Sitting down with talk show host Arsenio Hall, Kid Cudi talked about wanting to provide guidance for young listeners with his music and detailed his own thoughts of suicide over the last half decade.
Asked what he’d say to his fellow rappers about the state of Hip Hop, Cudi criticized a focus on materialism in the culture. “I think the braggadocio, money, cash, hoes thing needs to be deaded,” he said. “I feel like that’s holding us back as a culture, as Black people, that doesn’t advance us in any way, shape, or form. We been doing that same theme for years, now it’s been like what, four decades of the same old bullshit, sorry for my language. I feel like, if you’re gonna be an artist, it’s a time when you just have to embrace the responsibility and understand the power of music is something so special and to be able to do it on this magnitude where you reach millions of people, it’s like, why not use that for good? Why not tell kids something that they can connect with and use in their lives? Really, my mission statement since day one, and I’m getting so worked up talking about this, all I wanted to do was help kids not feel alone and stop kids from committing suicide.”
Responding to audience applause, Cudi described his usual reluctance to engage in political discussion. “I’ve never tried to be political, and I’m actually shaking, I can’t believe I’m saying this,” he said before offering his own story of suicidal thoughts.
“I’ve dealt with suicide for the past five years,” he said. “There wasn’t a week or a day that didn’t go by where I was just like, ‘You know, I wanna check out.’ I know what that feels like, I know it comes from loneliness, I know it comes from not having self-worth, not loving yourself. These are things that kids don’t have music that can coach them and give them that guidance. I didn’t have that, I had to listen to Jay Z and take certain things from it and the other shit I just didn’t know what he was talking about. Now I’m 30 I’m like, “Oh that’s what Hov was talking about, I get it now.’ But what about the kids—you never really had an artist where you connected with them all across the board? I think that that’s my job, I’m really just trying to guide people and help people. Loneliness is a terrible, terrible thing, man. If you don’t know how to conquer it, it can eat you alive.”
When asked by Arsenio how he is currently faring, Cudi reassured him, “I’m good, I’m alright.”
While on the show, Cudi also described his current stable of cars, naming a 2012 Mercedes SLS AMG Gullwing and a Porsche Carrera 911 4S among others. The emcee joked that if he rapped about his cars and personal wealth “there would be no Drake” with a laugh. Segments of Kid Cudi’s interview with Arsenio Hall are available below.
Kid Cudi’s latest album, which was released without much promotion earlier this month, received four out of five stars in HipHopDX’s recent review. “Flaws and all, SATELLITE FLIGHT: The journey to Mother Moon stands as one of Kid Cudi’s biggest accomplishments,” DX wrote. “Call it what you will. Scott Mescudi made an EP’s worth of material feel like an album, and he did it without surrendering his artistic integrity in the process. If SATELLITE FLIGHT truly is a bridge between Indicud and Man on the Moon III, fans will be in for a treat when the third installment is finally released.”
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maybe he should stop making such depressing music
WORD!
His music is better than every artist you listen to.
i never said it was bad just depressing!
i salute any brother trying to do good in the world
stop making music then
Fuck outta here, stupid faggot. And stop making lame ass music, fucking hipster.
Thanks, I was wondering what a stupid asshole would have to say about Kid Cudi.
Kid Cudi says he wants to swallow nut juice allday til he pass out.
If you were panties I’d sniff you.
If you were a mouth, I’d fuck you!
stop making shitty music that makes people want to kill themselves after buying it then
I’d like to make a splash in your ass.
People read headlines ONLY and make a decision these days. Thank you HipHopdx for titling this article with what he ACTUALLY SAID! Everywhere else its being headlined as “Cudi says HIP HOP HOLDING BLACK CULTURE BACK OR BLACKS BACK! Instead of saying what he said, “Todays rap or a certain kind of Rap.” Not dissing the entire culture since its inception.
good for cudi for being honest and wanting a more positive life.
Much respect to the moon man after all he is our hero 🙂 well mine i love his music because i can relate and yes some songs might be depressing but like the legend of Mr.Rager he speaks of his troubles and emotions Dream on Scott and make music for the kids like you.
Get a new hero you cunt!
You a bitch ass anyway
Kid Cudi Says He Wants To End Poverty, Hunger, Drought And Violence In The World And Wants To Paint Everything Pink
I am a Cudi fan, but he’s annoying and his fans make it tough to really rep this dude. His fans will suck his dick over anything he does and are a bunch of lame emo losers. Fanboys in general are annoying. If you are a fan that says some musician saved your life, you probably should have ended it because you are not mentally stable and are a drain on society.
Contrary to what you said, I feel like people like you are the real detriment of society. You realize Cudi WANTS to save lives. You’re going against Cudi’s main belief when writing his songs, and no musician would ever want a salty ass person like you to be one of their fans, let alone a friend.
He made two timeless albums and a classic mixtape that helped pave the way for rappers being discovered on the internet. Salute this man
he paves the way for the new and real hip hop. all you other cats can keep listening to stupid music about meaningless materials. he raps from the heart and has an actual message to give. i respect my man cudder till the day hes off the mic. how about that need for speed movie tho?? he’s a will smith no doubt haha
Recently on 60 Minutes, Kendrick opened up about his suicidal tendencies, and how after Drake surpassed his sales, he played russian roulette for a week straight.
And today on Hip Hop DX, your bitch ass was lying and I had to put you back in your place.
Hey, I know this article was made years ago but why the fuck is everyone bashing Cudi?