Scott Mescudi(born January 30, 1984),better known by his stage name Kid Cudi (/ˈkɪd ˈkʌdi/ kid kud-ee, often stylized KiD CuDi), is an American hip-hop recording artist and actor from Cleveland, Ohio. A rapper, singer-songwriter, guitarist and record producer, Cudi is signed under Republic Records, as well as his own imprint, Wicked Awesome Records. He first gained recognition after the release of his first official full-length project, a mixtape titled A Kid Named Cudi (2008). The mixtape caught the attention of American record executive and rapper-producer Kanye West, who subsequently signed Cudi to his GOOD Music label, in late 2008. Cudi's association with West and the GOOD Music label, as well as his breakout single "Day 'n' Nite", led him to prominence.