RUSSEL: Travis Scott and Kid Cudi are officially a superduo, teaming up as The Scotts with
their lead single raking in millions of plays in just a few days.
RUSSEL: Both known for their moody auto-tune and dark, psychedelic tracks, Travis and Cudi
have forged an artistic friendship that began as admiration.
TRAVIS SCOTT: Kid Cudi is really like one of the main dudes I looked at and listened to all
the time. He saved my life. He saved me from doing random bad things to myself. He kept
me focused. I felt like he always made the soundtrack to my life.
RUSSEL: Today, they’re seen as big bro and lil bro, each with a catalog of solo hits.
TRAVIS SCOTT: I’m fuckin’ fannin’ out. This is like my favorite artist of all time.
RUSSEL: Even his stage name, Travis Scott,
was inspired in part by Kid Cudi’s government name.
TRAVIS SCOTT: My uncle is named Travis, and Kid Cudi is like one of my favorite artists
of all time, and his real name is Scott Mescudi. And my uncle’s friends call him Scott too,
so it kinda like worked out like that. RUSSEL: In 2012, Travis followed in Cudi’s
footsteps signing to Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music, but as a producer.
La Flame recalls meeting both his OGs in an interview saying, quote:
Travis has production credits on “The Morning” off ‘Cruel Summer’ and “Guilt Trip”
from ‘Yeezus’ – both of which feature Cudi.
RUSSEL: From there, Cudi became a mentor and friend to Travis.
When cooking up his debut album ‘Rodeo’ – Travis had eyes set on one collaborator.
TRAVIS SCOTT: I won’t drop my album until I have Kid Cudi on it. So when you see me
drop a date, you know I got Kid Cudi on my album. RUSSEL: When ‘Rodeo’ finally dropped in
2015, Cudi didn’t make it on the album. But he did share his support on Twitter, saying quote:
RUSSEL: A year later, Cudi made up for it on Travis’ sophomore album ‘Birds In The
Trap Sing McKnight’ – joining on two songs. On “through the late night” Travis interpolates
Cudder’s first solo single, “Day ‘N’ Nite.”
RUSSEL: Cudi laces the track with his signature humming.
RUSSEL: And, on “way back” Travis shouts out another Cudi classic, “Solo Dolo.”
RUSSEL: “way back” also features some wailing vocals from Cudi.
RUSSEL: The same year as ‘Birds In The Trap’ – Cudi dropped his sixth album ‘Passion,
Pain & Demon Slayin.’ with the Travis Scott assisted cut, “Baptized In Fire.” On it,
Travis references Cudi’s debut album ‘Man On the Moon’ and acknowledges him as a big brother.
RUSSEL: In 2018, Kid Cudi would add humms to the ‘ASTROWORLD’ joint, “STOP TRYING TO BE GOD.”
RUSSEL: Travis also helped produce “LOST” – Kid Cudi’s 2018 collaboration with Quavo.
RUSSEL: Travis’s game-changing April 2020 ‘Fortnite’ performance caps an eight-year
journey from meeting Cudi to becoming The Scotts.
RUSSEL: These days, Travis and Cudi even have matching “RAGER” tattoos. For one of them,
the arc from follower to friend has come full circle.
TRAVIS SCOTT: There would be no Travis Scott if it wasn’t for him.
RUSSEL: I’m Russel Abad with Genius News,
bringing you the meaning and the knowledge behind the music.
KID CUDI: “IT’S LIT!”