He's a noted music industry outsider, but there's one person Kid Cudi has always connected with: Kanye West. After meeting 'Ye at the SoHo BAPE store in the mid-'00s, Cudi aspired to make music like what he heard on College Dropout. He dropped his debut mixtape A Kid Named Cudi in 2008—and West showed up to his release party after hearing the music through Plain Pat.
The two started working together on Jay-Z's The Blueprint 3 and, most notably, Kanye's 808s & Heartbreak. Cudi signed to West's G.O.O.D. Music imprint and began his career with Man On The Moon. Through countless interviews, performances, and a lot of his music, Cudi has professed how important Kanye West has been in both his career, and his life.
Yesterday, Cudi announced that he was leaving G.O.O.D. Music and would focus his efforts on his own label, Wicked Awesome Records. It left fans in shock but Cudi insisted it was all on good terms and that he knew six months ago that he would be leaving. It's been a long ride for Cudi, and Complex has been there for all of it. We look back on Cudi's career and his history with G.O.O.D. Music.
Written by Lauren Nostro (@LAURENcynthia)
RELATED: Kid Cudi: Life After Death (2013 Cover Story)
RELATED: Kid Cudi: "I'm No Longer On G.O.O.D. Music"
RELATED: G.O.O.D. Music Issues Statement About Kid Cudi Leaving The Label
He's a noted music industry outsider, but there's one person Kid Cudi has always connected with: Kanye West. After meeting 'Ye at the SoHo BAPE store in the mid-'00s, Cudi aspired to make music like what he heard on College Dropout. He dropped his debut mixtape A Kid Named Cudi in 2008—and West showed up to his release party after hearing the music through Plain Pat.
The two started working together on Jay-Z's The Blueprint 3 and, most notably, Kanye's 808s & Heartbreak. Cudi signed to West's G.O.O.D. Music imprint and began his career with Man On The Moon. Through countless interviews, performances, and a lot of his music, Cudi has professed how important Kanye West has been in both his career, and his life.
Yesterday, Cudi announced that he was leaving G.O.O.D. Music and would focus his efforts on his own label, Wicked Awesome Records. It left fans in shock but Cudi insisted it was all on good terms and that he knew six months ago that he would be leaving. It's been a long ride for Cudi, and Complex has been there for all of it. We look back on Cudi's career and his history with G.O.O.D. Music.
Written by Lauren Nostro (@LAURENcynthia)
RELATED: Kid Cudi: Life After Death (2013 Cover Story)
RELATED: Kid Cudi: "I'm No Longer On G.O.O.D. Music"
RELATED: G.O.O.D. Music Issues Statement About Kid Cudi Leaving The Label
Kid Cudi and Kanye West Meet At The BAPE Store
Date: Between 2004 and Fall of 2008
When Cudi moved to New York City from Cleveland, he began working at the BAPE store and that's where he met Kanye West for the first time. "I remember Kanye coming in one time and I was helping him get a couple things," Cudi said. "I forgot to take a sensor off of one of the jackets he bought and I had to run out the store to catch him before he left. Pretty funny me chasing after him in SoHo."
Plain Pat Gave Kanye West A Kid Named Cudi and It Caught His Attention
Date: July 2008
Once Kanye West heard A Kid Named Cudi, it wasn't long before Cudi signed to G.O.O.D. Music later that year.
Kanye West Shows Up To Cudi's A Kid Named Cudi Release Party
Date: July 2008
After hearing the mixtape, Kanye West popped up at Cudi's A Kid Named Cudi release party at the Red Bull Loft, which was sponsored by 10.Deep and Fools Gold.
via Vashtie
Kanye First Worked With Cudi on The Blueprint 3, Good Ass Job, and 808s & Heartbreak.
Date: Summer 2008
It's believed that Cudi's singsong style inspired 808s. His assistance on Kanye's album includes co-writing "Heartless," "Welcome to Heartbreak," "Paranoid," and "RoboCop."
via Complex
Cudi Signs To G.O.O.D. Music
Date: Fall 2008
After working with West on Jay-Z's The Blueprint 3 and 808s & Heartbreak, Cudi signs to G.O.O.D Music.
Cudi Says Kanye West Understands His Music
Date: February 2009
Cudi is more than just Kanye's protégé, he has his own projects going on. He said: "Everybody likes the title: 'Kanye's protégé Kid Cudi.' But what's cool about working with Kanye is that he understood my shit. He's not trying to change anything that I have going on."
Kanye West Appeared With Cudi on "106 & Park" To Debut "Day 'n' Nite" Video
Date: February 2009
Kanye West rolls with Cudi to BET where they spit some rhymes and debut the music video for Cudi's "Day 'n' Nite."
