A closer look at the defining struggles that shaped Kid Cudi's life and career.
Kid Cudi, born Scott Mescudi, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, and fashion designer. He gained initial recognition with his song "Day 'n' Nite," which became a hit after being self-published on MySpace. This success led to collaborations with producers Plain Pat and Emile Haynie, culminating in his mixtape, A Kid Named Cudi (2008). The mixtape's popularity attracted the attention of Kanye West, who signed Cudi to his GOOD Music label, solidifying Cudi's rise in the music industry.
On June 11, 2010, Kid Cudi was arrested in New York City and charged with felony criminal mischief and possession of a controlled substance, but was released in time to perform at Bonnaroo.
In 2012, according to a 2023 lawsuit, Cassie Ventura dated Kid Cudi, which led to Sean Combs threatening to "blow up [Cudi's] car."
Throughout 2012, Kid Cudi was engaged in a custody battle concerning his daughter, involving accusations and disputes that were later resolved with a private agreement and Cudi purchasing a property in Chicago to be closer to his daughter.
In a March 2013 interview, Kid Cudi discussed how his initial sudden and unexpected fame led him to alcohol and drugs, highlighting the challenges of early success.
In a 2013 interview, Kid Cudi revealed he had suffered an addiction to anti-depressant medication after an emotional breakdown, a struggle reflected in songs like "Dr. Pill".
In 2014, Kid Cudi released his experimental album, "Satellite Flight: The Journey to Mother Moon", which received a tepid reception.
In a 2014 interview, Kid Cudi spoke on his struggles with depression and suicidal ideation, emphasizing feelings of loneliness and lack of self-worth.
On December 1, 2015, Kid Cudi announced the cancellation of his Especial Tour due to production and personal issues, releasing the album's title-track as a single to compensate.
In 2015, Kid Cudi released another experimental album, "Speedin' Bullet 2 Heaven", which also received a tepid reception.
In July 2016, Kid Cudi expressed feeling survivor guilt, struggling to enjoy his success while those around him hadn't experienced the same, despite his hard work.
In October 2016, Kid Cudi checked himself into rehabilitation to address depression and suicidal urges, marking a significant step in his mental health journey.
In 2016, Kid Cudi went to rehab for cocaine addiction, battling substance abuse issues, and starting the road to recovery.
In August 2022, Kid Cudi disclosed that he suffered a stroke two weeks after entering rehab in 2016, necessitating months of physical rehabilitation.
In 2022, Kid Cudi tweeted about going to rehab for cocaine addiction in 2016, sharing his struggles with substance abuse.
In 2023, a lawsuit filed by Cassie Ventura revealed that Sean Combs threatened to "blow up [Cudi's] car" because Ventura dated Cudi in or around 2012, shortly after which Cudi's car exploded, an event that Cudi confirmed.