Kid Cudi is standing by his decision to reunite with Kanye West onstage after years of public distance, telling critics that West had apologized to him and that the apology was “sincere.”
The moment came after Cudi joined West during a Friday night concert in Chicago, where West was performing in support of his latest album, “Bully.” The appearance marked the first time the two longtime collaborators had performed together in seven years, closing out the show with “Father Stretch My Hands, Pt. 1,” “Ghost Town” and “Pursuit of Happiness.”
West had performed two nights in his hometown and brought out multiple surprise guests across the Friday concert. Cudi’s appearance stood out because of the pair’s very public falling out in 2022, when West removed Cudi’s contributions from “Donda 2.” At the time, West was upset over Cudi’s friendship with Pete Davidson, who was then dating West’s ex-wife Kim Kardashian.
Cudi responds to criticism after the reunion
On Saturday morning, Cudi addressed the backlash over his decision to share the stage with West, particularly in light of West’s antisemitic outbursts in recent years.
The exchange came after radio DJ Peter Rosenberg wrote on X that he was “disappointed in a lot of people” after West released a song called “Heil Hitler” a year ago. Cudi replied at length, making clear that he understood Rosenberg’s position but did not feel the same obligation to keep West at a distance.
“I understand ur frustration Peter, I fucks w u, but I dont really care if ur disappointed in me,” Cudi wrote. “That man is my brother. U dont have a relationship w him like I do. Damn near 2 decades of art and friendship. U not family. So I get it.”
Cudi went on to say that his recent interactions with West felt different from the years when their relationship had fractured.
“Ive 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,” he wrote. “He was dealing w mental health struggles for years and now hes 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.”
A public split that once seemed permanent
The reunion represents a sharp turn from Cudi’s previous comments about West. In a 2022 Esquire interview, Cudi suggested that repairing the relationship was unlikely, saying, “With all due respect, I’m not Drake, who’s about to take a picture with him next week and be friends again, and their beef is squashed. That’s not me. What I say, I mean. I will be done with you. It’s gonna take a motherfucking miracle for me and that man to be friends again. I don’t see it happening.”
Before their falling out, West and Cudi had released the joint album “Kids See Ghosts” in 2018 and performed together at Coachella the following year. Friday’s Chicago performance was their first reunion since that period.
The reconciliation also arrives after a turbulent chapter for West. His falling out with Cudi overlapped with a broader collapse in his career following several antisemitic rants, praise of Adolph Hitler and denial of the Holocaust. Earlier this year, West took out an advertisement in The Wall Street Journal to apologize for his antisemitic outbursts and said they were caused by manic episodes.
Cudi’s comments indicate that, at least in their private relationship, he believes West has taken accountability. “Everyone deserves some grace when they family,” Cudi wrote, emphasizing that he had been among those who challenged West directly.
In addition to Cudi, West’s Friday Chicago concert featured appearances from Lupe Fiasco, Travis Scott, Big Sean, Common, Young Thug, Rick Ross, Don Toliver, 2 Chainz and Chief Keef.