Kid Cudi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kid Cudi
Kid Cudi in 2010
Born	Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi (1984-01-30) January 30, 1984 (age 41) Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Education	University of Toledo (no degree)
Occupation	Rapper singer songwriter record producer actor fashion designer director filmmaker
Years active	2003–present
Agent	Dennis Cummings
Works	Discography filmography production songs recorded videography
Television	Entergalactic
Title	Founder of Wicked Awesome Records and MOTR Co-founder of Mad Solar Co-founder and CCO of Encore Music Technologies
Spouse(s)	Lola Abecassis Sartore ​ (m. 2025)​
Children	1
Awards	Full list
Musical career
Genres	Midwestern hip-hop Alternative hip-hop alternative rock neo-psychedelia trip hop R&B pop-rap
Labels	Wicked Awesome Republic Dream On GOOD Fool's Gold Universal Motown
Signature

Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi (born January 30, 1984), known by his stage name Kid Cudi, is an American rapper, singer, actor, and fashion designer. He is famous for his unique musical style and for writing honest lyrics about his feelings and life experiences.

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Cudi moved to New York City to follow his dream of becoming a musician. He first became known for his song "Day 'n' Nite". After he posted it online, it became a huge hit. This led him to create his first mixtape, A Kid Named Cudi (2008). The mixtape's success caught the attention of rapper Kanye West, who signed Cudi to his record label.

Cudi's first album, Man on the Moon: The End of Day (2009), was a major success. It included hit songs like "Make Her Say" and "Pursuit of Happiness". He continued his success with his second album, Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager (2010). He later formed a rock band called WZRD and released a self-titled album with them in 2012.

Over the years, Cudi has released many albums, including the popular Man on the Moon III: The Chosen (2020) and Entergalactic (2022), which came with an animated TV special on Netflix. He has also worked with many famous artists like Jay-Z, Travis Scott, and Ariana Grande.

Besides music, Kid Cudi is also a successful actor. He has appeared in the HBO series How to Make It in America and movies like Need for Speed (2014), Don't Look Up (2021), and X (2022). He has also started his own record labels and a clothing line.

Kid Cudi is known for being a big influence on many younger artists in hip-hop. His music often explores themes of loneliness, hope, and overcoming challenges. He is praised for showing his vulnerability and talking openly about mental health, which has helped many of his fans feel less alone.

Early Life

Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on January 30, 1984. He grew up in the suburbs of Shaker Heights and Solon. He has two older brothers and one older sister. His mother, Elsie, was a school choir teacher, and his father, Lindberg, was a house painter and a World War II veteran.

When Cudi was 11 years old, his father passed away. This had a big impact on Cudi's life and his music. He attended Shaker Heights High School and later Solon High School. After earning his GED, he studied film at the University of Toledo but left after one year to pursue his other goals.

Musical Career

2003–2008: Starting Out in New York

Kid Cudi performing at Summerstage in New York City in July 2008

Cudi started rapping in 2003, inspired by alternative hip-hop groups like The Pharcyde and A Tribe Called Quest. In 2005, he moved to New York City to chase his music dreams. He lived with his uncle, a jazz drummer, in the South Bronx and worked in clothing stores to support himself.

One day in 2006, Cudi met his future mentor, Kanye West, in a music store. He introduced himself and gave West some of his music. Later, Cudi's song "Day 'n' Nite" became popular on music blogs after he uploaded it to his MySpace page. This caught West's attention, and he signed Cudi to his GOOD Music label.

In 2008, Cudi released his first mixtape, A Kid Named Cudi, for free. The mixtape helped him gain a large fanbase. He also worked with Kanye West on his album 808s & Heartbreak (2008), co-writing and singing on several tracks, including the hit single "Heartless".

2009–2010: The Man on the Moon Albums

Cudi performing on MTV in August 2009

In 2009, Kid Cudi's career took off. He was featured in XXL magazine's "Freshman Class" list of new artists to watch. He performed on TV shows like Dogg After Dark with Snoop Dogg and Last Call with Carson Daly. He also appeared in the music video for the Black Eyed Peas' song "I Gotta Feeling".

His first album, Man on the Moon: The End of Day, was released on September 15, 2009. It was a huge success, selling over 104,000 copies in its first week. The album featured the hit singles "Day 'n' Nite" and "Make Her Say". The album's narrator was the rapper Common.

Cudi performing in September 2009

Cudi's second album, Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager, was released in 2010. It continued his success and included the singles "Erase Me" and "Mr. Rager". During this time, he also worked with Kanye West on his GOOD Fridays music series, appearing on several songs.

2011–2013: A New Direction and Leaving GOOD Music

Cudi performing at the 2011 Global Dance Festival at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado

In 2011, Cudi announced he was forming a rock band called WZRD with his friend and producer Dot da Genius. He also launched his own record label, Wicked Awesome Records. The band's self-titled album, WZRD, was released in 2012 and debuted at number one on the Top Rock Albums chart.

