It's been three years since Kid Cudi split from G.O.O.D. Music, but from all appearances, it seems like he's at least renewed his working relationship with that's label's founder Kanye West. In an interview with Billboard Magazine, Cudi talked about his bond with Kanye and how they managed to get back into the studio together for West most recent album The Life of Pablo. "Me and Kanye are brothers," Cudi said. "With family, there’s always going to be issues and s--t."
That was the first time I had been around him and his team in a while. In order to get back into the creative process, we had to talk. I’m not one of those people who’s just going to come around after a while, jump in and make music. We needed to have a big bro, lil bro convo. As soon as we had that, we were good. Whatever we were dealing with, it was a beautiful thing to clear the air about. I’m really happy to be back working with my friends.
Cudi also talked about how he ended up on the tracks, "Father Stretch My Hands" and "Waves."
I enjoy creating. The first song Kanye sent me is “Waves.” He sent me that in December. It was different than it is now. I remember one night we were all just sitting there and I was hoarse from a show the night before where I lost my voice. I was in New York listening to the latest edit. Chris Brown was already on it and we were thinking about how we could make it better. Chris really has this amazing voice. But there were all these ad-libs around it. So I cleared out all the extra and let’s just hear him. That’s ultimately what you hear now. We all bounced ideas around and came up with this minimal version. Once we got that, I hummed on it a little. Kanye had been working on that album for a while. And as you can see, it’s still changing. That song wasn’t even going to make it. But I was like, “We have to do something.” And then Chance the Rapper pushed. And Mike Dean and Plain Pat were key players, too.
There is however some sad news for fans who have been waiting years for Cudi to drop the final installment of his proposed Man on the Moon trilogy: It ain't happening.
Guys, you have to realize: I came up with 'Man on the Moon' when I was a young man. People change their vibe! We can follow the same template and do the five-act split. Sonically, I’m still going to be where I’m at. Honestly, I was ready to live up to the obligation and do Man on the Moon 3. I haven’t been dicking around. I was planning on doing it after 'Speedin’ Bullet.' But the 'Speedin’ Bullet' response tore me up. It made me realize what’s most important. I’m getting back on the bike again and doing what I do best: me.
