Kid Cudi

Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi (born January 30, 1984), better known by his stage name Kid Cudi (/ˈkɪd ˈkʌdi/ KID KUD-ee, often stylized KiD CuDi), is an American hip-hop recording artist and actor from Cleveland, Ohio. A rapper, singer-songwriter, guitarist and record producer, Cudi is signed under his own record label, Wicked Awesome Records and Republic Records. He first gained notoriety after the release of his first official full-length project, a mixtape titled A Kid Named Cudi (2008). The mixtape caught the attention of Kanye West, who subsequently signed Cudi to his GOOD Music label in late 2008. In 2009, Cudi's debut single "Day 'n' Nite", reached the top five of the Billboard charts. "Day 'n' Nite" was included on the mixtape as well as his debut studio album Man on the Moon: The End of Day (2009), which was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). In 2010, he released his second studio album, Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager, preceded by the release of two singles "Erase Me" and "Mr. Rager", which were released to moderate success.

In 2009, Cudi teamed up with record producers Plain Pat and Emile Haynie to launch their Dream On imprint, in partnership with Universal Motown and Kanye West's GOOD Music. In October 2010, Cudi announced that he was teaching himself how to play the guitar and that he would be forming a rock band, now known as WZRD, with his frequent collaborator and longtime friend Dot da Genius. In February 2011, Cudi announced the Dream On record label had been dissolved due to creative differences. Later in April 2011, while performing at New York City’s Roseland Ballroom, Cudi announced he was launching a label on his own, Wicked Awesome Records. WZRD ultimately released their eponymous debut album on February 28, 2012. The album debuted at #3 on the US Billboard 200 and at #1 on both the Top Rock Albums and Top Alternative Albums charts.

He starred in the HBO series How to Make It in America, until its cancellation in 2011. Kid Cudi has sold over 4.6 million digital singles and has worked with artists such as Kanye West, Jay-Z, Common, Mary J. Blige, David Guetta, Shakira, MGMT, Ratatat, Snoop Dogg and Michael Bolton. With his originality and creativity, as well as the emotion he conveys in his music, Cudi has amassed a large cult-like following among high school students, college students and stoners alike.