HIP-HOP

A Timeline of Kanye West & Kid Cudi's Relationship, Up to Their Performance Together in Chicago

11/6/2017 by Megan Armstrong

Neil Rasmus/BFA/REX/Shutterstock
Kid Cudi and Kanye West in New York City on May 2, 2011. 

Kid Cudi was performing at Chicago's Aragon Ballroom on Saturday (Nov. 4), as part of his Passion, Pain and Demon Slayin' Tour, when he surprisingly brought out South Side native Kanye West to perform "Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1," a song off of West's The Life of Pablo. 

The duo appearing together relays the message that they're currently on good terms, after 2016 proved highly tumultuous in their relationship.

Cudi was signed to West's G.O.O.D. Music label in 2008 after meeting West a few years earlier. West was then featured on "Make Her Say (I Poke Her Face," Cudi's single from his 2009 album Man on the Moon: The End of Day -- the album that launched Cudi's career under G.O.O.D.

Prior to his solo material, Cudi had also contributed to JAY-Z's The Blueprint 3 and West's 808s & Heartbreak. Other collabs between the two artists include "Erase Me" (Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager, 2010, "Gorgeous" (My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, 2010), "All of the Lights" (My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, 2010), and more recently, "Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1" (The Life of Pablo, 2016). 

Below is a timeline of highlights and low-lights in Cudi and Kanye's relationship. 

Kid Cudi Leaves Kanye's G.O.O.D. Music (April. 2013)

On April 2, 2013, Cudi announced on Power 106 in Los Angeles that he was no longer under the G.O.O.D. umbrella. "Man, everything is cool," Cudi said at the time. "Everything is peace with everybody on the label. There's never been any issues, but I am announcing that I'm no longer on G.O.O.D. Music. And this is something that no one knows, really. I'm no longer on G.O.O.D. Music."

Cudi went on to clarify that it was a tough decision because he viewed West as a "big brother." Cudi said that as he broke the news that he wanted to go in his own direction (with Wicked Awesome Records) to West over the phone, West got it because he, too, wanted to head in his own direction. 

Cudi Tells Complex He's Unhappy With Feature on Yeezus (Feb. 2014)

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After departing from G.O.O.D. Music, Cudi was surprised to hear his voice on "Guit Trip," on West's 2013 Yeezus album. In an interview with Complex's Joe La Puma in Feb. 2014, Cudi was asked about his subtle "Guilt Trip" outro feature. 

"The vocal that I did on that song was a couple years old. I forgot which session it was, but it was just a reference," Cudi said. "I discovered that I was on the song via Twitter. I saw kids hitting me up, like, 'Are you on ‘Guilt Trip!?’' or saying 'Great job!' and I’m like, 'What the fuck is everyone talking about?' So I go on Twitter and then I hear the song and I’m like, 'OK. I know the beat. I know the song.' Then I’m like, 'Oh man, OK.' Part of me was flattered, like, it’s kind of cool that he thought of me.

"Then I started thinking about it more. It was like, 'Why not call me and have me come in there and give it? Why underuse me? Why put four bars of vocals to coax my fans into thinking this is a legitimate Kid Cudi feature on this song and it isn’t?'"

To read the full Complex interview, click here.

Cudi Slams West in Twitter Rant (Sept. 2016)

In a Twitter barrage from last September, Kid Cudi chose to hold nothing back. In a string of messages captured by Billboard at the time, Cudi went off about discord in the hip-hop scene. Among those he name-dropped was West.

"I need y'all to know I got so many haters within the industry and these clowns know Im bout to crush their entire existence," Cudi wrote. "Everyone thinks they're soooo great. Talkin top 5 and be having 30 people write songs for them. Let me tell you something. The days of fuckery are over. The fake ones won't be lasting too much longer. 

"I'm the one they worry about cause they know I don't give a fuck about the corny shit they do. All my youngins out here reppin, Asap Rocky and the whole ASAP family, Travis Scott, SuperDuper Kyle, Audio Push, Hit Boy, etc, I see y'all. And all u jealous chicken hearted shits I see you too. I am the culture.

"I kept silent because I don't ever wanna come off like some angry hater, but today, not only do I feel fantastic, I'm feelin like taking over. I already have. My tweets apply to who they apply. Ye, Drake, whoever. These n––s don't give a fuck about me. And they ain't fuckin' with me. N––s keep you close when they how powerful you are by yourself. When they see your greatness. Out of fear. I've been loyal to those who haven't been to me and that ends now. Now I'm your threat. Anybody got a issue with my words I'm glad. If you feel me, don't be scared to use your voice. I was for so long out of blind loyalty." 

Kanye Responds to Cudi's Tweets (Sept 2016)

While performing a show on his Saint Pablo Tour on Sept. 14, 2016, West addressed the tweets Cudi had let loose earlier that day. 

"Do you know how many people wish they could be signed to G.O.O.D. Music?" West told the crowd, according to E!  "Get their life changed, have an opportunity? Never forget that! I am so hurt. I feel so disrespected. Kid Cudi, we are two black men in a racist world. ... Don't ever mention my name in a bad manner, none of y'all."

West Publicly Forgives Cudi (Sept 2016)

Again while in concert, this time in Houston and on Sept. 20, 2014, West addressed Cudi's tweets. This time, while on the suspended stage associated with his Saint Pablo Tour, West expressed forgiveness. 

"The most important artist of the past 10 years, the most influential, and I hope he's doing well," West told the crowd between singing. "I just want to take this time out to say Kid Cudi is my brother... The most influential artist of the past 10 years.​"

Cudi joins Kanye on stage during Saint Pablo Tour (Nov. 2016)

Two months later, in November, Cudi joined West in Sacramento, Calif., to perform "Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1." This came shortly after Cudi had gone to rehab for depression and suicidal urges, as he announced on Facebook on Oct. 4, 2016. Cudi's first performance since his leaving rehab came a couple weeks before he joined West at ComplexCon, on Nov. 6, 2016.

In Sacramento, on Nov. 20, "Father Stretch My Hands" was one of only three West played at the show before abruptly leaving. West then cancelled the rest of his Saint Pablo Tour before being hospitalized for his own plights with mental health.

Kanye Joins Cudi on Stage in Chicago [Nov. 2017]

A little over a year later, Ye performed for the first time since his show in Sacramento. Just as West gave Cudi a stage to return to after Cudi's personal grief, Cudi helped Kanye reintroduce himself following a lengthy public absence. West joined Cudi to again perform "Father Stretch My Hands," only this time as part of Cudi's Passion, Pain & Demon Slayin' Tour. The show was in West's native Chicago.

West Announces Joint Album With Cudi (April 2018)

After announcing the upcoming release of his own 7-song album on Twitter, West sent the Twittersphere in a frenzy by also adding that Kids See Ghost, the title of his group and joint effort with Kid Cudi, will be arriving June 8.