G.O.O.D. Music SXSW Showcase at Levi’s/FADER Fort
Date: March 2009
Kanye West leads the G.O.O.D. Music showcase at Levi’s/FADER Fort at SXSW in 2009 with guest performances by Common, Erykah Badu, and of course, Kid Cudi who performs "Day 'n' Nite." The entire G.O.O.D. crew comes onstage at the end.
Cudi Says He Set The Bar To Be Bigger Than Kanye West
Date: May 2009
In an interview with Complex, Cudi says that he's set the bar high for himself. "My whole thing is to not to be as big as Kanye or Lil Wayne, but to be bigger... It's not necessarily saying that you are better than them, it's just setting that bar. If I never am better then Kanye, in my brain, I'm always going to be trying to be, forever and ever until the day that I die."
Kanye West Is Featured Along With Common on Cudi's "Make Her Say"
Date: July 2009
"Make Her Say" from Cudi's Man on the Moon: The End of Dayfeatures Kanye and Common, as well as stratches from A-Trak, and a sample of the acoustic version of Lady Gaga's "Poker Face."
Kanye West Calls Himself and Cudi The "Originators of The [808s] Style"
Date:: August 2009
Kanye West gives Cudi the highest credits when asked about 808s & Heartbreak. In a Complex cover story, West says:
"Me and Cudi are the originators of the style, kinda like what Alexander McQueen is to fashion," he says. "Everything else is just Zara and H&M."
via Complex
Common Narrates Cudi's First Album Man on the Moon: The End of Day
Date: September 2009
The five acts of Cudi's Man on The Moon: The End of Day are all narrated by Common in between tracks.
Kanye West Is Executive Producer of Cudi's Debut Album Man On The Moon
Date: September 2009
While many of the tracks on Cudi's first album are produced by Emile and Plain Pat—plus the Dot da Genius on "Day 'n' Nite"—Kanye West is the executive producer of Cudi's Man On The Moon. He produces "Make Her Say" and co-writes and produces "Sky Might Fall," the song that Cudi wanted to be on the Transformers II: The Revenge trailer. He makes an unofficial version himself.
Kanye West Appears on Cudi's "Erase Me" on Man On The Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager
Date: August 2010
The Jim Jonsin produced track "Erase Me" is the lead single from Cudi's Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager with a feature from Kanye West.
Kid Cudi Is Featured On G.O.O.D. Friday Releases "Good Friday," "Christian Dior Denim Flow," and "The Joy"
Date: August to December 2010
Cudi is featured on three tracks during Kanye's G.O.O.D. Fridays music giveaway series, launched in support of Kanye's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy album.
Kid Cudi's Famous "We Don't F**k With You Musically" Quote
Date: September 2010
Kid Cudi is unfuckwitable. When asked about a Wale lyric referencing him, Cudi goes on a rant about thirsty artists, and how him and Kanye do business. He says:
"I don't even talk about Kanye, and that's my homeboy! They talk about Kanye like they're bosom buddies with this nigga. Talking about "I be in Hawaii"—man, shut the fuck up. Why you got to tell everybody everything? Then people like Wale get mad that 'Ye ain't give him no beats. 'Ye ain't give you no beats because we ain't fucking with your raps.
It's not a conspiracy theory. We don't fuck with you musically, so we're not going to provide music for you. The shit is a service, it's a quality of a certain standard. Niggas are just so thirsty it's ridiculous. I've been eating humble pie forever, and people still call me an asshole.
Cudi goes on to say how he didn't think that "anybody is fucking with what we—me and Kanye—got. Creatively, there's nobody."
Kanye West Says Kid Cudi Is His Favorite Artist
Date: October 2010
After the screening of his short film "Runaway", Kanye held a two and a half hour Q&A session. He was asked about his musical tastes and said: "Kid Cudi is my favorite artist. If I could make music like someone, I'd like to make music like him. I like that emotion, really heartfelt."
Kanye Recorded Verse for "Wild'n Cuz I'm Young," Got Removed From Album
Date: November 2010
Kanye recorded an original verse for Cudi's "Wild'n Cuz I'm Young" but was ultimately cut once MOTM2 dropped.
Kid Cudi Appears on My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy's "Gorgeous"
Date: November 2010
Cudi rocks the hook on this infectious track off of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy also featuring Raekwon.
Kid Cudi Appears In Video For Kanye West's "All Of The Lights"
Date: February 2011
Kanye West's Hype Williams-directed video for "All Of The Lights" features Rihanna and Kid Cudi in the visuals. The song would later go on to win two Grammy Awards.
Dream On Disbands, Cudi Calls Yeezy "A True Friend"
Date: February 2011
Dream On, Cudi's label with Plain Pat and Emile under G.O.O.D. Music, disbands due to creative difference. Cudi takes to Twitter to show his love to Kanye, saying: "Always fuckin with Yeezy, for life. Period. A true friend."
