Kid Cudi is pulling back the curtain on some of the darkest moments of his life in his newly released memoir, Cudi: The Memoir. In a candid interview with CBS Mornings, the rapper revealed that his years-long struggle with cocaine addiction began as a way to keep himself from ending his own life.
The book opens with a harrowing account of a near-death experience following a cocaine overdose. Cudi explained that at the time, he had already reached massive fame but was still battling the weight of depression and the pressures that came with celebrity. “Cocaine was my top prevention method from blowing my brains out,” he said.
Throughout his career, the Cleveland native has been open in his music about experimenting with marijuana, MDMA, DMT, LSD, and more. But his memoir dives deeper, chronicling how substance abuse intertwined with his rise to stardom and how he managed to survive it all.
The book also touches on more recent moments, including his controversial testimony in the Diddy trial earlier this year, an appearance that sparked backlash from some in the hip-hop community, including Young Thug and former GOOD Music collaborator Consequence, who accused him of being a “snitch.”
Cudi: The Memoir isn’t just a reflection on fame and music, it’s a raw look at the intersection of mental health, identity, and survival in the public eye. As Cudi puts it, he’s “thankful to still be standing” after years of turbulence.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org for confidential support.
