Fresh off the release of his controversial album Speedin Bulllet 2 Heaven, Kid Cudi made an appearance at his alma mater, Shaker Heights High School in Cleveland, OH, to deliver a 19-minute TED Talk on his transformation from struggling student to successful rapper.
Cudi reflected on his decision to leave Cleveland for New York in pursuit of a music career. “I embraced the fear, the danger," he said. "I enjoyed the fact that I was going into unchartered territory. It was like a sense of wonder for me.
“Music was my plan G. I tried everything that I thought was a traditional thing a young boy should do. Sports. And even going college was me just trying to fulfill what I thought was my own destiny.”
The talk was motivational nature, as Cudi described himself as a regular schmuck who attained success through vision, hard work, & perseverance.
“Life will throw you a ton of curve balls," he said. "It’s scary, but if you believe and if you want it and if you want to work hard enough for it, it can be so. Cause there’s no difference from me and you. I just really wanted this shit. I wanted it bad. And I didn’t want to be a failure. And nobody’s a failure in this room. Don’t ever think that. We can all win... we are all the commanders of our own destiny."