Kid Cudi was born in Cleveland, Ohio and lived in the diverse upper class suburb of Shaker Heights. Just prior to receiving his GED he attended Shaker Heights High School in Shaker Heights, Ohio and also Solon High School in Solon, Ohio. Cudi first began rapping towards the end of high school, inspired by alternative hip hop groups such as The Pharcyde and A Tribe Called Quest. He moved to Brooklyn, New York to pursue a music career. In July 2008, Kid Cudi released his first mixtape, A Kid Named Cudi, in collaboration with New York street wear brand 10. Deep as a free download in 2008. The mixtape has had so much continued success that on May 18, 2009 10.Deep announced they were going to be doing a re-release of the "Up There" t-shirt and hard copies A Kid Named Cudi mixtape in their webstore on May 20, 2009 at 12:00 PM EST. Shortly after the shirt went up for sale the server crashed due to heavy traffic of fans wanting to buy the t-shirt and the mixtape.
Kid Cudi has a guest feature on Kanye West's 2008 album, 808s & Heartbreak, singing with him on the track Welcome to Heartbreak, providing additional vocals on Paranoid with Mr Hudson and helped with songwriting on the second single Heartless. A music video has been made and released for Welcome to Heartbreak with him in it. He also featured on the song Welcome 2 the World with Kevin Rudolf from his album In The City, and on 88-Keys debut album The Death of Adam on the track Ho' is Short for Honey.
He has been featured in many medias such as XXL and BBC News's Sound of 2009 poll of up-and-coming acts. He has also been featured in Vibe, Complex, The Source, Rolling Stone, URB and Interview magazine.
Kid Cudi first appeared on shows in 2008, when he performed at the 2008 VMA's alongside Travis Barker and DJ AM. On February 17, 2009, Kid Cudi made his TV debut on Snoop Dogg's new MTV talk show Dogg After Dark, performing Day 'n' Nite at the end of the show. Two days later on February 19, 2009, Cudi appeared on BET's 106 & Park with Kanye West to debut the video of Day 'n' Nite . On March 16, 2009 Kid Cudi performed on mtvU's 2009 Spring Break special. On March 17, 2009 Cudi appeared on Last Call with Carson Daly where he performed three songs. Kid Cudi has also made cameo appearances in Solange's video for her song T.O.N.Y. and in the Black Eyed Peas video for I Gotta Feeling.
Kid Cudi, along with Emile, produced an exclusive single called "Switchin Lanes" for the video game Midnight Club: Los Angeles, part of its "South Central Premium Upgrade" Downloadable Content (DLC) which came out March 19, 2009 for the PlayStation 3 and March 27, 2009 for the Xbox 360. He contributed to the soundtrack for Capcom's Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition. The game was released on June 24 2010.
Down & Out
Kid Cudi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you feel it, muthafucka, you can't go wrong
To the screw-face niggaz, whatchu on?
Get off that, get a goal and focus dawg
See, I'm what you need, you fiendin' now
Ask around and I'll bet you figure out
How to zone and control your future while
Yeah, I think I'm in the future too
To be like them, I be like who
I be like me, Mr. K-i-d S-o-l-o D-o-l-o
See the lord adore me
He met me half way
'No guts, no glory' I always say
So until I reach what I came here to find
Along with inner peace, life will always be a grind
One day I'll be what the world want me to be
I was born to be super duper Scott
The one bad bitches call super duper lame
Now super duper fame gives me super duper brains
86 to Cape, but I'm super duper high
Soarin' passed the moon I'm super duper lonely... guy
(Chorus)
Down and out, so I'm out and down and looking for a substance to drown in, hey
Down and out, so I'm out and down and looking for a substance to drown in
(Chorus)
For even in hell, I still have faith
To one day be free with my father at the gates
But make no mistakes, I'll show you what time takes
To be a success on earth, mixed with all the hate
I stand on my pivot, my life you could not live it
For the things that I've seen have been too damn explicit
But soon you will get it on a CD with some credits
I provide my grind, mixed with no edits
They say they don't want me when I'm fucked up and forgotten
Until I rise up amongst the evils tryin' to stop 'em
Slow down bitch, my money is what I'm clockin'
I'm tick-tockin'
Once I start, I ain't stopping
Such bullshit that my soul deal wit
When my room's dim lit
I pray to God help with, uh
My endeavors and any kind of weather
Hoes be pleather fake so I erase 'em out my sim
Now do you want to be him?
Think twice, you commit suicide tryin' to read my mind
Now do you want to be him?
Think twice, you commit suicide tryin' to read my mind
Down and out, Hey
Down and out, out
(Chorus) x 4
Down and out (repeat x 4)
"Down & Out" by Kid Cudi is a song about his journey to success as a rapper and struggling with addiction along the way. The first verse is an expression of self-belief and encouragement to others who might be feeling down on their luck. Kid Cudi tells his story to let people know that they can still make something of themselves despite their circumstances. In the second verse, Cudi affirms his faith in God and expresses his goal to be free with him in the afterlife. He also acknowledges the challenges he's faced and how he's had to work hard to achieve success, despite the hate he's encountered.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "Down and out" four times. It represents Cudi's low points, where he feels like he needs a substance to drown in. This refers to his struggles with addiction and trying to escape the pain he was experiencing.
