Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi , also known by his stage name Kid Cudi , is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, and fashion designer. Born and raised in Clevel Ohio, Cudi moved to New York City in pursuit of a musical career, where he first gained major recognition following the release of his debut single "Day 'n' Nite", which he initially self-published on his MySpace page. The song became a worldwide hit and served as a catalyst for Cudi to team with record producers Plain Pat and Emile Haynie to record his first full-length project, a mixtape titled A Kid Named Cudi . The mixtape helped Cudi rise to prominence and establish a fan base, soon catching the attention of high-profile rapper Kanye West—who subsequently signed Cudi to his GOOD Music label imprint by 2008.