Reborn (song)
"Reborn" is a song by American hip hop duo Kids See Ghosts, composed of the rappers Kanye West and Kid Cudi, from their eponymous debut studio album (2018). The song was produced by the latter of the two members and Dot da Genius, while co-produced by Plain Pat and Evan Mast, with additional production from Benny Blanco. The lead producers wrote it alongside West and Mast. Prior to release, Kid Cudi had posted about being reborn. Dot da Genius recorded with the duo in 2018; he recalled West as unifying him and Cudi's musical interests.
This article is about the Kids See Ghosts song. For other songs, see Reborn (disambiguation) § Songs."Reborn"
According to Kid Cudi, the song is supposed to sound as if it continues questions he asked in the past. An anthemic track, "Reborn" relies on varying lullaby style chords. Lyrically, its message is about being reborn from mental illness; Kids See Ghosts address the personal issues they have overcome. The song received generally positive reviews from music critics, who were often appreciative of the duo's lyricism. Some selected the song as a standout on the album, while other critics complimented Kid Cudi's vocals and West's verse. It was named as one of the best songs of 2018 by multiple publications, such as Okayplayer and Vice.
In the United States, "Reborn" reached number 39 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 18 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. It was a top 50 hit in six other countries, including Canada and Greece. The song has been certified platinum in the US by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). West and the Sunday Service Choir performed a rendition of it at the group's first concert in January 2019, and Kids See Ghosts performed the song live at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival later that year. Nicole Millar delivered an indie pop cover version of the song for Triple J's Like a Version in April 2019.
Background and recording[edit]
On April 19, 2018, Kanye West announced a collaborative album with Kid Cudi.[1] The album was revealed as being titled Kids See Ghosts by West, with him setting its release date as June 8, 2018.[1] Kid Cudi had been featured on a number of tracks by West prior to the announcement, including "Welcome to Heartbreak" (2008) and "Gorgeous" (2010).[1] West released his eighth studio album Ye on June 1, 2018, with vocals from Kid Cudi included on the tracks "No Mistakes" and "Ghost Town".[2][3] After helping produce the former of the two tracks in Wyoming, American record producer Dot da Genius served as a producer for the Kids See Ghosts songs "Reborn" and "Cudi Montage" while he spent time in the state during 2018. The producer was a college student at the time when he first met Kid Cudi in 2007, reminiscing in a 2018 interview on how he was new to production when the rapper "came by my studio setup in my parents' living room".[4] Despite Dot da Genius asserting their "immediate vibe" continued from the meeting onwards, he admitted West "was a very big unifier in our interests as musicians" while painting him as "on another level" the two took notice of. Commenting on recording with Kids See Ghosts in Wyoming, Dot da Genius explained that he simply "tried to make everything as epic sounding as possible" and lauded the duo as "two of the best". From his perspective, anything mediocre will not work for them "and they will definitely let you know"; he also recounted that the album is "a blessing to be a part of, and I know the music will help people".[4] The song was produced by Kid Cudi and Dot da Genius, with co-production from Plain Pat and Evan Mast, while Benny Blanco served as an additional producer. It stands along with "Cudi Montage" as one of the two tracks on Kids See Ghosts that West did not contribute any production to. The lead producers co-wrote the song with West and Mast. With a length of 5 minutes and 24 seconds (5:24), "Reborn" stands as the longest song on the album.[5][6]
On October 4, 2016, Kid Cudi shared a Facebook post revealing that he checked himself into rehab "for depression and suicidal urges".[7] The rapper confessed to having felt ashamed while saying he is not "at peace" and hasn't been "since you've known me", asserting that if he had not gone to rehab, he "would've done something" to himself.[7] Close to the post's conclusion, Kid Cudi wrote, "I'll be back, stronger, better. Reborn."[7][8] He went on to explain in a July 2018 Billboard cover story that the song is intended "to sound like a continuation" of questions asked in his past work, representing where things are "at now" for Kids See Ghosts and where it "go[es] from here". Kid Cudi said of the reasoning behind this that he does not think "people got that record" from him and opened up about it not "ha[ving] been said that I'm good, that I'm OK", admitting he wasn't "good" in the past. The member revealed he had thoughts around how to "let the world know" and that he felt great about West deciding to use the song, "because it was perfect for both -- we are both reborn after what we went through. I couldn't have made a song like 'Reborn' until now, because I didn't feel reborn yet." Kid Cudi also spoke of how Kids See Ghosts "knew" the track was one of the songs they wanted to use while recording for the album in Wyoming.[9]
