WZRD

The short description of WZRD is that it is rapper Kid Cudi's rock project with producer Dot da Genius as co-conspirator, but the relationship and idea go farther back than one might think. The two had talked about a rock-influenced group way back when Genius was working on Cudi's demos and his 2008 mixtape A Kid Name Cudi. The duo would also be the team behind the rapper's hit "Day 'n' Nite," which would be the launching pad for the Kid's successful solo career. WZRD became a reality in 2010 when the two committed to the project; they were influenced by everyone from Electric Light Orchestra and Pink Floyd to Nirvana and the Pixies. Although it was credited to Cudi, the cut "No One Believes Me" gave the public their first taste of WZRD when it landed on the 2011 soundtrack to the movie Fright Night. A year later, the "Teleport 2 Me" single appeared, along with a self-titled debut album, both released by Universal. ~ David Jeffries