The 25 Best Kid Cudi Hooks

Cudder has been killing choruses for years. We sifted through his catalog and ranked the very best.

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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The hook is such an important part of rap songs. A dedication to them establishes the difference between short-lived sensations and seasoned veterans. Write a catchy, unique chorus, and your chances of success are automatically higher. One could speculate that that's exactly how Kid Cudi made a name for himself. From the first time you heard "Day 'n' Nite," it was apparent that he had a knack for songwriting and melody, and five years later, his talents still shine through on projects like G.O.O.D. Music's Cruel Summer and Cudi's own upcoming LP, Indicud. For a better idea of what we mean, read on for a breakdown of The 25 Best Kid Cudi Hooks.

Written by Mustafa Abubaker (@mustafaintheory)

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25. "Creepers"

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Album: Cruel Summer
Producer: Dan Black
As the only artist with his own song on Cruel Summer, Kid Cudi has a lot of space to air his grievances. He poses the question, "Why you talking about a young hippy?" with a unique sound, and the clubs loved it.

24. "Cleveland Is The Reason"

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23. "No One Believes Me"

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Album: Fright Night OST
Producer: Dot Da Genius
This eerie chorus finds inspiration in the old "boy who cried wolf" motif, and dropped as Cudi was transitioning from the Rager era into the WZRD era. His delivery is enchanting and downright spooky at the right volume.

22. WZRD "Teleport 2 Me, Jamie"

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Album: WZRD
Producer: WZRD
Cudi is at his best when things are personal. The emotion in this is relatable for anyone who's ever missed a lover, but beyond that, it's straight-up catchy from a pop standpoint.

21. "Heaven At Nite"

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20. "REVOFEV"

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Album: Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager
Producer: Plain Pat, Mike Dean
Cudi embraces the role of big brother to all of his fans and invites them to join him on his journey. Produced in a fashion fit for stadiums, that must have been the vision Cudi had when he laced the chorus with his reverberating vocals. It's reminiscent of a rock anthem.

19. WZRD "Efflictim"

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Album: WZRD
Producer: WZRD
This heartbreaking record addresses mortality. Armed with nothing but a guitar and some strings, the sincerity in Cudi's voice on the chorus is sharp enough to cut bone.

18. "Heart Of A Lion"

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Album: Man on the Moon: The End of Day
Producer: Free School
This is a cult classic in Cudi's discography. Backed by immense production, Cudi utilizes it to the fullest extent and comes up with a unique flow to reiterate an age-old message in music via the record's triumphant chorus.

17. Big Boi f/ Kid Cudi "She Hates Me"

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Album: Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors
Producer: Sharif Wilson, Chris Carmouche, Big Boi

Cudi's chemistry with Big Boi is fantastic and it really shows on the chorus of this collaboration. He sounds invigorated, and the entire track benefits as a result.

16. Kanye West f/ Kid Cudi, Big Sean, Charlie Wilson, Common & Pusha T "Good Friday"

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15. "Man On The Moon (The Anthem)"

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Album: A Kid Named Cudi
Producer: Nosaj Thing
This was one of the first Cudi songs that people gravitated towards and the hook certainly helped. It showed Cudi's artistic vulnerability and that he was much different from most rap artists coming out at that time. By exposing his flaws and imperfections to an audience from the very start, Cudi has built a loyal fan base, and he maintains it by doing more of the same.

14. Kanye West f/ Kid Cudi & Raekwon "Gorgeous"

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Album: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Producer: Kanye West, No I.D., Mike Dean
The second song on Kanye's massive LP welcomes Cudi with open arms as he waxes poetic about the desires of fame and what it can bring to one's life. The beat complements Cudi's vocal chops on the chorus and the chemistry with Kanye's verses doesn't hurt, either.

13. "GHOST!"

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Album: Man On The Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager
Producer: Emile, Ken Lewis, No I.D.
The ominois feel of the instrumental, Cudi's lyrics, and how he delivers them make this one his best hooks. You can tell that he's baring his soul here, unleashing pain onto the production, and while jarring, it's addictively catchy, too.

