A Kid Named Cudi

Reception

• Rapreviews wrote: "We've already learned from Lil Wayne and Kanye West that the public is willing to embrace the martian—if accordingly entertaining. Fortunately, Kid Cudi isn't short in that respect, and will no doubt only improve upon his stellar debut given proper management and artistic liberation."
• Pinpoint Music wrote "A Kid Named Cudi blends styles, beats and even genres. From a Mims-esque 'This Is Why I'm Hot' beat in the single 'Day ‘N’ Night', to the slowed down tracks 'Man on the Moon' and '50 Ways to Make a Record' that will remind you of something by Gym Class Heroes. Heavy-hitting tracks 'T.G.I.F.' and 'Cleveland Is the Reason' finish the mixtape strong with clear influences from Mr. West on both tracks."
• Ian A. of Teen Ink wrote "His work has changed my persona on rap music greatly. Everyone out there who thinks rap is stupid, just listen to some of Kid Cudi’s music and hopefully you will change your mind."
• In a 2013 article for The BoomBox, the author wrote: "On , Cudi raps and croons over samples and interpolations of Gnarls Barkley, Paul Simon, Band of Horses, J Dilla, Nosaj Thing, N.E.R.D. and Outkast. He melded indie rock, electronica and dubstep seamlessly with hip-hop without pandering or reaching. Before Drake broke through with 2009’s So Far Gone, rapping and singing over Swedish indie poppers Lykke Li and Peter Bjorn and John, Cudi tweaked with multi-genre covers and seamless transitions between singing and rapping."

  Track listing

• "Down & Out" samples "Chonkyfire" by Outkast.
• "Is There Any Love?" samples "Dear God" by Monsters of Folk.
• "Cudi Get" samples "Wild" by J Dilla.
• "Man on the Moon " samples "Aquarium" by Nosaj Thing.
• "The Prayer" samples "The Funeral" by Band of Horses.
• "Maui Wowie" samples "I'm So High" by Grind Mode.
• "50 Ways to Make a Record" samples "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" by Paul Simon.
• "Whenever" samples "Pink & Blue" by Outkast.
• "Pillow Talk" samples "Happy" by Surface.
• "Save My Soul " samples "Who's Gonna Save My Soul Tonight" by Gnarls Barkley.
• "Cudi Spazzin'" samples "Spaz" by N.E.R.D.
• "Heaven at Nite" samples by "Tacobel Canon" by Ratatat.

  Personnel

• Chip tha Ripper – featured artist
• Crookers – producer
• Dot da Genius – engineer, mixing, producer
• Emile Haynie – engineer, executive producer, keyboards, producer, synthesizer
• The Kickdrums – Producer
• Kid Cudi – vocals, art direction, design, director, executive producer
• Patrick "Plain Pat" Reynolds – executive producer
• Wale – featured artist