MANIAC
by Kid Cudi (featuring St. Vincent)

Album: Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager (2010)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Kid Cudi goes to a dark place on this song, embracing the unpredictable, nefarious side of himself. He raps:

    I am the maniac, I am the fool
    I found a monster in me when I lost my cool


    We later learned that Cudi was dealing with some serious anger issues provoked by his success. He got into drugs and reached a point when just about anything could trigger a bout of rage. Cudi eventually went to rehab and became an advocate for mental health.
  • This is a track from Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager, the sophomore album from New York hip-hop artist Kid Cudi. The song also features a verse from indie rapper Cage and vocals from Cudi's fellow Brooklynite singer-songwriter St. Vincent. The three artists performed the song on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon along with Fallon's house band The Roots on November 2, 2010.
  • Cudi hooked up with Cage after he asked his A&R to reach out to an underground MC. "I was just happy that he responded, because he's a hip-hop dude and at that point I didn't know how real hip-hop heads thought about me musically," said Cudi to MTV News. "So I was like, 'Man, this dude is not going to mess with me. He's going to be like, "Man, what is this? Nah, I'm not really rocking with that." ' And I spoke to him on the phone and he was just mad cool."

    Cudi added that he was unsure if Cage would like the collaboration that he had in mind. "At first I was looking at his expression and I was like, 'Man, he's probably going to hate this.' I never put it out there, but I always just brace myself in my mind, said Cudi. "Like, man, if he hates it, I ain't mad at him, but he was feeling it."
  • The song contains a sample of "The Strangers" by St. Vincent.
  • The song's music video was directed by Transformers star Shia LaBeouf, who previously helmed the clip for Cage's song about obsession, "I Never Knew You."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Philip Cody

Philip CodySongwriter Interviews

A talented lyricist, Philip helped revive Neil Sedaka's career with the words to "Laughter In The Rain" and "Bad Blood."

Michael Franti

Michael FrantiSongwriter Interviews

Franti tells the story behind his hit "Say Hey (I Love You)" and explains why yoga is an integral part of his lifestyle and his Soulshine tour.

Graham Parker

Graham ParkerSongwriter Interviews

When Judd Apatow needed under-appreciated rockers for his Knocked Up sequel, he immediately thought of Parker, who just happened to be getting his band The Rumour back together.

Dennis DeYoung

Dennis DeYoungSongwriter Interviews

Dennis DeYoung explains why "Mr. Roboto" is the defining Styx song, and what the "gathering of angels" represents in "Come Sail Away."

Chris Frantz of Talking Heads

Chris Frantz of Talking HeadsSongwriter Interviews

Talking Heads drummer Chris Frantz on where the term "new wave" originated, the story of "Naive Melody," and why they never recorded another cover song after "Take Me To The River."

Dar Williams

Dar WilliamsSongwriter Interviews

A popular contemporary folk singer, Williams still remembers the sticky note that changed her life in college.