Rumor has it Kanye West and Kid Cudi are cooking up a collab album for us in Japan
and if it’s true we may be in for something epic, especially with all they’ve been through together.
The first encounter between the two goes back to 2004 at a Virgin Records store in New York.
I really wanna be signed can you sign me?
Like I had no pitch.
And he was like ‘Man I got so many artists right now… and unless you on some Biggie
and Tupac type stuff.’
I was like ‘nah I’m not that good, but I have the potential for greatness.'
While his record store pitch didn’t buy Ye over, it’s Cudi’s creativity on “Day 'N' Nite"
that had Kanye calling on him to work together a few years later.
I think that’s one of the reasons why Kanye reached out, because he saw a common connection
with our creativity.
Their first time in the studio Kanye and Cudi worked on what would turn out to be Jay-Z’s
“Already Home” from his 2009 album ‘The Blueprint 3.’
Cudi: I was kinda vibing for about 5-10 minutes, he comes back he’s like ‘so what you got?’
and I was like ‘oh shit, I think I got like 1 idea’
I don't know if it's any good!
But he was just like 'Oh what is it? Just tell me!' and I was like, 'Okay...'
from the top, do you want me to drop, do you want me to stop’ ‘aw alright alright go
'Alright, alright, lay it down in the booth right now!'
And of course, what would Kanye’s ‘808’s & Heartbreak’ be without Cudi’s input
Who else did you have in the studio? Did you have any other producers or anything?
Kid Cudi came down to Hawaii to work with us
I wrote all the records, I would hum it out and get the basic idea, one take this is how
it’s gunna be.
And then I would have like Cudi or Sterile or Tony Williams or something, just kinda
vibe out and help me think of a line and make this better...
In this same interview, Kanye addresses his impact on Cudi’s career also noting he shouldn't
be given all the credit for Cudi’s success.
Kanye: Cudi he would’ve did it with or without
me, but it’s good to have that extra little boost, extra little branding.
And like he brought a lot to the table with the singer-rapper style
In the fall of 2008, Kanye officially signed Cudi to GOOD music.
Now you’d think Cudi would be feeling on top of the world at this point right?
Wrong.
It’s crazy that you ended up so quickly
in that circle...
Kid Cudi: Yeah, it was nerve-wracking man. I mean, I’ll tell you the truth, it’s what drove me to drugs.
I was like ‘man I’m either gunna kill myself or I’m gunna do some drugs’
Nonetheless, the two kept on delivering after 808’s.
There’s more, Cudi contributed vocals for Kanye and Jay Z’s 2011 ‘Watch The Throne’ album
on bonus tracks “The Joy”
In 2012, Kanye released the GOOD Music compilation album 'Cruel Summer,' which included Kid Cudi’s
vocals on the song “The Morning.”
And Cudi’s track “Creepers.”
This is also around the time things took a turn.
First with Cudi jokingly acknowledging he wouldn’t be punked by Kanye in studio.
Heard Kanye West be busting your balls in
the studio every time you guys are…
Only once, only once and I made sure that shit never happened again
Then in April 2013, Cudi shocked fans just before dropping his album ‘Indicud,’ with this.
I am announcing that I am no longer on GOOD music, and this is something that no one knows really.
Both Cudi and Kanye made sure to speak amicably of the split
Kanye: Actually i was just on email with him earlier,
Kid Cudi is my personal favorite artist in the world right now
Kid Cudi: Everything is cool, everything is peace, you
know everybody on the label, there’s never been any issues
But these lyrics on “Cold Blooded” from Indicud tell another story
Kid Cudi shared a similar sentiment after Kanye’s 2013 album YEEZUS dropped with some
of Cudi’s old vocals, used without his knowledge or permission.
He told Complex:
The two were clearly in happier spirits 3 years later, during the February 2016 fashion
show slash listening party for Kanye’s ‘The Life Of Pablo‘
Not to mention another hit added to their collection with "Father Stretch My Hands Pt.1"
Buuuut by September 2016, tensions rose yet again.
This time, Kid Cudi took to twitter to voice his frustrations with haters in the industry
and fake rappers with ghostwriters, also tweeting:
Kanye fired back that same night during the Tampa, Florida stop of his The Life Of Pablo tour.
Kanye: Kid Cudi don’t ever mention Ye name,
I birthed you!
You mad cuz I’m doing songs with Drake, can’t NOBODY tell Ye who to do songs with!
RESPECT THE GOD
But if you thought things were officially over between Kanye and Kid Cudi after that,
think again.
The very next month, the guys hugged it out on stage.
Now as up and down as this rollercoaster friendship may seem, Kanye and Cudi may also understand
one another better than most.
They've both been open about battles with their own mental health.
Sway: At one of you premieres you mentioned how you even had thoughts of suicide
KANYE: when you deal with highs and lows and dealing with doubt which is I’d say is a
devilish, a demonic thought.
Kid Cudi: I dealt with suicide for the past 5 years, there wasn’t
a week or a day that didn’t go by where I was just like ‘ You know I wanna check out’
I know what that feels like,
I know it comes from loneliness, I know it comes from not having self worth, not loving yourself.
Both artists actively sought help towards the latter of last year, with this 2017 Japan trip
possibly being another healing step.
And hey, if some GOOD music does come out of it then we’re all the better for it.