Kids See Ghosts (song)
"Kids See Ghosts" is a song by American hip hop duo Kids See Ghosts, composed of Kanye West and Kid Cudi, from their debut studio album of the same name (2018). The song features a guest appearance from Mos Def, who received credit under his real name of Yasiin Bey. It was produced by West, Kid Cudi, and Plain Pat, while additional production was handled by Andrew Dawson, Justin Vernon and Noah Goldstein. Apart from Plain Pat and Goldstein, the producers wrote the song alongside Bey. Making heavy use of synthesizers, the song draws inspiration from ambient music. Lyrically, the song reflects on the difficulties of fame and success.
"Kids See Ghosts"
The song received widespread acclaim from music critics, who generally complimented Bey's vocals. They often highlighted the presence of his feature on the album, while some critics praised the lyrical content of "Kids See Ghosts" and a few appreciated the duo's chemistry. It reached number 73 on the US Billboard Hot 100, while further appearing at number 53 on the Canadian Hot 100. The song was performed live by Kids See Ghosts at the 2018 Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival. In June 2018, Tyler, the Creator shared his remix of the song, titled "Crust in Their Eyes". It was recorded that same month and features him rapping personal lyrics over the original. The remix received positive reviews from critics, mostly being praised for Tyler, the Creator's rapping; a number of them placed emphasis on his lyricism.
Composition and lyrics[edit]
Musically, "Kids See Ghosts" is an ambient influenced song.[9] According to The Guardian's Dean Van Nguyen, it has a rumbling beat.[10] The song heavily features synths alongside hand drums that softly pitter-patter, accompanying the verses from Kids See Ghosts.[9][11] It contains chilling sounds as well as clicking percussion and a bassline, with the latter of the three appearing during the bridge.[12][13] The song includes a jungle groove.[14] Bey performs both the bridge and the hook of the song, and his vocals are covered in electronics.[10][13][15] Kid Cudi contributes a verse, which is accompanied by humming from him.[10][12] During West's verse, he raps enthusiastically.[9]
In the lyrics of "Kids See Ghosts", the duo of the same name rap reflectively about the difficulties of fame and success.[12] The lyrics feature respective references to religion from West and Kid Cudi.[16] For the hook, Bey declares, "Kids see ghosts sometimes/Spirit, moving around, just moving around."[12] In Kid Cudi's verse, he alludes to his private mental health battle while commenting on struggling to find happiness.[9][12] West's performance sees him actively attempting to live up to his own legacy, as well as rapping about the public fight for his soul.[9][12] On the bridge of the song, Bey recites a brief mission statement.[13]
Release and promotion[edit]
On June 8, 2018, "Kids See Ghosts" was released as the sixth and penultimate track on Kids See Ghosts' eponymous debut studio album.[17] The song switched position from the track list tweeted by West on May 15, 2018 that showed it as originally being slated for release as the second track.[2] However, on the day of its release, multiple tracks from the album were mislabeled on streaming services due to a technical error, with "Kids See Ghosts" being incorrectly labeled as the album's second track, "Fire".[18][19] For the first show that they were billed as Kids See Ghosts, the duo delivered a performance of the song at the 2018 Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival.[20] "Kids See Ghosts" was the seventh track of their set, while it was the penultimate track to be performed that was released by them under the moniker of Kids See Ghosts.[21]
Commercial performance[edit]
Upon the release of Kids See Ghosts, the title track opened at number 73 on the US Billboard Hot 100.[29] The track simultaneously entered the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart at number 37.[30] It was most successful in Canada, peaking at number 53 on the Canadian Hot 100.[31] In Australia, the track reached number 84 on the ARIA Singles Chart.[32] Elsewhere, "Kids See Ghosts" debuted at number 64 on the Irish Singles Chart.[33] The track further charted at number 39 on the UK R&B Chart.[34]
Tyler, the Creator remix[edit]
Background and composition[edit]
American rapper Tyler, the Creator released a remix of "Kids See Ghosts" entitled "Crust in Their Eyes" to his SoundCloud on June 15, 2018.[35] The title comes from a line in the remix.[36] Tyler, the Creator had remixed West's music in the past, sharing a freestyle over "Freestyle 4" under the title of "What the Fuck Right Now" in the same year as the original's release on West's seventh studio album The Life of Pablo (2016).[37] The previous year, Tyler, the Creator featured West on the track "Smuckers" from his third studio album Cherry Bomb.[38] He tweeted of "Kids See Ghosts" that "i like this song alot [sic] and wrote to it the same hour i heard it", also revealing a friend sent the instrumental to him and he "recorded it that night".[35] Tyler, the Creator posted another tweet, in which he recalled West "sent me that beat same night" and expressed strongly positive feelings of West's verse while also praising Bey's performance on the original.[35] The remix's cover art was created by French contemporary photographer Matthieu Venot.[39]
On "Crust in Their Eyes", Tyler, the Creator raps over the original, while Bey's hook is kept.[36][40] After the hook, the rapper's performance begins.[39] The remix features personal lyrics from Tyler, the Creator, and includes references to Twitter cancellations.[38][41] He begins by mentioning calling his sister and admitting to not telling her that he loves her enough.[39] At one point, Tyler, the Creator calls out people who feel assured they are "woke but got crust in their eyes."[36]