Pitchfork Interview: Cudi Talks Album and More

Back in March 2007, Cleveland rapper Kid Cudi recorded a moody stoner anthem called ”Day ‘N’ Nite”. Since then, he’s worked at a grocery store, slept on couches, bummed recording time in his buddy’s studio, guested on Kanye West’s 808s and Heartbreak, threatened to retire, and signed a record deal with Universal Motown. Just last month, “Day ‘N’ Nite” hit the top 10 on Billboard’s Hot 100, more than two years after it was originally cut. When Cudi says the song was “before its time,” it’s not empty bluster as much as pure fact.

Now, the Cleveland-bred rapper is readying his debut LP, due out August 25 on Dream On/G.O.O.D. Music/Universal Motown and called Man on the Moon: The Guardian. We caught the busy up-and-comer between photo shoots and apartment hunting last week to talk about some of the album’s unlikely possible guests, lying on your resume, and designer toilet paper. Yes, designer toilet paper.

Hit the break for the full interview or visit PitchFork’s website.

Pitchfork: Where are you right now?

Kid Cudi: I’m riding down 11th Avenue in Manhattan on my way to look at a new apartment. I’ve got a place in in Bushwick [Brooklyn] now with a roommate but I’m trying to get my own spot.

Pitchfork: Are you the dirty roommate?

KC: Yeah, definitely [laughs]. My roommate will leave trash out for me to clean up, but he always just ends up doing it. With my own apartment, I’ll be responsible for my own filth.

Pitchfork: Do you replace the toilet paper roll when it’s empty at least?

KC: We definitely had an issue with that today– there just wasn’t any left. I had to break into my BAPE toilet paper rolls.

Pitchfork: I didn’t know Bathing Ape made toilet paper.

KC: Yeah, it’s a collectors item…but it looks like I won’t be selling this one on eBay [laughs].

Pitchfork: I saw that “Day ‘N’ Nite” is now number three on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart, congrats.

KC: Yeah, when I first did that song I thought nobody would get it. I recorded it in March, 2007– before anyone was using AutoTune aside from T-Pain. It took so long to get to where it’s at right now because it was before its time. It could be a hip-hop beat, an alternative beat, a club beat, anything. And those melodies in there are just classic. I’m making sure the whole album has that deep, sinister, cinematic vibe.

Pitchfork: If you could compare the record to a film, which one would it be?

KC: All the artwork and promotion is definitely going to be like Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

Pitchfork: You have this alien mystique, but do you see yourself as a diabolical War of the Worlds alien or, like, E.T.?

KC: Definitely a mix of both. I don’t want to give away too much, but you’ll hear that conflict in the album– I’m 70 percent done with it. I still need to get an orchestra to score segues between each song throughout the whole thing. That’s my secret weapon.

And there’s my story, which is very Cinderella-esque; I went through the struggle, became successful. You’ve heard that before, but it’s not about that. It’s more about the hardships I went through, like when I was crashing on couches in New York last year.

Pitchfork: What kind of jobs did you have when you were broke?

KC: I worked at Abercrombie & Fitch, Dean & Deluca, American Apparel, BAPE. I kept losing jobs because I’d be in the studio overnight. Then I’d lie on my resume to make sure those references didn’t connect. I wouldn’t put the jobs I got fired from.

Pitchfork: So you’re working with Kanye West and will.i.am on the record. How would you compare their producing styles?

KC: They are very much the same as far as they understand the idea of creating your own sound. That’s something I’m trying to master. Even though I kind of have my own sound right now, people are taking it. Instead of being inspired by it and trying something different too, they are just doing the same thing. Now I have to be ahead of myself so I don’t just fit into the realm of everybody who sounds like me.

Pitchfork: How do you plan on doing that?

KC: I’m making the album really experimental– it sounds like nothing you’ve heard before.

Pitchfork: Yeah, but what if it does sound like something I’ve heard before?

KC: I’ll bet you $50 right now. Guaranteed. This is an imaginary handshake.

Pitchfork: I’ll hold you to that…somehow.

KC: I want my money, man! [laughs]

Pitchfork: Who else is producing on the record?

KC: I’ve got Ratatat, Ryan Leslie, 88-Keys, Alchemist. I’m going into the studio with Just Blaze and Swizz Beatz soon. I want to work with Postal Service, too. And I’m supposed to be getting into the studio with Band of Horses.

Pitchfork: Band of Horses? Really?

KC: I’m not playing games, man. This is real.

[Apparently this might actually happen. When asked about a Cudi collaboration, Band of Horses lead singer Ben Bridwell sent us this message: "We're psyched about the possibility of working with Cudi. We haven't had a chance to discuss anything yet, but I'm all for it. I love what he did with our melody on 'The Prayer', and super humbled he'd even use a bit of the vocal. I hadn't up to that point heard any shit so real. Or since."]

Posted by DP May.13, 2009 8 Comments

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