Kid Cudi recently took the stage alongside Kanye West during a two-night stint at Soldier Field in Chicago. This performance marked a significant reunion for the pair, who share a professional history dating back to 2008 when West signed the Day n Nite artist to his GOOD Music label.
Cudi addressed the backlash regarding his decision to perform with the 24x Grammy-winning artist on Saturday. He responded directly to a critic by acknowledging their feelings while standing firm in his personal choices. As reported by Deadline, Cudi stated, “I understand ur frustration,” and added, “I don’t really care if ur disappointed in me.”
The artist emphasized the long-standing nature of their connection to explain why he chose to move forward. He noted, “That man is my brother. U don’t have a relationship w him like I do. Damn near 2 decades of art and friendship.” He clarified that he views this as a family matter rather than a public one, telling the critic, “U not family. So I get it. I’ve been around Ye, and I can honestly say talking to him now is how it use to be when I first signed to him, but even better.”
Cudi pointed to improvements in West’s personal state to justify the reconciliation
Cudi explained, “He was dealing w mental health struggles for years and now he’s good. Everyone deserves some grace when they family. I was the hardest on him out of anybody. I held him accountable. He apologized and it was sincere. But like I said, u not family so I get it.”
The reunion comes after a period of intense public distance between the two artists. Following West’s antisemitic behavior last year, which included a pro-Hitler song and insults directed at the late Virgil Abloh, Cudi had previously declared he was done with the Donda artist.
Reflecting on that difficult time, Cudi had said, “And it breaks my heart, because I loved Kanye, you know? I really loved him, he was a part of my life changing. And at some point, he was a really good friend, but the man that he has become, I just don’t know that guy anymore. I don’t know him, I don’t know that version of him, and it’s really heartbreaking.”
West has since attempted to move past his previous controversies. He issued an apology via a full-page ad in The Wall Street Journal in January. Following that, he kicked off his Ye Live Concert Tour in April. This tour remains ongoing, with a scheduled performance for October 24 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The tour has not been without its challenges, as West has faced difficulties entering countries like the U.K. and France due to his past antisemitic remarks.
Published: Sep 6, 2026 05:17 pm