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Kid Cudi attends Netflix’s “Happy Gilmore 2” New York Premiere at Jazz at Lincoln Center on July 21, 2025 in New York City.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
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Kid Cudi is stepping away from music to focus on his other creative endeavors.
Prior to the expected hiatus, Cudi released an ethereal track titled “Once” to his SoundCloud on Sunday (Sept. 28) and explained that it serves as a letter to his fans. “This is a goodbye for now song,” he wrote. “It was produced by myself with my homie Sebastian addin’ extra sauce here and there. Taking a break but wanted to leave u [with] something special and from the heart. [You’ll] be hearing me featured on my friends’ albums but as far as me, I gotta step into the shadows and focus on my other dreams.”
Cudi posted a video to X, clarifying everything surrounding his upcoming absence, which will include a “pretty lengthy break” between now and the release of his next album.
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“It’s gonna be a while between now and the next Kid Cudi album,” he said. “So I wanted to leave you with a little something that could motivate you, uplift you… I made it earlier this year, just f—ing around in the studio.”
Earlier this month, Kid Cudi directed and starred in his “Mr. Miracle” short film alongside LaKeith Stanfield. Cudi spoke to Billboard about his plans for more short films in the future. “People will be able to see Neverland soon,” he said. “We’re working on a way for that to come out so fans can absorb that — I know a lot of people have been excited to see it, and it’s coming soon.”
Cudi continued: “But I am definitely going to direct more short films in the future. I just finished writing my next one. It’s a really beautiful, heartwarming, funny short that I feel like a lot of people will connect with — a lot of my fans will connect with it. It’s a powerful piece and I can’t wait for you all to see that. Hopefully we shoot next month, so that’s moving forward.”
The Ohio native’s been busy in September, which saw him also guest on Lakeith Stanfield’s debut single “Fast Life.” With music moving to the back-burner, fans can expect Cudi to focus more on directing, acting, painting and fashion.
Listen to “Once” below.
Once by Kid Cudi on #SoundCloud https://t.co/p6yXVy553h
— The Chosen One (@KiDCuDi) September 29, 2025
ANNOUNCEMENT‼️ pic.twitter.com/J9JH4wIadb
— The Chosen One (@KiDCuDi) September 29, 2025
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