12. Kanye West f/ Kid Cudi, John Legend, Lloyd Banks, Pusha T & Ryan Leslie "Christian Dior Denim Flow"

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11. "Mojo So Dope"

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Album: Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager
Producer: Emile Haynie
A defiant Cudi cannot stress apathy enough. Brooding, dark production lends itself to Cudi's dismantling of the beat, especially on the hook. Subsequently, "give a fuck about your lifestyle," is now an iconic Cudi phrase.

10. "Sky Might Fall"

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Album: Man on the Moon: The End of Day
Producer: Kanye West
Cudi went on record saying that he wanted this song to be included in the Transformers film out at the time, and after one listen, it's clear why. The chorus is simultaneously grand, inspiring, and rebellious. It wouldn't sound out of place in any summer blockbuster.

9. Kanye West f/ Kid Cudi "Welcome To Heartbreak"

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Album: 808s & Heartbreak
Producer: Kanye West, Jeff Bhasker, Plain PatConsider this the impetus for Cudi's creative connection with Kanye. After being impressed with some of his work, 'Ye brought Hawaii to collaborate and for good reason: massive choruses like this one were born.

8. "Trapped In My Mind"

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Album: Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager
Producer: Dot Da Genius, Kid Cudi
The conclusive song on The Legend of Mr. Rager is revealingly stark. Cudi depicts his reality at the time with such frank diction that you feel trapped, too. It's on the chorus where he delves into the darkness, but maintains his signature melodic wit, resulting in an all-around success of a song.

7. "Cudi Zone"

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Album: Man on the Moon: The End of Day
Producer: Emile Haynie
This record exemplifies Cudi's appeal as an artist. He's able to grasp an emotion and relay it in such unique ways to listeners, and on "Cudi Zone," that style is an instant hit. When he exclaims "I'm feeling alright" on the hook, you believe it.

6. "Soundtrack 2 My Life"

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Album: Man on the Moon: The End of Day
Producer: Emile Haynie
The chorus starts: "I've got some issues that nobody can see." You're already hooked after one line. The song opens Cudi's debut with a notable honesty and intensity and still gets the crowds singing along at his concerts.

5. David Guetta f/ Kid Cudi "Memories"

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Album: One More Love
Producer: David Guetta, Frederic Riesterer
When he was on the cusp of superstardom, Kid Cudi linked with David Guetta for the club record "Memories." While Cudi hasn't collaborated with Guetta since then, this song still owns in the clubs, so it's not much of a loss. Cudi's chorus has no doubt led fist pump frenzies at hundreds, if not thousands, of parties.

4. Jay-Z f/ Kid Cudi "Already Home"

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Album: The Blueprint 3
Producer: Kanye West, No I.D., Jeff Bhasker
Cudi seized the moment when asked to be on Jay-Z's last solo album. He comes in on the chorus with the same attitude and passion behind Hov's verses, and the appearance marked a big step forward in his career, gaining Cudi a lot of attention from hip-hop heads who had overlooked him prior to the guest spot.

3. "Day 'n' Nite"

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Album: Man on the Moon: The End of Day
Producer: Dot Da Genius
Cudi's breakout single is still as catchy and relevant in 2013 as it ever was. Produced by Cudi's good friend and other half of WZRD, Dot Da Genius, it shows his apt tendency to seek out the grooves of a beat and harness that to flip them into something equally dope on the verbal end. Because of this song, "the lonely stoner" is forever a part of our vocabularies.

2. "Mr. Rager"

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Album: Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager
Producer: Emile Haynie, Kanye West, No I.D., Jeff Bhasker

Everything comes together in perfect unison on "Mr Rager." It's compelling, charismatic, and cinematic. With just a few words, Cudi makes the feels like a thriller and suggests that big reveal is creeping around the corner. It works, and the record will go down as one of his signature anthems because of that howling hook.

1. "Pursuit of Happiness"

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Album: Man on the Moon: The End of Day
Producer: Ratatat

This is the song that sought out all casual fans of Cudi and converted them into diehards. Assisted by MGMT and Ratatat, the hook is an instant standout, shining above all other hooks on the album, and really, of Cudi's career. He effortlessly blends his personal demons with the sheen of pop appeal. Everything that shines ain't always gonna be gold, but this chorus most certainly is.

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