22nd of August 2025, he released the pop album Free.

  10013707196

• 8. Screen and Style

  ›

  In 2010, HBO's How to Make It in America made Cudi a main cast member, credited under his birth name, Scott Mescudi, until it ended after two seasons. That year he also guested as himself on One Tree Hill. He starred with the rapper Cage in the short horror film Maniac, directed by Shia LaBeouf. The two play French-speaking serial killers in an homage to the 1992 Belgian mockumentary Man Bites Dog.

  Need for Speed, released by Touchstone Pictures on the 14th of March 2014, was his feature film debut. In James White, Cudi played a gay character and curated the film's score. He said after the premiere, "I didn't flinch. I'm secure with mine." On the 10th of July 2015, he replaced Reggie Watts as bandleader on IFC's Comedy Bang! Bang!. In 2019 he had a recurring role in Westworld.

  The year 2020 brought Bill & Ted Face the Music, with Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter. It also brought the eight-episode HBO miniseries We Are Who We Are, directed by Luca Guadagnino and co-starring Chloë Sevigny. In late 2021 he joined the ensemble of Don't Look Up and recorded "Just Look Up" with Ariana Grande, released on the 3rd of December 2021. He starred in Ti West's slasher film X, released in March 2022, and in Disney's Crater in 2023. He plans to direct and star in the Netflix film Teddy, a project he has worked on since 2013.

  In 2013, Cudi said of Wicked Awesome Records that "it could be movies, it could be a lot of things, producing T.V. shows." On the 17th of November 2020, he revealed Mad Solar, a production and music management company founded with Dennis Cummings and Karina Manashil. Bron Studios backs it. Mad Solar produced the Netflix animated special Entergalactic, co-created with Kenya Barris, and the horror film X, alongside A24. Its first release was the documentary A Man Named Scott, directed by Robert Alexander for Prime Video in 2021.

  In September 2009, the Japanese clothing company BAPE printed Cudi's likeness on T-shirts. Surface to Air produced a leather jacket collection with him in the fall of 2011. He worked with A.P.C. in February 2019 and with Adidas in March 2019, when his VADAWAM 326 sneakers were later released on the 17th of December 2020. In May 2020, Virgil Abloh helped him release a "PULLING STRINGS" T-shirt, referencing a pose from his 2012 TMZ moment. In 2023 he worked with the art collective MSCHF on sneakers.

  In February 2022, he launched his own clothing line, MOTR, pronounced "motor" and short for "Members of the RAGE". He and the Japanese designer Nigo co-designed its UFO logo, and Cudi designed the retro-inspired website himself. The first piece was a white T-shirt made with Nigo's Human Made for NBA All-Star Weekend. MOTR debuted at Paris Fashion Week in 2023, and on the 27th of July 2023 it launched at the London department store Selfridges.

  Modeling has run alongside his design work. He fronted Calvin Klein in 2010, Coach in January 2015, Cadillac's 2023 Lyriq in September 2021, Levi's in January 2022 and a Louis Vuitton jewelry campaign in March 2022. When Calvin Klein named him a Fall 2023 ambassador, he posted a photo in front of a Manhattan billboard. He wrote, "I always walked past this billboard and dreamed of being up there one day. This is unreal."

  2764657582