Kid Cudi, the influential artist known for his genre-blending music, has unveiled deeply personal struggles in his debut memoir, Cudi, which was released on August 12, 2023. In this revealing 320-page autobiography, Scott Mescudi chronicles his journey from a challenging childhood in Cleveland to his rise in the music industry, ultimately confronting the darker aspects of fame, including addiction and mental health battles.
Cudi first gained widespread recognition with his breakout single “Day ’N’ Nite,” followed by the critically acclaimed album “Man on the Moon: The End of Day.” These works established him as a voice for a generation, yet the emotional turmoil he faced during this period remained largely unexpressed until now.
In an excerpt featured in GQ, Cudi reflects on a harrowing moment in his life: crawling across the floor of his Tribeca apartment, consumed by substance use, and feeling an unsettling sense of relief as he faced what he believed could be his final moments. “I couldn’t make sense of what was plaguing me,” he writes, revealing the overwhelming nature of his struggles.
Cudi describes how the pressures of fame led him to engage with cocaine, a substance he primarily used in solitude. As he became increasingly isolated, he felt trapped within his own success. “The coke felt like a necessary countermeasure for my celebrity, but it was wreaking havoc on my life, creatively and personally,” he states. His emotional volatility strained relationships and stifled his creative output, leaving him in a state of rage as he grappled with the disparity between his reality and his dreams.
The memoir not only explores the depths of his addiction but also traces the aftermath of that fateful night, where he began the long journey towards recovery. Cudi’s writing maintains a diary-like intimacy, echoing the raw emotion found in his most personal albums.
As he recounts the challenges following his initial fame, Cudi emphasizes the isolation that often accompanies success. The memoir serves as both a confession and a testament to resilience, offering insights into his path to stability and healing.
In sharing his story, Kid Cudi aims to connect with others facing similar struggles, providing a voice for those who feel alone in their battles. His willingness to confront and articulate his experiences marks a pivotal moment not only in his career but also in the broader conversation about mental health and addiction in the music industry.
