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.
Focused
Kid Cudi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I'm hoping, if I'm not slowing
Gotta just keep on rollin'
I'm joking (homeboy moving fast)
And I'm hoping (praying that I don't crash)(All I know is)
I'm not slowing
Gotta just keep on rolling
Homeboy moving fast
And I'm hoping, praying I don't crash
All I know is I'm not slowing
Gotta just keep on rolling
Gotta keep at it, gotta stay focused
Pulling up once, I'mma lit mine up
Fill up the plug, let me light my blunt
And I don't really know what the fucks in my cup
But a couple shots of it got a nigga unstuck
I'm just here to have a good time
A lil white chick, a lil white wine
Outta town, spent a couple nights at chows
Smoking weed in the suites, til we out of towels
And don't bother me, high shit for my broccoli
Fly shit for no goddamn reason and ya'll aight but y'all not like me
It's MMG and that's my clique
That's BOA see that's my set
MY CDG shit match my kicks
An apostrophe I'm behind that S
Or that Black beemer, black to pick me up
Back wood, the tree I'm ashing out, see I'm kickin my raps good
With or without sales I'm killing these blackheads my rap is Noxema
Light it up for a nigga, one or two hoes ain't enough for a nigga
One or two bottles ain't enough for a nigga
Redberry everywhere got Puff gettin' jealous
I'm joking (homeboy moving fast)
And I'm hoping (praying that I don't crash)(All I know is)
I'm not slowing
Gotta just keep on rolling
Gotta keep at it, gotta stay focused
Homeboy moving fast
And I'm hoping, praying I don't crash
All I know is I'm not slowing
Gotta just keep on rolling
Gotta keep at it, gotta stay focused
One night love, I'mma need that
He could own that, shawty, I'ma lease that
I'ma put you in the game where your kicks at
I'mma sign that work and release that
I don't be where the crowds or police at
I just be where the cash and the freaks at
Smoking Green Bay nigga, I'm a cheese head
In a Lambo, see me with the G's at
Ten k in my camos, word. Ten J's and I can't move
Shades, LV was a little dough
Going hard for the days I was piss poor
And go hard cause I feel it's only right to
Maybach. G.O.O.D music, the right move
Girls say everything that I write smooth
Fuck rap, I'm getting pussy off of Haiku
One time for the girls with the right shoes
Fuckin with a dude probably the right move
Two times for the chicks with the right bag
If it's right tonight, I might bite that
Three times, show me your peace sign
Not with your hand girl, open your knees out!
Look, money will leap out, tuntin when we out
Double MG, OUT!
I'm joking (homeboy moving fast)
And I'm hoping (praying that I don't crash)(All I know is)
I'm not slowing
Gotta just keep on rolling
Gotta keep at it, gotta stay focused
Homeboy moving fast
And I'm hoping, praying I don't crash
All I know is I'm not slowing
Gotta just keep on rolling
Gotta keep at it, gotta stay focused
The lyrics of Kid Cudi feat. Wale's song "Focused" speak of the need to keep moving forward without slowing down. The repetition of "gotta just keep on rolling" emphasizes the need to remain focused despite any obstacles that may arise. The first verse also reflects a desire to have a good time and escape from reality, with references to smoking weed, drinking, and spending time with girls. However, the second verse highlights a focus on the pursuit of success, as the lyrics mention signing work and making the right moves.
The main theme of the song is the importance of staying focused on one's goals and not getting distracted or derailed by other things. This is exemplified in the chorus, which repeats the phrase "gotta keep at it, gotta stay focused." The lyrics also touch on the desire to have fun and live in the moment, but ultimately prioritize the pursuit of success.
One interesting fact about the song is that it features a collaboration between two prominent hip-hop artists, Kid Cudi and Wale. The song was released in 2012 as part of Kid Cudi's mixtape "A Kid Named Cudi" and helped to establish Wale as a rising star in the rap game. Another interesting fact is that the song was produced by Dot da Genius, who has worked with artists like Kanye West, Drake, and Travis Scott.
Line by Line Meaning
Shawty, no joking
I'm not kidding around
And I'm hoping, if I'm not slowing
I'm praying I don't crash while moving fast
Gotta just keep on rollin'
I have to keep pushing forward
Pulling up once, I'mma lit mine up
I'm lighting up my blunt as soon as I arrive
But a couple shots of it got a nigga unstuck
A few sips of my drink have me feeling free from my worries
Outta town, spent a couple nights at chows
I'm spending a few nights out of town
And don't bother me, high shit for my broccoli
I'm enjoying my high and don't want to be disturbed
It's MMG and that's my clique
I'm part of MMG and that's my crew
An apostrophe I'm behind that S
I'm standing behind my success
Or that Black beemer, black to pick me up
My black BMW is here to pick me up
With or without sales I'm killing these blackheads my rap is Noxema
My music is so good it's like Noxema in getting rid of blemishes or 'blackheads'
I'mma put you in the game where your kicks at
I'll help you get into the world where you belong
I'mma sign that work and release that
I'll sign off on your work and make it official
In a Lambo, see me with the G's at
I'm hanging out with the gangsters while driving my Lamborghini
Maybach. G.O.O.D music, the right move
I'm making the right decisions in my career
Girls say everything that I write smooth
Women love the smooth lyrics I write
One time for the girls with the right shoes
Shoutout to the ladies with the fashionable footwear
Two times for the chicks with the right bag
Props to the women with the stylish purses
Three times, show me your peace sign
Flash me a peace sign three times
Not with your hand girl, open your knees out!
I'm talking about a different kind of 'peace sign'
Look, money will leap out, tuntin when we out
When I'm out with my squad, money flows easily
Double MG, OUT!
My crew Double MG is out!
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DJAMEL FEZARI, SCOTT MESCUDI, OLUBOWALE VICTOR AKINTIMEHIN, WALKER JOHNSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind