Erase Me (song)

"Erase Me" is a song by American musician Kid Cudi, released August 17, 2010, as the lead single from his second studio album Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager (2010). It features a guest appearance by his mentor, fellow American rapper Kanye West, and was produced by Jim Jonsin. The song proved to be another hit single for Cudi, with the song reaching the top 40 of the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

"Erase Me"
Single by Kid Cudi featuring Kanye West
from the album Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager
B-side"REVOFEV"[1]
ReleasedAugust 17, 2010
Recorded2010
Genre
Length3:13
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Jim Jonsin
Kid Cudi singles chronology
"That Tree"
(2010)		 "Erase Me"
(2010)		 "All of the Lights"
(2010)
Kanye West singles chronology
"Live Fast, Die Young"
(2010)		 "Erase Me"
(2010)		 "Runaway"
(2010)
Music video
"Erase Me" on YouTube
Audio sample
"Erase Me"
  • file
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Background and release

The song features a guest verse from American rapper and producer Kanye West, who had signed Cudi to his GOOD Music imprint in 2008. The song was produced by high-profile music producer Jim Jonsin, who in 2008 produced two number one hit singles on the Billboard charts; "Lollipop" by Lil Wayne and "Whatever You Like" by T.I. Speaking on the collaboration before its release, Jonsin told Rap-Up.com: "We did one song together, which is kind of rock-influenced. It was something I wanted to do with him and just see where he would go."

Jonsin compared Cudi's blending of sounds to his own Rebel Rock artist B.o.B's genre-bending album The Adventures of Bobby Ray, stating "It's a mix. It's kind of some club stuff, some hip-hop traditional rap stuff, and then some rock-pop stuff. He's goin' everywhere."[4] Cudi later said that Jonsin had misinformed fans about the new album, "I got mad love for Jim but he was misinformed. There is no Kanye & Kid Cudi Duran Duran song, I'd sample a 90s record before a 80s record anyday and when I worked with Jim, I hadn't even started sessions with Plain Pat and Emile yet so the direction of my album was yet to be determined."[5]

The song debuted on a Cleveland radio station on June 30, 2010,[6] and was officially released to Rhythm/Crossover radio on August 17, 2010.[7][8][9] On August 24, 2010, "Erase Me" was released digitally via iTunes.[10]

Music video

The music video, directed by Jason Goldwatch, was released on October 11, 2010. In the video, Kid Cudi plays a Jimi Hendrix-influenced character, sporting a black afro wig and a headband. American actors Christopher Mintz-Plasse and Clark Duke make cameo appearances as Cudi's bandmates in the video.[11][12]

Remix

During a performance in August 2019, Kid Cudi announced that the soundtrack for the film Bill & Ted Face the Music would feature a remix of his 2010 song "Erase Me" produced by Steve Aoki.[13]

In other media

In 2010, Kid Cudi made a guest appearance on American television drama One Tree Hill, starring as himself and performed his Man on the Moon II single "Erase Me", during the episode.[14] In 2011, the song was featured on ESPN's hit morning sports show SportsCenter. In 2015, the song was featured on Guitar Hero Live.[15]

Legacy

In 2020, American pop-punk band Bowling for Soup covered the song, featuring rapper 10k.Caash. It was later featured on their compilation album, Don't Mind if We Do, which released on April 4, 2023.

Track listing
7" Vinyl

A-Side

  1. "Erase Me" (featuring Kanye West) - 3:13

B-Side

  1. "REVOFEV" - 3:03

Charts and certifications

"Erase Me" made its debut on the Billboard Hot 100 at #22. On August 30, it debuted on the New Zealand single charts at #22. On September 5, it debuted on the UK singles chart at #58, and #18 on the UK R&B Chart.

Chart performance
Chart (2010) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[16] 50
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[17] 41
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[18] 15
Canada (Canadian Hot 100) 12
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[19] 22
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[20] 53
UK Singles (Official Charts Company) 58
UK R&B Chart 18
US Billboard Hot 100 22

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[21] 2× Platinum 2,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. "Kid Cudi-Erase Me 7" vinyl". Archived from the original on 2010-08-28. Retrieved 2010-09-06.
  2. "Kid Cudi Debuts 'erase Me,' With Kanye West, on Radio". MTV. July 1, 2010. Retrieved July 14, 2019.
  3. "Kid Cudi ft. Kanye West - "Erase Me" (CDQ Dirty)". Complex. July 19, 2010. Retrieved July 13, 2019.
  4. "Kid Cudi Rocks Out with Kanye West Over Duran Duran Sample". Rap-Up. May 10, 2010. Archived from the original on May 13, 2010. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
  5. "ok sooo... « Kid Cudi". Archived from the original on July 13, 2011. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  6. "Check Out: Kid Cudi - "Erase Me" (Feat. Kanye West)". 30 June 2010.
  7. "Kid Cudi Debuts 'Erase Me,' with Kanye West, on Radio". MTV.
  8. "DX News Bits: Kid Cudi, Lupe Fiasco | Get the Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales | HipHop DX". Archived from the original on 2011-08-12. Retrieved 2010-08-24.
  9. "FMQB: Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Nielsen Ratings, Music News and more!". Archived from the original on 2014-06-28. Retrieved 2013-07-08.
  10. "Single: Erase Me - Kid Cudi Feat. Kanye West". "Single: Erase Me – Kid Cudi Feat. Kanye West - Dat New 'Cudi'". Archived from the original on 2010-08-27. Retrieved 2012-08-11.. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
  11. "Kid Cudi's "Erase Me" is Our Music Video of the Day". 13 October 2010.
  12. "Kid Cudi Channels Jimi Hendrix in 'Erase Me' Video". Billboard.
  13. Saponara, Michael (5 August 2019). "Kid Cudi Teases 'Erase Me' Steve Aoki Remix During Hard Summer Fest Performance". Billboard. Billboardf. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  14. Bain, Becky (December 1, 2010). "Kid Cudi Plays Himself On 'One Tree Hill', Becomes The Most Convincing Actor On The Show | Music News, Reviews, and Gossip on". Idolator.com. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  15. "Guitar Hero Live Features Kanye, Lil Wayne, and Kid Cudi in This Week's Premium Sets". Dual Shockers. 22 March 2016.
  16. "Kid Cudi feat. Kanye West – Erase Me". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  17. "Kid Cudi feat. Kanye West – Erase Me" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  18. "Kid Cudi feat. Kanye West – Erase Me" (in French). Ultratip.
  19. "Kid Cudi feat. Kanye West – Erase Me". Top 40 Singles.
  20. "Kid Cudi feat. Kanye West – Erase Me". Singles Top 100.
  21. "American single certifications – Kid Cudi – Erase Me". Recording Industry Association of America.
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