Kid Cudi

Born on January 30, 1984, in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, under the real name Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi, he is an American rapper (singer, songwriter, guitarist), music producer, actor, composer, and screenwriter.

He grew up in Shaker Heights and Solon. He has two older brothers, Domingo and Dean, and an older sister, Maisha. His mother, Elsie Harriet (née Banks), is an African-American high school choir teacher at Roxboro Middle School in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. His father, Lindberg Styles Mescudi, was a painter, substitute teacher, and African-American and Mexican-American World War II veteran.

When Cudi was 11 years old, his father died of cancer; his departure had a significant impact on Cudi's personality and music. Cudi attended Shaker Heights High School for two years before transferring to Solon High School. He was expelled from school for threatening to punch the principal, and he later earned his GED. He studied film at the University of Toledo but dropped out after a year. His subsequent plan to join the Navy failed due to his juvenile police record.

Cudi first began rapping in 2003, towards the end of his high school education, and was inspired by alternative hip-hop groups such as Pharcyde and A Tribe Called Quest. He later moved to New York City to pursue a music career. Leaving Cleveland in 2005 with $500 and a demo tape, he moved in with his uncle, experienced jazz drummer Khalil Madi, in South Bronx. He worked in a couple of clothing stores in Manhattan before eventually settling into an apartment with friend and collaborator Dot da Genius in Brooklyn.

In 2006, Cudi encountered his future mentor, rapper and producer Kanye West, at the Virgin Megastore. He introduced himself and offered West some of his music.

In 2007, Kid Cudi's song "Day 'n' Nite" began to garner attention on several music blogs after he uploaded the song to his MySpace page. Cudi's early work continued to attract Kanye West's attention.

In early 2008, Cudi gained prominence with the release of his commercial debut single "Day 'n' Nite," which became a global hit.

Cudi's debut album, "Man on the Moon: The End of Day," was released on the Universal Motown label on September 15, 2009, selling 104,419 copies in its first week and reaching number 4 on the chart.

Kid Cudi was nominated for three Grammy Awards in 2010 for his singles "Day 'n' Nite" and "Make Her Say."

In October 2010, Cudi announced that he would form a rock band with frequent collaborator Dot da Genius, tentatively called Wizard.

On November 18, 2011, Cudi renamed his group WZRD.

In April 2012, in Geneseo, New York, Cudi performed to a sold-out crowd and premiered a hip-hop song, his first since 2010. During his set, he performed a new record tentatively titled "The Leader of the Delinquents," which he performed acapella. On April 25, 2012, Cudi officially returned to rap with the release of "Dennis, Hook Me Up with Some More of That Whiskey!"

Since then, Cudi has released his solo albums.

Cudi has sold 22 million certified records in the United States and has received two Grammy Awards. He has worked with many well-known artists in the music industry, including Jay-Z, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, David Guetta, Steve Aoki, MGMT, Mary J. Blige, and Michael Bolton, among others.

In 2010, Kid Cudi also made his acting debut guest-starring in the American television drama "One Tree Hill."

Kid Cudi is widely recognized as an influencer of several modern hip-hop and alternative cultures.