Wale Explains How Kid Cudi Collaboration Came About

Today we’re treated to a snippet of “Focused,” Wale’s first collaboration with Kid Cudi since squashing their beef. Wale explains to the Chicago Tribune today how the reconciliation went down:

Q: How did “Focused,” your Kid Cudi collaboration, come about? How did you guys make up?

A: I was in Rick Ross’ studio and we were smoking together, we’re talking — guy stuff — then my phone rings and it’s a blocked number. I answer and he’s like, “What’s up?” And I’m like, “Who’s this?” He’s like, “It’s Cudi,” and I hung up. One, because I thought it was a lie. Two, if it was true I thought it was a prank. (After several more attempts) we got on the phone and we started talking, and he was like, “I’m sorry for a lot of the s— that happened. We’re bigger than that. We’re friends.” We were homies. We lived in the same neighborhood in New York, we both just got signed. We hung together every day. It was all so new to us. … It was like a special thing because Cudi was a real friend of mine. I was hurt by it. The next day I sent him this beat, and the rest was history.

Q: Would you have ever called him if he hadn’t called you?

A: You know, I thought about it but I didn’t know how to reach him, one, and my pride is immense, two. But at the same time I really cared about him, about my friend. We opened up and told each other our dreams and stuff like that, and he wasn’t doing well. You see him, like, falling out on camera and stuff. I was scared. I wanted to have the conversations with him we used to have.

Q: Is there a part of you that wants to sell more records than he did?

A: No, no. We’re in a different genre of music. That’s way different.