For Kid Cudi, the time has come to “step into the shadows” while focusing on his “other dreams.”
Over the weekend, the Free artist, whose palette also boasts an ever-expanding variety of film and television projects, shared the track “Once.” In a note to fans on SoundCloud, Cudi said the standalone track, which he produced alongside “my homie Sebastian,” is intended to serve as “a goodbye for now song.”
This is in line with other recent remarks from Cudi, whose Mad Solar production company recently rolled out a short film for the Free track “Mr. Miracle,” co-starring LaKeith Stanfield. In an X update earlier this month, Cudi said he was thinking of taking “a step back” from albums so he could focus on directing, acting, painting, and fashion.
On Sunday, as seen below, Cudi reiterated these plans.
“This is a goodbye for now song,” he wrote on SoundCloud. “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 went on to express his hope that “Once” is able to fill listeners “with joy” while providing the motivation “to keep going.”
In a video, Cudi added that his planned break from dropping albums will be “pretty lengthy.” He also pointed out that “Once” was made “earlier this year.”
The newly released song finds Cudi reflecting on a period of his life during which he felt “so damn weak.” These days, however, he’s feeling something different.
“I found my peace,” Cudi sings in “Once,” available to stream here.
Though the music element of the Cudisphere may be on pause, there’s plenty more for fans to look forward to on the horizon. For one, This month, Deadline reported that Slime, a Cudi-led animated feature, was set to feature the voice talent of Willow Smith and Teyana Taylor, among others. Taylor, notably, can currently be seen giving another top-tier performance in Paul Thomas Anderson’s truly excellent One Battle After Another.
Fans can also look forward to a documentary focused on Cudi’s painting. While a title and release date for the project remains unknown, Cudi himself recently said it's set to go into production this week.
ComplexCon returns to Las Vegas on October 25–26, 2025, with over 300 brands and live performances by Young Thug, YEAT & Friends, Peso Pluma, Central Cee, Ken Carson, and more. Get your tickets now.