Kid Cudi Is Stepping Into Basquiat's Shoes, and He Wrote the Script Himself

Some roles find you, and some you have to go build yourself. Kid Cudi took the second road. On Wednesday he told his fans on Instagram that he's written a film called Jean, about Jean-Michel Basquiat, and that he'll direct it and play the lead. Cameras start rolling in 2027. Cudi says people have been telling him for years he should play Basquiat, but no project ever came together. So this year he stopped waiting and sat down to write it.

He didn't take the job lightly. Cudi says he spent the time reading books, digging into research, and sitting down with people who actually knew Basquiat. He calls the movie a love letter to the man, to the '80s, and to New York City. He also shared a few photos from an early wardrobe test: a sharp suit and a wig he says is still a rough draft. Even so, the resemblance is there. Basquiat has been on screen before, most famously when Jeffrey Wright played him in 1996. Cudi says he wants to tell the story in a way we haven't seen yet, and coming from an artist who has been open about his own battles for his whole career, that feels like more than talk.

This is the kind of story we love here: an artist who stays patient, does the work, and bets on his own vision. We'll be watching for Jean. Until then, stay with us for the music that keeps the night moving. Listen live right now at redcuprnb.com.