The bridge of the song is a warning to those who might want to take his place. He tells them to think twice and consider the cost of trying to read his mind or be like him. Cudi warns that his journey has been difficult and not everyone can handle the pressures that come with it.
Overall, "Down & Out" is a song about resilience, faith, and perseverance. It's a reminder that even when things seem impossible, there's always a way to rise above it.
Line by Line Meaning
This is my story, this is my song
I am going to tell my life story through my music
If you feel it, muthafucka, you can't go wrong
If you connect with my music, it can help guide you in your own life
To the screw-face niggaz, whatchu on?
To those with a negative attitude, what is your problem?
Get off that, get a goal and focus dawg
Stop being negative and aimless, set a goal and concentrate on it
See, I'm what you need, you fiendin' now
I am what people need in their lives, they crave my music
Ask around and I'll bet you figure out
If you inquire about me, you will find out my worth
How to zone and control your future while
I can teach you how to focus on your goals and shape your own destiny
Yeah, I think I'm in the future too
I am always thinking ahead, trying to anticipate what's next
I'm unlike fools, who precede the jewels
I am unlike other rappers who focus on material possessions
To be like them, I be like who
Why should I emulate others when I can be myself?
I be like me, Mr. K-i-d S-o-l-o D-o-l-o
I am Kid Cudi, the solo artist
See the lord adore me
I feel that my talent is a gift from God
He met me half way
I have worked hard to achieve my success, but also feel blessed to have been given a talent
'No guts, no glory' I always say
You have to take risks to achieve greatness, it's a saying I believe in
So until I reach what I came here to find
I won't stop working until I have achieved my goals
Along with inner peace, life will always be a grind
I will continue to struggle, but as long as I am at peace with myself, I can handle it
One day I'll be what the world want me to be
I have struggled to fit in, but eventually I will be successful
I was born to be super duper Scott
I was born to be Kid Cudi, a unique artist
The one bad bitches call super duper lame
Some people don't appreciate my music, but I don't care
Now super duper fame gives me super duper brains
My success has allowed me to expand my intellectual horizons
86 to Cape, but I'm super duper high
I've traveled a lot, but right now I'm really stoned
Soarin' passed the moon I'm super duper lonely... guy
I may be successful, but I feel lonely and isolated
Down and out, so I'm out and down and looking for a substance to drown in, hey
I feel depressed and hopeless, looking for something to numb my pain
For even in hell, I still have faith
Even when I feel like I'm in a bad situation, I still have hope that things will get better
To one day be free with my father at the gates
I look forward to being reunited with my deceased father in the afterlife
But make no mistakes, I'll show you what time takes
I am willing to put in the effort to achieve my goals, no matter how long it takes
To be a success on earth, mixed with all the hate
It is difficult to be successful in a world filled with negativity and criticism
I stand on my pivot, my life you could not live it
I have experienced events in my life that others could not handle
For the things that I've seen have been too damn explicit
I have seen things that are explicit and disturbing
But soon you will get it on a CD with some credits
I will express my experiences through my music
I provide my grind, mixed with no edits
I am authentic and raw in my music, it is unfiltered
They say they don't want me when I'm fucked up and forgotten
People only appreciate me when I am successful, not when I am struggling
Until I rise up amongst the evils tryin' to stop 'em
I will overcome obstacles and succeed, despite naysayers
Slow down bitch, my money is what I'm clockin'
Don't rush me, I am focused on making money
I'm tick-tockin', Once I start, I ain't stopping
I am on a roll and won't let anything stop me
Such bullshit that my soul deal wit
I have to deal with a lot of negativity in my life
When my room's dim lit
Sometimes I feel depressed and alone
I pray to God help with, uh
I turn to God for help and guidance
My endeavors and any kind of weather
I ask God to help me with my goals, no matter what obstacles I face
Hoes be pleather fake so I erase 'em out my sim
I try to avoid fake people in my life
Now do you want to be him?
Do you want to be in my position?
Think twice, you commit suicide tryin' to read my mind
My thoughts and emotions are complex, don't try to understand me by yourself
Down and out, Hey
I am feeling depressed and hopeless
Down and out, out
I am really struggling right now
(Chorus) x 4
Repeated chorus expressing feelings of hopelessness and despair
Down and out (repeat x 4)
Repeating the title and theme of the song
Contributed by Lucas P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Tony B
I got into Kid Cudi shortly after kids see ghosts came out, so I decided to go back and listen to all of his music. It was one of the best decisions of my life.
Ben .Fretschl
Best choice ever
M R M
I envy you
Diego Vazquez
Cudi is the goat! 🚀❤️
Connor Seunninga
Goat reached
Kevin Wortley
I’ve been with him since these singles were dropping. I’d be right on top of his drop dates, cudi is honestly unmatched. One of the most versatile artist of our generation.
William McCowan
12 years still rocking this song! Where my other og cudi fans???
niek mevis
Yessirr, and he never left my nr 1 artist of all time spot
Deak Arttison
Right here
William McCowan
Y’all still here lol