Posted by Kanye West and Kid Cudi’s recent falling out hasn’t hampered the success of their musical partnership.
On Monday (July 11), Kanye and Cudi’s “Moon” was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), commemorating at least one million sales in the U.S. The song, which also features Don Toliver, proved to be a standout from Ye’s 2021 album Donda, peaking at No. 17 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Kanye and Cudi’s “Ghost Town” collaboration with PARTYNEXTDOOR and 070 Shake, from 2018’s ye, also received a new plaque this week as it officially reached double platinum status. That track climbed as high as No. 16 on the Hot 100.
US Certifications (@RIAA): @kanyewest Feat. @KidCudi & @DonToliver, Moon Platinum (1,000,000).
— chart data (@chartdata) July 11, 2022
Kanye West and Kid Cudi’s somewhat rocky relationship took another tumultuous turn in February when Kanye publicly axed Cudi from Donda 2 over his friendship with Pete Davidson, who’s currently dating Ye’s ex-wife Kim Kardashian.
“Too bad I don’t wanna be on ur album u fuckin dinosaur hahaha,” Cudi fired back. “Everyone knows I’ve been the best thing about ur albums since I met you … We talked weeks ago about this. You’re whack for flipping the script and posting this lie just for a look on the internet. You ain’t no friend. BYE.”
Pusha T Addresses Kanye West-Kid Cudi Fallout: ‘It’s Super Fucked Up’
Kanye later extended an olive branch to Cudi after he pleaded for God to “keep my mind sane” on Instagram, although it appears his gesture went ignored. In April, Cudi declared he’ll no longer be working with Kanye after the release of their “Rock N Roll” collaboration on Pusha T’s It’s Almost Dry.
“Hey! So I know some of you heard about the song I got w Pusha,” he tweeted. “I did this song a year ago when I was still cool w Kanye. I am not cool w that man. He’s not my friend and I only cleared the song for Pusha cuz thats my guy. This is the last song u will hear me on w Kanye -Scott.”
Kanye has since unfollowed Cudi on Instagram. Before their falling out, the former G.O.O.D. Music label mates teamed up for the joint album Kids See Ghosts in 2018, as well as songs like “Welcome to Heartbreak,” “Gorgeous” and “Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1.”
Despite their prolific history, “Moon” wouldn’t have featured Kid Cudi had it not been for Lil Yachty.
“So I was on TikTok, right? And when the first [Donda] listening party happened, they took the excerpt from ‘Moon’ and they played it,” the Atlanta rapper explained following the album’s release last year. “Me and everyone in the comments [on TikTok] was like, ‘Damn, man! Kid Cudi would sound great on this!’
“So I hit up Vory. I said, ‘Vory, man. Cudi gotta get on ‘Moon.’ He hit Ye and then Ye got Cudi, he hit Cudi. And that’s how Cudi got on ‘Moon,’ ’cause he wasn’t on there originally.”
“Moon” and “Ghost Town” aren’t the only Kanye West songs to collect new RIAA certifications. The Chicago rap icon’s Graduation anthem “Can’t Tell Me Nothing” soared to 4x platinum status on Monday. Last October, he scored his first diamond plaque thanks to his 2007 hit “Stronger.”
US Certifications (@RIAA): @kanyewest, Can't Tell Me Nothing 4x Platinum (4,000,000).
— chart data (@chartdata) July 10, 2022