Detailing the song's recording in an October 2018 interview with GQ, the member recalls himself having had the hook immediately and taking a while to write any verses due to it being "so good" that following up felt like a challenge. Referring to working at his house with Dot da Genius, Kid Cudi states the idea for the song kind of "came to us", crediting the producer's input for making it better.[10] He explains also that Mast helped with "some stuff" at the end of "Reborn", whereas Plain Pat "added some stuff to the drums", and fondly remembers the song as "one of the first ones that [the duo] had on the album". The member cites West as having gone "crazy for it" and himself as having been "really happy that he liked that joint" due to "rooting for it", specifically expressing admiration for the melodies and the hook.[10] Prior to referencing mental illness on the song, West had struggled with it for 10 years.[11]
Composition and lyrics[edit]
Musically, "Reborn" is an anthemic track.[20][21] A number of music journalists viewed it as a sequel to Kid Cudi's 2009 single "Pursuit of Happiness".[13][22][23] The song has a staccato beat, which is driven by piano.[12][13][14] It is reliant on lullaby-like chords, with the song including chord changes.[21][24] Drums are heavily featured, as well as melodies that Kid Cudi contributes.[10][12][18] In the eyes of Ludovic Hunter-Tilney from the Financial Times, the song has a "clanking landscape".[25] The intro features plinking piano keys,[6][26][27] alongside humming from Kid Cudi.[28] The chorus is a mantra, performed by the member repeatedly.[16][17][29] It sees him chanting in a gentle, harmonic tone.[13][18][19] After the chorus, West delivers the first verse of the song.[23][30] Kid Cudi goes on to perform the second verse, for which he mostly sings and partially croons.[12][31][32] The song features a beat switch contributed by Mast towards the end, accompanied by an organ.[10][20]
The song is a mission statement that conveys a message of experiencing rebirth from mental illness, with Kids See Ghosts addressing personal issues that have been overcome by them.[15][18][31] On the song's chorus, Kid Cudi offers determination for him and West to leave their mistakes behind in the past and move forward.[12][19] West's verse sees him alluding to his bipolar disorder and the resulting controversies, as well as acknowledging his antisocial tendencies and opioid addiction.[12][15] At one point, the member casually criticizes his opponents as like Mario and asserts that "it's all a game".[12][15] Kid Cudi uses his verse to go over his struggles with depression and drug dependency,[12][15] while also addressing going through rehab.[31] The song's outro sees him repeating, "Keep moving forward/Keep moving forward."[33]
Commercial performance[edit]
Upon the release of Kids See Ghosts, "Reborn" debuted at number 39 on the US Billboard Hot 100, making it the highest charting track from the album and the only one to reach the top 40 of the chart.[61] The song further peaked at number 18 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[62] On January 4, 2019, the song was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for pushing 500,000 certified units in the United States, becoming the album's first track to achieve the certification.[63] "Reborn" later received a platinum certification from the RIAA for reaching 1,000,000 certified units in the country.[64]
In Canada, the song attained its highest chart position by reaching number 30 on the Canadian Hot 100.[65] Elsewhere, "Reborn" entered Australia's ARIA Singles Chart at number 55.[66] In Europe, the song experienced modest success. It peaked at number 35 on the Singlid tipp-40, becoming the only track from Kids See Ghosts to chart in Estonia.[67] The song performed similarly in Greece, entering at number 37 on the Greece International Digital Singles chart and standing as the album's best performing track on the chart.[68] "Reborn" further peaked within the top 60 in Slovakia,[69] Ireland,[70] the United Kingdom,[71] and Portugal.[72]