By Mike Winslow
Cleveland, Ohio native Kid Cudi has put to rest any retirement rumors with a new record deal and upcoming record label via a recently inked deal with Universal/Motown.
Universal/Motown President Sylvia Rhone revealed that Kid Cudi’s upcoming debut album Man on the Moon: The Guardian will be released through his label Dream On, in conjunction with Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music imprint.
Universal Motown will also distribute Dream On, a new joint venture between Kid Cudi, his partners Emile and Plain Pat and West’s G.O.O.D. Music.
“Kid Cudi is at the vanguard of a game-changing new generation of artists,” Universal Motown President Sylvia Rhone told AllHipHop.com in a statement. “He crosses musical boundaries with an appeal that goes beyond genre, format, race, language, and culture. Cudi lives easily in the Hip-Hop, indie rock, pop, and R&B worlds – a diversity that shows in his innovative music and his all-embracing persona. He is a born storyteller who brings a positive, life-affirming message to his brilliant lyrical flow and compelling music. There are no clichés in what Cudi does. He is a breath of fresh air – a dynamic and important new voice, not only in the next phase of Hip-Hop, but as a groundbreaking trendsetter who represents the future. I am thrilled to welcome Kid Cudi into the Universal Motown family.”
The deal comes on the heels of the worldwide success of Kid Cudi’s single “Day’ N’ Nite,” as well as West’s hit single “Heartless," which Kid Cudi co-wrote.
His own single “Day N’ Nite” debuted at #6 on Billboard’s Hot Digital Tracks chart, in addition to rising as high as #3 on iTunes’ Hip-Hop charts.
“Day N’ Nite” is also a hit in Canada, New Zealand and Belgium and the U.K., where a remix of the track is sitting at #2 on the U.K. charts.
The single is also approaching gold certification, which over 450,000 units purchased thus far.
“Partnering Kid Cudi with Universal Motown and Sylvia Rhone couldn't be a more natural fit,” added Emile and Plain Pat. “They were the first major company to take notice of our movement and truly grasp our vision. We are thrilled to extend and deepen our relationship. It's a great feeling to watch the world discover the talent we saw in Cudi over these past years.”
Kid Cudi’s debut album Man on the Moon: The Guardian is due in stores this summer.