Like the comic-book-turned-movie "Scott Pilgrim vs. The World", Cudi plots a story based on his insecurities and struggles with success.
Cee-Lo, as he often does in Gnarls Barkley, invites you to start this journey.
In a live concert, Cudi either freestyled or performed a completely different version of the second verse (warning: poor quality, but the only video to be found with this alternate second verse).
Scott Mescudi Vs. The World
Kid Cudi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How's everyone doing?
You are now in the world I'm ruining
Take a minute to adjust for the wondrous
Cluster fuck of fun and enchantment
I promise this some generation X shit
Speak for the seller who I left with
Parallel levels in a dark dark place
And guided you all with a smile upon my face
As the sun kisses us on the foreheads gently
Gentle with the drugs, heavy with the love
And my speeches on stage, rock mountains from a club
Money doesn't move me except on the literal
G4 flights, now we're off to Australia
I wanna see more of the world
These are more than just words
These are facts from a winner
This is our journey into the horizon
Hope you can see past if it's real to you
We can meet on the other side
On the other side, ayy
This is our journey into the horizon
Hope you can see past if it's real to you
Then we can meet on the other side
On the other side
What up? How is everyone feeling?
I hope you understand what you're hearing
Take a minute to roll up for the wondrous
Clusterfuck of darkness and evil
I will play the Yin and the Yang for ya
And my jeans will be off with the little skinnies
Upgraded, fitted into the T
Work hard, making sure I don't become a memory
Hard to press on when the memories remember me
And they always find the perfect moment
High speed I'm a minimal slum
Lost in the wind, I've lost all my friends
Maybe they were never meant to be acquainted
Money seems to make everything tainted
Everybody mad 'cause they stuck where I knew 'em last
Took what I wanted and I did it all blunted, oh oh
This is our journey into the horizon
Hope you can see past if it's real to you
We can meet on the other side
On the other side, ayy
This is our journey into the horizon
Hope you can see past if it's real to you
Then we can meet on the other side
On the other side
This is our journey into the horizon
Hope you can see past if it's real to you
We can meet on the other side
On the other side, ayy
This is our journey into the horizon
Hope you can see past if it's real to you
Then we can meet on the other side
On the other side
In "Scott Mescudi Vs. The World," Kid Cudi addresses his listeners and invites them into his world. He refers to his world as a "clusterfuck of fun and enchantment," acknowledging that it can be both exciting and overwhelming. He takes pride in being able to connect with his fans and leave an impact on them, even if it means taking them to dark places. He also references his success as a musician, but explains that money doesn't drive him - his love for music and desire to experience the world drives him. He sings about his journey of self-discovery and self-improvement, acknowledging that it's hard to move on from negative memories but emphasizing the importance of personal growth. The chorus encourages listeners to join him on his journey, looking past the dark times and meeting him on the other side.
Throughout the song, Kid Cudi references his struggles with drugs and mental health, topics he has openly discussed in the past. He connects with listeners who may be dealing with similar issues and encourages them to persevere. The line "I will play the Yin and the Yang for ya" represents his duality - he can be both light and dark, but ultimately strives for balance. Additionally, the line "Money seems to make everything tainted" could be interpreted as his rejection of mainstream success and his desire to create music for the sake of the art.
Line by Line Meaning
What up?
Greetings, how are you doing?
How's everyone doing?
I hope everyone is doing well.
You are now in the world I'm ruining
You have entered into the world that I have negatively impacted.
Take a minute to adjust for the wondrous
Cluster fuck of fun and enchantment
Take a moment to get used to the chaotic and captivating experience that is about to occur.
I promise this some generation X shit
This is a unique and unconventional experience that only those from the Generation X era can understand.
Speak for the seller who I left with
I represent the person who sold me drugs and whom I have now left behind.
Parallel levels in a dark dark place
We are all in a low and depressing state of mind.
Tripped all you niggas to a dark dark fate
I have caused all of you to fall into an unfortunate and negative situation.
And guided you all with a smile upon my face
Despite leading you down a dark path, I did so with a smile on my face.
As the sun kisses us on the foreheads gently
The sun is shining down on us gently and positively.
Gentle with the drugs, heavy with the love
I am careful and cautious with the drugs, but heavy and intense with my love and passion for life.
And my speeches on stage, rock mountains from a club
My performances on stage are powerful and impactful enough to move mountains, even when performed in a small club.
Money doesn't move me except on the literal
I am not motivated by money, except in its literal sense of being a means of transportation.
G4 flights, now we're off to Australia
We are now flying on a private jet to Australia.
I wanna see more of the world
I desire to travel and experience more of the world.
These are more than just words
These are not just words I am speaking, but rather are truthful and important statements.
These are facts from a winner
These are factual statements from someone who has succeeded.
This is our journey into the horizon
Hope you can see past if it's real to you
We can meet on the other side
On the other side, ayy
We are venturing into the unknown future and I hope you can understand and appreciate this experience. We can reunite on the other side.
I will play the Yin and the Yang for ya
And my jeans will be off with the little skinnies
Upgraded, fitted into the T
I will balance opposites and extremes for you. I will remove my tight jeans in exchange for a more comfortable T-shirt.
Work hard, making sure I don't become a memory
Hard to press on when the memories remember me
And they always find the perfect moment
I work hard to prevent myself from being forgotten. It is difficult to move on when memories of me continue to resurface at just the right moments.
High speed I'm a minimal slum
Lost in the wind, I've lost all my friends
Maybe they were never meant to be acquainted
I move quickly but have very little. I am lost and alone, having lost all of my friends. Perhaps our paths were never meant to cross.
Money seems to make everything tainted
Everybody mad 'cause they stuck where I knew 'em last
Took what I wanted and I did it all blunted, oh oh
Money has a negative impact on everything. Everyone is upset that they are still in the same place while I have moved on. I took what I wanted, all while under the influence.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Emile Haynie, Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind