Why Kid Cudi stands by Kanye West after nearly two decades of friendship
Fresh off an onstage reunion after years, Kid Cudi is pushing back at critics as he defends Kanye West.
On night two of Kanye West’s Chicago homecoming at Soldier Field, Kid Cudi walked out to join Ye for the first time in years. The pair ran through a trio of favorites that defined their creative peak together, turning a football stadium into a nostalgia loop for fans who never thought they’d see it again.
The reunion — part of West’s two-night homecoming in his hometown — landed big with the crowd, but it also kicked up immediate debate online over West’s recent controversies and how quickly audiences should embrace him.
New York radio host Peter Rosenberg weighed in on X after the shows, saying he was uneasy with how warmly West was received. He pointed to West’s recent history and what he described as a “Heil Hitler” song from last year, arguing that it’s too soon to cheer him as a conquering hero.
Cudi replied by sharing Rosenberg’s post and defending his decision to stand beside West. In his response, he said their nearly two-decade relationship makes West “family, ” added that West has apologized to him, and said he believes West is in a better place mentally. Cudi also wrote that he held West accountable privately before accepting his apology.
"That man is my brother. U dont have a relationship w him like I do. Damn near 2 decades of art and friendship. "
Rosenberg later clarified in a reply that his criticism wasn’t aimed at Cudi specifically, but at fans celebrating West’s return. While he said forgiveness and empathy matter, he argued West should seek real help, step away from the spotlight, and come back only after taking accountability.
Long, messy history
West signed Cudi to G.O.O.D. Music in 2008, and their early partnership helped shape both careers. Cudi’s fingerprints are all over West’s “808s & Heartbreak,” and West helped launch Cudi’s solo run.
The relationship blew up in 2016 when Cudi criticized West and others over the use of songwriters; West fired back from the stage, then later softened and called Cudi his “brother.” They reunited for the acclaimed 2018 joint project “Kids See Ghosts.”
Things fractured again afterward — by 2022, Cudi said it would take a “miracle” for them to be friends. That’s why the Soldier Field performance, and Cudi publicly defending West this week, landed with so much weight for fans on both sides of the debate.