Cudi's third solo album, Indicud (2013), was his last release with GOOD Music. He wanted to focus on his own label and artists. The album featured the hit single "Just What I Am" and guest appearances from artists like ASAP Rocky and Michael Bolton. It debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 chart.

2014–2018: Experimental Albums and New Projects

Cudi performing at Coachella in Indio, California, in April 2014

In 2014, Cudi surprised fans by releasing Satellite Flight: The Journey to Mother Moon. The album was released digitally with very little warning. He followed this with two more experimental albums, Speedin' Bullet 2 Heaven (2015) and Passion, Pain & Demon Slayin' (2016).

In 2018, Cudi teamed up with Kanye West to form the duo Kids See Ghosts. They released a self-titled album, Kids See Ghosts, which was highly praised by critics. The project was seen as a creative high point for both artists.

2019–Present: Return to Man on the Moon and Entergalactic

Cudi in 2022

In 2020, Cudi released "The Scotts" with Travis Scott, which became his first song to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Later that year, he released Man on the Moon III: The Chosen, the final album in his famous trilogy. The album was a commercial and critical success, debuting at number two on the Billboard 200.

In 2022, Cudi released his album Entergalactic along with an animated TV special of the same name on Netflix. Both the album and the special received positive reviews. He also released a greatest hits album, The Boy Who Flew to the Moon, Vol. 1, and made his first mixtape, A Kid Named Cudi, available on streaming services for the first time.

His most recent albums are Insano and Insano (Nitro Mega), both released in 2024. He also announced a pop album titled Free, which was released in August 2025.

Acting Career

Kid Cudi, often credited by his real name Scott Mescudi, has built a successful acting career alongside his music.

He started with a role in the HBO series How to Make It in America from 2010 to 2011. His first major movie role was in Need for Speed (2014). He has since appeared in many films, including Entourage (2015), Bill & Ted Face the Music (2020), and the horror film X (2022).

In 2020, he starred in the HBO miniseries We Are Who We Are. He also had a role in the star-studded Netflix movie Don't Look Up (2021), where he performed a song with Ariana Grande.

In 2022, he created and starred in his own animated special, Entergalactic, for Netflix. He also announced that he would be directing his first movie, a Netflix film called Teddy, which he also wrote and will star in.

Artistry and Influence

Kanye West and Cudi performing in September 2015

Kid Cudi's music is known for mixing different genres, including hip-hop, alternative rock, R&B, and electronic music. His lyrics are often very personal, talking about his feelings, struggles, and life experiences. This honest and vulnerable style has made him a role model for many people.

He is known for his unique humming and melodic rapping, which has become his signature sound. Artists who inspired him include The Pharcyde, A Tribe Called Quest, Snoop Dogg, and rock bands like Nirvana and Pink Floyd.

Many famous artists have called Kid Cudi a major influence on their own music. These include Travis Scott, Kendrick Lamar, Logic, and Jaden Smith. Kanye West once called Cudi "the most influential artist of the past 10 years." Comedian Pete Davidson has said that Cudi's music helped him through difficult times. Cudi's willingness to talk about mental health has had a powerful and positive impact on both his fans and the music industry.

Other Ventures

Fashion and Business

Cudi performing in San Francisco in July 2009

Kid Cudi is also a big name in fashion. He has collaborated with major brands like BAPE, Adidas, and Calvin Klein. In 2022, he launched his own clothing line called MOTR, which stands for "Members of the RAGE." The line debuted at Paris Fashion Week in 2023.

In 2020, he co-founded a production company called Mad Solar, which has produced films like X and his animated special Entergalactic. He also helped create a mobile app called Encore, which helps artists connect with their fans.

Philanthropy

Kid Cudi is known for his work as a mental health advocate. He has worked with organizations like Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services to help young people who are struggling with depression. He has also volunteered for Musicians on Call, a charity that brings music to patients in hospitals.

In 2019, he partnered with Postmates to deliver $10,000 worth of food to a rescue mission in California. He often uses his platform to support important causes and inspire his fans.

Images for kids

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  Cudi in April 2010

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  Kid Cudi names Snoop Dogg (pictured) as one of his biggest influences.

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  Lady Gaga and Cudi performing on The Monster Ball Tour in November 2009

Discography

Studio albums

Collaborative albums

• WZRD (with Dot da Genius as WZRD) (2012)
• Kids See Ghosts (with Kanye West as Kids See Ghosts) (2018)

Filmography

Kid Cudi has appeared in several feature films and television shows. He is often credited by his birth name Scott Mescudi.

See also

In Spanish: Kid Cudi para niños

• Kids See Ghosts
• WZRD
• List of artists who reached number one in the United States
• List of American Grammy Award winners and nominees
• List of neo-psychedelia artists
• List of alternative hip-hop artists