Fifteen years into his career,Kid Cudiis still trying to push his art further.
Strong visuals have always played a large role in Cudi’s work.
Tackling the world of animation has been a goal from the beginning, andEntergalacticfinally takes him there.
Kid Cudi’s latest album, ‘Entergalactic,’ arrives with its own animated Netflix special.Photographer: G L Askew II Illustrator: Michał Sawtyruk for Netflix
“I’ve always wanted to work in animation in some capacity,” Cudi tells EW.
It was really just about, ‘How can I find a story that everybody can connect to?’
Once I figured out that love was the key tone, everything kind of flowed together."
Kid Cudi.Photographer: G L Askew II; Illustrator: Michał Sawtyruk
“So I needed to take some time to really think, ‘What is my angle?’
I just want to keep applying that.”
The rapper himself falls into that category.
Meadow (Jessica Williams) and Jabari (Kid Cudi) in Netflix’s ‘Entergalactic’.Netflix
“The first time I watchedEntergalactic, I cried at the end,” Cudi says.
But it was still so powerful that it moved me, man.
That’s the s— you want to do.
Jabari (Kid Cudi) in Netflix’s ‘Entergalactic’.Netflix
You want to make some powerful s—.
He clarifies that they weren’t sad tears, but tears of joy.
“I don’t have what Jabari has,” he says.
So it was more just being happy to see that itcanhappen for someone, even if this is animated.
This story could be someone’s reality: People could find each other and it could be perfect.
It could bemyreality one day.
A lot of this is what I hope for in my own life.
That’s where a lot of the inspiration came from."
Not all the cuts onEntergalacticare about love; some are just “great Kid Cudi rap records.”
“I felt like I was kind of hitting the ceiling.
Entergalacticthe album is out Sept. 30, the same day Cudi’sEntergalacticspecial premieres on Netflix.
confirm to check out more of EW’sFall Music Preview,running all this week through Sept. 30.
