Kid Cudi has credited Kendrick Lamar with helping inspire his new album, "INSANO."
Cudi dropped "INSANO," his ninth studio album, on Friday.
The project features guest appearances from Travis Scott, ASAP Rocky, and Young Thug, among others.
Speaking with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe in an interview published Thursday, Cudi revealed how watching Kendrick perform on his The Big Steppers Tour helped inspire his latest offering.
"I was in Paris, I just finished my European run of tour and I go to see Kendrick. And this muthafucka, it blew my fucking mind," Cudi said.
He continued: “I’m sitting there, I’m watching the crowd reaction from the beginning of the show ’til the end. People were in it, party mode, singing every fucking word. I’m not saying this doesn’t happen at my shows, ’cause it does. But all the way through, I don’t have that experience."
Cudi said the experience of watching Kendrick live made it clear to him in which direction he wanted to go with "INSANO."
“I had this moment where I was like, ‘You know what? This is the reaction I want,'" he said. “I took that inspiration, got to the studio and said, ‘Let’s fucking get to work. We need to make something with some energy.'"
Cudi and Kendrick have worked together on just one previous occasion, teaming up for the song "Solo Dolo Pt. II" from Cudi's 2013 album "Indicud."
Speaking with Lowe, Cudi said he feels grateful to have been able to collaborate with one of his favorite-ever artists.
“Kendrick has always been in my top three artists the world,” he said. “I’m actually so proud of the record that we have."
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