Travis Scott Credits Kid Cudi for Inspiring His Rap Career

The Houston rapper says Cudi's "Soundtrack 2 My Life" made him feel like they were "brothers" and that he could make it in the music industry.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 4:07pm

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In a new interview, Travis Scott opened up about how Kid Cudi's 2009 song "Soundtrack 2 My Life" inspired him to pursue a career in rap. Scott said the track made him feel like he and Cudi "were brothers" and that he realized "people are really resonating with this guy's story" and that he could also find success in the music industry.

Why it matters

Travis Scott and Kid Cudi have collaborated on several tracks over the years, and this interview sheds light on the deep connection and mutual admiration between the two artists. It also highlights how impactful certain songs and artists can be in inspiring the next generation of musicians.

The details

In the interview, Scott said he was a senior in high school when "Soundtrack 2 My Life" came out in 2009, and it made him feel like he "could probably make it" as a rapper. He also recalled attending one of Cudi's early concerts, which featured Asher Roth as an opener, and being struck by how "receptive" the audience was to Cudi's "story." Scott even named his stage name, Travis Scott, as a nod to Cudi's real name, Scott Mescudi.

  • "Soundtrack 2 My Life" was released in 2009.
  • Travis Scott attended a Kid Cudi concert featuring Asher Roth as an opener when he was in high school.

The players

Travis Scott

A popular American rapper who has collaborated extensively with Kid Cudi over the years.

Kid Cudi

An influential American rapper and singer-songwriter whose 2009 song "Soundtrack 2 My Life" inspired Travis Scott to pursue a career in music.

Asher Roth

An American rapper who opened for Kid Cudi at a concert that Travis Scott attended in high school.

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What they’re saying

“It's just the soundtrack to my life. From 0:00 to the end of the song, I felt like we were brothers or something. We live like the same life. I think that s—t came out in '09 and I was a senior in high school. I was like, 'You know what, I could probably make it.'”

— Travis Scott (Rolling Stone)

“He had the LED screen and it was this black-and-white thing and the shadow and he walked out of the LED screen. I remember looking around like people are really receptive to this guy's story. I was like, 'Okay, people will hopefully understand the story I got to tell.'”

— Travis Scott (Rolling Stone)

The takeaway

This interview highlights the profound impact that certain artists and songs can have in inspiring the next generation of musicians. Travis Scott's connection to Kid Cudi's music shows how powerful shared experiences and storytelling can be in the music industry, and how those connections can lead to fruitful creative collaborations down the line.