Kanye West and Cudi Perform "Gorgeous" at SXSW
Date: March 2011
Kanye West performs at EVO's Power Station SXSW event in 2011 and brings out Pusha-T, Mos Def, Mr. Hudson, Cyhi The Prince, Kid Cudi, John Legend, Jay-Z—and a marching band.
Cudi Calls His Work With Jay-Z and Kanye West a Brotherhood
Date: September 2011
Cudi explains that when he does any work with Jay-Z and Kanye, it's "on the house" because it's a brotherhood with them.
Kanye West and Cudi Perform at Call of Duty XP Event
Date: September 2011
Kanye West ends Activision's Call of Duty XP event with a full set and appearance from Cudi.
Cudi Joins Kanye West and Rihanna For "All Of The Lights" Heineken Red Star Performance
Date: September 2011
Heineken's Red Star Access event was presented by G.O.O.D. Music and showcased performances from Kanye West, Big Sean, Kid Cudi, Pusha T, Cyhi The Prynce, and Mr. Hudson, among others.
Cudi Wins Grammy For "All Of The Lights"
Date: February 2012
Cudi receives three nominations at the 2012 Grammy Awards for his appearance on Kanye's "All Of The Lights" featuring Rihanna. The song wins Best Rap Song and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.
Cudi Voices Support For Pusha T in Beef With Lil Wayne
Date: May 2012
As Lil Wayne and Pusha T drama comes to a head, Cudi takes to Twitter to say: "I LOVE MY NIGGA PUSHA T, FUCK ANYBODY WHO FEEL DIFFERENT. WE AINT HO'S OUT HERE."
Cudi Takes Part in Complex's G.O.O.D. Music Cover
Date: July 2012
Cudi is featured with the rest of the G.O.O.D. Music crew on the cover of the August/September issue of Complex. When speaking about working with Kanye and the G.O.O.D. Music team, Cudi says:
"With all due respect to what these guys said, I think we're missing the main point, which is that we represent honesty, in all aspects. Ain't nobody fake. Ain't nobody phony. Niggas are who they are. Everybody is who they are around each other. We're real. I'm not in other crews. I don't know how other niggas live, but I know right here that's one of the main things we represent: honesty and realness. You can just hear it in the music. This ain't no cookie-cutter shit.
He went on to say that his time with G.O.O.D. Music is "the only time where I feel like I'm around people that understand me. I felt like an orphan before then."
Cudi Is featured on Hit-Boy's "Old School Caddy"
Date: August 2012
Cudi hopped on "Old School Caddy" off Hit-Boy's free debut album HITstory.
Cudi Joins Big Sean, Hit-Boy, and James Fauntleroy To Perform "Clique" in L.A.
Date: October 2012
Big Sean performs "Clique" in L.A. at Big Boy's Block Party and brings out Kid Cudi, Hit-Boy and James Fauntleroy to help perform the Cruel Summer track.
Cudi Has Lead Role in Cruel Summer Film
Date: May 2012
In the film, which premieres at Cannes Film Festival, Cudi plays a Lamborghini car thief who falls for a blind Arabic woman. He's the lead character in Kanye's seven-screen experience.
Kid Cudi Has One Song, "Creepers," on G.O.O.D. Music's Cruel Summer
Date: September 2012
Cudi only had one track, "Creepers," on G.O.O.D. Music's Cruel Summer, and it was a track from the days of MOTM2. He told Complex:
"I was a little disappointed. But Kanye had a vision for that. Whatever that vision was didn't include much of me. [Laughs.] I was bummed because I could've contributed. I'm a good asset. But he had a different vision. Everyone that was showcased on the album did their thing and they needed that at that time. The energy was on some hip-hop shit.
I was on WZRD, doing my rock shit. But I'm not tripping. "Creepers" was a jam I was holding onto for a while. It was waiting for that perfect platform and it happened to be great for that album. It would've been dope to have more. I want to apologize to the fans for not having more. But [sings] Ohhhh it ain't my fault.
Cudi Performs After Hit-Boy at SXSW
Date: March 2013
Following Hit-Boy at this year's SXSW, Cudi starts out by performing tracks off Man on the Moon and WZRD. He goes on to share a new verse.
Kanye West, Pusha T, Common Features on "Indicud" Were All Ultimately Cut
Date: April 2013
In July, Cudi reveals major features on his upcoming Indicud album, including Kanye, Pusha-T, and Common—but all were ultimately cut when he released the official final tracklist.
Cudi Leaves G.O.O.D. Music
Date: April 2013
Cudi says he knew six months ago that he would be leaving G.O.O.D. Music and that he spoke with Jay-Z about the decision. He wants to focus on his own label Wicked Awesome but says Kanye is his "big brother forever."
Cudi Is Featured Big Sean's Upcoming Album Hall of Fame
Date: June 2013
Big Sean's tracklist shows that Kid Cudi and Nas will be featured on "First Chain" off of his upcoming album, Hall of Fame, which drops in June.