Kid Cudi Keeps it Cool

Kid Cudi

He's worked with Kanye West, Common, and Jay-Z, shared a stage with Ghostface Killah, and received accolades from such diverse media outlets as the BBC News, BET, and XXL. GQ magazine declared him (along with friends and collaborators Wale and Drake) the "killers of gangsta rap." More recently, he was nominated for the 2009 Breakthrough Artist at the American Music Awards.

Despite all the astronomical praise, Cleveland-born rapper Kid Cudi remains firmly grounded in reality. "I'm just, like, a regular guy," he told MTV News. "I'm not into the whole fame of things, so I talk about the stuff I deal with internally in my world in hopes that people can relate to that, and it'll touch them."

This personal philosophy has translated into commercial success. Kid Cudi's chart-topping album Man on the Moon: The End of Day features production by indie darlings Ratatat and MGMT. Catchy single "Day 'n' Nite" has become ubiquitous, spawning not one but two music videos and countless remixes. The song peaked at #4 on Billboard's Singles chart back in May but remains on the chart months after its release. Follow-up single "Make Her Say" features guest spots from mentors Kanye West and Common and samples Lady Gaga's acoustic performance of "Poker Face." All this happened for Kid Cudi a mere month after signing to a major label.

According to Cudi though, his success is simply the end result of an entirely organic process involving hard work, the right attitude, and a receptive audience. "I think the biggest accomplishment so far with me is none of my - what they call - 'hype' is gimmicky or forced," he explained to MTV News. "I didn't beat into the heads of people, like, 'Yo, you're going to listen to my music, and you're going to do this and you're going to do that.' I just kind of put them out and let them breathe." In today's oversaturated and repetitive radio market, it is refreshing to hear the stripped-down sound of everyday life that Cudi presents in his music.

This is not to say that he doesn't sing his own praises once in a while. In an interview with MTV, Cudi recalls running into Kanye on the streets of NYC in 2004 and telling him, "You'll be hearing from me. I have the potential for greatness." He describes his music on his MySpace page as "awesomely dope, different, deep, passionate, fun, and abstract." This statement is as much a promise to himself as it is to his fans. In his efforts to set himself apart from other rappers, Kid Cudi brings originality and honesty to his lyrics dealing with issues like the loss of his father and his fondness for a good smoke, topics with which everyday people can identify. He elaborates, "I think what gives me an edge is that I speak about my life, my own journey. That's the key for anybody else who wants to do music. Tell your story. That's what music is all about: self-expression."

As a perfect ending to Kid Cudi's already stellar year, he secured the coveted opening slot on this winter's Monster Ball tour starring pop queen Lady Gaga. The tour launches November 27 in Montreal and ends in New York City at the end of January. Given that Cudi samples "Poker Face" for "Make Her Say," what are the chances of an onstage collaborative performance? Check their tour schedule and find out for yourself - that is, if you can get a ticket. - Theresa Dougherty