Who’s Who on ‘Kids See Ghosts’

Rapper Kid Cudi (2nd-L) and Recording Artist Kanye West (R) attend the Band of Outsiders Fall 2011 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at SIR Stage on February 12, 2011 in New York City.

Role: Producer

Song: Fire

Andre 3K was in the studio with Kanye back in early 2016. However, it’s unclear as of this writing if “Fire” dates from those sessions. Last month, the once (and future?) Outkast member released two new songs to commemorate Mother’s Day.

Role: Composer/lyricist, featured artist

Song: Kids See Ghosts

Bey is better known by his former rap name, Mos Def (he adopted his current name in 2011). Bey and Ye have been down since the beginning, with the Brooklyn icon appearing on The College Dropout’s “Two Words.” Bey hasn’t released a solo album since 2009’s The Ecstatic, but recently teased a reunion project via his duo with Talib Kweli, Black Star.  

Role: Composer/lyricist, producer

Song: Freeee (Ghost Town Pt. 2)

Bhasker is a producer and musician who has been working with Kanye since 808s & Heartbreak. He also had his hands in smash hits like “Run This Town” and “Uptown Funk.” Bhasker’s latest album is a remake of the Talking Heads’ 1980 classic Remain in Light with the Beninese singer and songwriter Angelique Kidjo.

Role: Composer/lyricist

Song: Cudi Montage

The late Nirvana frontman’s “Burn the Rain” is sampled on “Cudi Montage.” “Burn the Rain” appears on Montage of Heck: The Home Recordings, which accompanies the documentary of the same name.

Role: Producer

Song: Kids See Ghosts

Dawson is Kanye’s longtime engineer and mixer, dating back to Late Registration. He previously received production credit on the MBDTF cut “Power.”

Role: Composer/lyricist, producer

Songs: 4th Dimension, Cudi Montage, Feel the Love (both); Ghost Town Pt. 2 (composer/lyricist only)

Veteran producer/engineer/mixer Dean was all over Kanye West’s Ye, so it makes sense he would be equally involved in Kids See Ghosts. Also, as J Prince’s conduit to Kanye, he may well be responsible for ending the Drake/Pusha T beef.

Role: Producer

Songs: Feel the Love, Reborn, Cudi Montage

Oladipo “Dot Da Genius” Omishore has been Kid Cudi’s partner in crime almost from the beginning. The pair met in 2006, and had early success with “Day ’n’ Nite,” which Dot produced. In addition to Cudi’s solo work, Dot teamed up with his friend to form the group WZRD, which released a self-titled album in 2012.

Role: Producer

Song: Reborn

Evan “E*vax” Mast, half of the beloved duo Ratatat, is known for his work in electronic music. He also produced Jay Z’s confusingly-titled addition to the Great Gatsby soundtrack, “100$ Bill.”

Role: Producer

Songs: Kids See Ghosts, Reborn

“Plain” Pat Reynolds used to manage both Kanye and Cudi. He has produced, A&R’d, or both on everything from The College Dropout to Man on the Moon to Chicken-N-Beer to Ashanti’s Chapter II.

Role: Featured artist, composer/lyricist

Song: 4th Dimension

Louis Prima is an odd choice for a featured artist, considering he died in 1978. The legendary singer, trumpeter, songwriter, and actor is best known for swing tunes like “Jump, Jive, an’ Wail.” He is included because his holiday favorite “What Will Santa Claus Say? (When He Finds Everybody Swingin')” is sampled on “4th Dimension.”

This isn’t the first time Kanye has given a posthumous feature. He did the same thing with Otis Redding, who was killed in a plane crash in 1967, on “Otis.”

Role: Featured artist

Song: Feel the Love

One of the first voices you hear on Kids See Ghosts is none other than Pusha Ton. He was last heard from, of course, on the album that kicked off this G.O.O.D. Music run, Daytona.

Role: Composer/lyricist

Song: Freeee (Ghost Town Pt. 2)

Ty was featured on three tracks on Ye, and now the rapper/singer/songwriter makes a return trip. Oddly enough, despite his appearance on the song’s sequel, he does not appear on the original “Ghost Town.”