Willow and Jaden Smith, Lil Yachty, and Timothée Chalamet all talk about what the Cleveland musician means to them, and they exemplify the way many in their teens and 20s felt spoken to by records like “Sky Might Fall” and “Soundtrack 2 My Life.” Schoolboy Q and A$AP Rocky also share how Cudi’s work affected and inspired them.
Though it features noteworthy interviews with Cudi’s inner circle–producers Dot Da Genius, Plain Pat, Emile Haynie, and long-time manager Dennis Cummings–the most moving insights in the film come from the generation raised on Cudi’s art. It’s also made Scott Mescudi, the human being, the subject of endless curiosity, which was the inspiration behind A Man Named Scott, a new documentary out November 5 on Amazon Prime Video. Kid Cudi’s inventive approach to melodic hip-hop and his soul-baring, heart-on-his-sleeve lyrics have made him one of the most culturally significant musicians of the last 15 years.
