"Just What I Am" | ||||
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Single by Kid Cudi featuring King Chip | ||||
from the album Indicud | ||||
Released | October 2, 2012 | |||
Recorded | 2012 | |||
Length | 3:48 | |||
Label | GOOD Music, Universal Republic | |||
Songwriter(s) | Scott Mescudi, Charles Worth | |||
Producer(s) | Scott Mescudi | |||
Kid Cudi singles chronology | ||||
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King Chip singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
Just What I Am on YouTube |
"Just What I Am" is a song by American hip hop recording artist Kid Cudi,released on October 2,2012 as the lead single from his third studio album Indicud (2013). The song,produced by Cudi himself,features a guest appearance from his frequent collaborator and fellow Cleveland rapper King Chip (formerly known as Chip tha Ripper). As of January 26,2016 "Just What I Am" has reached platinum status by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). [1]
Initially,an un-mastered version of the song was released by Kid Cudi via Complex on August 13,2012,with the title stylized as "Just What Iam". [2] Kid Cudi announced the song's official mastered release on September 21,2012. The official cover art for the iTunes release was revealed via Cudi's Facebook page on September 25,2012. [3] Complex named the song #40 of the best 50 songs of 2012. [4]
On September 10,2012 Cudi announced via his Twitter feed that he would be filming a music video for "Just What I Am" in Los Angeles. He also revealed he wanted his fans to be involved. [5] Kid Cudi later tweeted:"the video was designed to be watched on acid and/or shrooms." [6] The video,which marked Cudi's directorial debut,premiered November 6,2012 on VEVO. The video features cameo appearances from Cudi’s contemporaries,fellow rapper Mac Miller and electrohouse DJ Steve Aoki. [7] The visual are seen in a baroque frame,Cudi explained on Twitter saying:"all my videos will be in a baroque frame. I create art,so it will be presented as such. ART IN MOTION"
In a 2013 interview with Complex ,Cudi explained why he used certain imagery in the visuals for "Just What I Am":
"Yeah,it’s funny. People in my life know that I’m a fucking goofball. I’m a prankster and I clown a lot. In any moment in time,I’ll incorporate some jokes in my music or raps or whatever. And all throughout my career I’ve noticed that the main thing people try to point out is the Illuminati,Satanic symbols and references in music videos—specifically in my shit. And like,in no way shape or form am I the type of individual that will be ever thinking of that type of shit while we were working on these videos. But it’s so interesting to see how sure of themselves people are,talking about this. It’s like,'No,I know it,I know it! He sold his soul to the devil! I know he’s friends with Satan! I can feel it.' You know what I mean? Niggas be knowing I guess. So my way of tricking everybody,being that I had that control,I was like,'Oh man. Wouldn’t it be cool if we just threw a bunch of fucking Satanic devil-worship Illuminati symbols into the video,just like abruptly popping up all over the place and fuck people up?' Just to fuck with them and then not say anything,like wait months and not say shit. Just let ‘em trip out,just let ‘em talk. Ignore it if it comes up in conversation. It was an experiment,like we totally experimented with this. Right now as we speak,it’s still going on. Kids are so outraged." [8]
In 2020,the song was heavily featured in the Judd Apatow film The King of Staten Island .
Chart (2012) | Peak position |
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Australia (ARIA) [9] | 32 |
France (SNEP) [10] | 189 |
US Billboard Hot 100 [11] | 74 |
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs ( Billboard ) [12] | 17 |
US Hot Rap Songs ( Billboard ) [13] | 13 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United States (RIAA) [14] | Platinum | 1,000,000 |
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Country | Date | Format | Label |
---|---|---|---|
United States | October 2,2012 [15] | Digital download | Universal Republic |
United States | October 30,2012 [16] | Rhythm/Crossover Radio | Universal Republic |
Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi,better known by his stage name Kid Cudi,is an American rapper,singer,songwriter,record producer,and actor. He has widely been recognized as an influence on several contemporary hip hop and alternative acts. His lyrics are often autobiographical and describe his childhood hardships of depression,loneliness and alienation,his struggle with alcohol and drugs into adulthood,as well as themes of spirituality,heartbreak,dissipation and celebration. Cudi began to gain major recognition following the release of his first official full-length project,a mixtape titled A Kid Named Cudi (2008),which would go on to catch the attention of high-profile music producer Kanye West,who subsequently signed Cudi to his GOOD Music label imprint by late 2008.
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"Crazy Kids" is a song by American singer Kesha. It was released in April 2013 as the third single for her second studio album Warrior (2012),with will.i.am and Juicy J as a featured artist depending on the version. An additional remix surfaced online featuring Pitbull. The lyrics were written by Kesha with assistance with Dr. Luke,Benny Blanco,Cirkut,who also helmed production of the track. Each featured artist wrote their own contribution.
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Maniac is an American short slasher film,directed by Shia LaBeouf. It was released on October 31,2011. The short film stars American rappers Scott "Kid Cudi" Mescudi and Chris "Cage" Palko as French-speaking serial killers. Mescudi and Palko also co-wrote the film with LaBeouf.
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Kid Cudi is an American actor,producer,film composer,music video director and musician. Cudi ventured into acting in 2009,when he was cast in the HBO series How to Make It in America. In 2011,Cudi,alongside fellow American rapper Cage,starred in Maniac,a short horror film directed by American actor Shia LaBeouf. Cudi went on to appear in several feature films,including Goodbye World (2013),Need for Speed (2014),Entourage (2015) and Bill &Ted Face the Music (2020). In addition,he has made appearances on television shows such as One Tree Hill,The Cleveland Show,Brooklyn Nine-Nine,and Westworld. In 2015,he was the bandleader on the IFC series Comedy Bang! Bang! and in 2020 starred in the television drama We Are Who We Are.
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