A new wave in the rap scene is taking shape! With Playboi Carti unleashing new tracks, Nicki Minaj revamping her album, and the highly anticipated release of ‘Vultures’ by Kanye West, it is safe to say that rap enthusiasts are currently on cloud nine. Recently, Apple Music dropped the January 12th release date for ‘Vultures’. Meanwhile, Kid Cudi, known for his genre-bending experimentation with Pop, Rock, Indie, and Alternative, announced his upcoming album, ‘Insano’, through the NFR podcast on X, formerly Twitter, also set for release on the same date.

As the clash of the two hottest releases looms on January 12th, here is a rundown of the top collaborative masterpieces from Kanye West and Kid Cudi. 

Kanye West and Kid Cudi’s top five collaborations

The collaborative journey of West and Kid Cudi kicked off with ‘Welcome to Heartbreak’. Inspired by West’s chat with Dave Sirulnick, it was a pop track featuring electronic instrumentation and a strong reliance on piano. The track Scored 87 and 27 on the US Pop 100 and UK R&B charts in ’08 and ’09. Next up, ‘Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1’, a 2016 hit, received appreciative nods from publications like Complex and HipHopDX. The track also secured its place among the 35 Most Performed R&B/Hip-Hop Songs in 2017.

The third-best collaboration was ‘Gorgeous’. Cudi and West lit up the stage at SXSW with the song and it popped up on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart. Another standout collab from these two musical powerhouses was ‘All of the Lights’, universally praised by music critics for its intricate, maximalist production, and captivating dramatic style. Last in line but not in significance, ‘The Joy’ holds its own as one of the standout collaborations between these American rappers with its flattened time signature and ageless flow.

Despite creating some of the all-time best bangers together, Cudi and West eventually drifted apart. However, the two rappers recently made headlines by reuniting, just a year after their public fallout.

Ye’s reunion with Kid Cudi 

The rift between Kanye West and Kid Cudi ignited over Cudi’s connection with Pete Davidson, the ex-boyfriend of Kim Kardashian. The tension escalated in August 2022 when Cudi opened up about Ye’s breakup with Kardashian. Cudi did not shy away from criticizing Ye for his lack of accountability. This led to a fallout with seemingly no hope for reconciliation until the listening party for ‘Vultures’. 

In a viral video on X, the ‘Donda’ rapper was seen hugging Kid Cudi, which unleashed a storm among fans. The video clip captured West and Cudi in close conversation during the event. It also featured a fresh track titled ‘Gun to My Head’, featuring Cudi’s vocals. However, as for whether Cudi is teaming up with Ye in ‘Vultures,’ the answer will only be revealed on January 12th.

What do you think about the upcoming releases of Kanye West and Kid Cudi? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!