Kid Cudi‘s new album, INSANO, is making waves in the music world. One track, “X & CUD,” is grabbing much attention. It’s a collaboration between Kid Cudi and the late rapper XXXTENTACION. Dot Da Genius, John Cunningham, and Kid Cudi produced the song. It addresses the critical subjects of mental health and death.
Kid Cudi really just took an already existing XXXTENTACION song and put it on his album INSANO… what the fuck 💀 PIC.TWITTER.COM/QGBB3IWUUK
— JGokuu (@JGokuuYT) JANUARY 12, 2024
The song samples XXXTENTACION’s 2017 song “Orlando”, and the collaboration between the two artists was first hinted at in March 2021.
Kid Cudi had tweeted about XXXTENTACION’s remix of his song “Edge of the Earth,” titled “The Edge.” This tweet sparked a conversation between Kid Cudi and John Cunningham, a close friend and producer of XXXTENTACION. The two confirmed that a collaboration was in the works, centered around Kid Cudi recording new vocals on XXXTENTACION’s “The Edge.”
In September 2021, John Cunningham fueled the anticipation by replying to a tweet from an XXXTENTACION fan page. He hinted at multiple collaborations between the two artists, using “moment(s).”
However, the release of “X & CUD” has been met with mixed reactions from fans. Some have criticized Kid Cudi for allegedly using XXXTENTACION’s music without his permission. On the other hand, some fans praise the collaboration, viewing it as a fitting tribute to the late rapper.
The controversy surrounding “X & CUD” serves as a reminder of the complexities involved in posthumous collaborations. As the debate continues, one thing is clear: Kid Cudi’s INSANO has undoubtedly left an indelible mark on the music scene.
XXXTENTACION, whose real name was Jahseh Dwayne Onfroy, was tragically killed on June 18, 2018. He was shot in a drive-by shooting outside a motorcycle dealership in Deerfield Beach, Florida. The attack was a robbery attempt, and XXXTENTACION was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
