Cudi a 'tormented soul' (Updated February 6, 2013)

Called one of hip hop's most cerebral artists, Kid Cudi has triumphed through personal and professional issues to become a successful hip-hop artist. That's not to say he's free from his demons, however, as evidenced in a cover story called "Life After Death" for Complex Magazine's February/March 2013 issue. In a candid interview, Cudi (born Scott Mescudi) openly discusses his use of antidepressant medication, saying he tried different pills for five months as the result of an 'emotional breakdown.'

The drug use, as it stands, was addressed in the songs "Dr. Pill" with Dot da Genius in 2012, and "Just What I Am," the lead single from Cudi's upcoming third studio album "Indicud." The project, set to bow in March 2013, was initially going to be the third installment of his "Man on the Moon" series, and includes collaborations with Pusha T, Jaden Smith, Kendrick Lamar, Kanye West, King Chip and Cage. Cudi has said the overall tone of the album is positive and confident, though it remains to be seen with the other turmoil in Cudi's life.

In early January 2013, Cudi used Twitter to slam his record label, Universal Music, for not getting his work on the radio. With rather colorful language, he expressed that every song is, "A piece of my…tormented soul." The disgruntled artist, who complained that his 'spins' on the radio were not equal to other artists, alluded to the fact that there's "gonna be some problems" if things don't change with the label.

Cudi currently has just two events booked on his 2013 schedule, with back-to-back nights on March 29 and 30 in Illinois. He'll play at the NIU Convocation Center in Dekalb, followed by a night at Assembly Hall in Champaign the next day.

Kid Cudi - Just What I Am

It's been an interesting couple of years to be a Kid Cudi fan as "dat kid named cudi" who gave us the songs 'Mauie Wauie', 'Pursuit of Happiness', 'Hyyerr' and the less euphemistic 'Marijuana' during his Man on the Moon days went on to quit weed, get exposed for a since-solved coke problem, and now is pretty clearly back to being just who he is. The Kid Cudi story has been an interesting one and as a fan, I think he is back to a better place and I look forward to listening to more of his music.

Kid Cudi Tickets - The Rise of a Rap Star

Some rappers put out multiple mixtapes before they even get on the radar, but Cudi came out strong with his first official mixtape 'A Kid Named Cudi' which played like a true album with hits like Down and Out, Man on the Moon, Maui Wowie, Is there Any Love and the hit single Day N' Night. He dropped at the perfect time. Artists like Lupe Fiasco and The Cool Kids had set the stage for the new wave of non-gangsta rap, and Cudi road this wave to near immediate success. Cudi found success touring in smaller venues like the House of Blues, but as club remixes of Day N' Night exposed Cudi to an increasingly diverse audience, the hype machine built and he was poised to drop a full LP

Cudi Finds Stardom

Kid Cudi released his first studio album 'Man on the Moon' and immediately asserted himself as a force to be reckoned with in the rap community. Though some Cudi fans still cling to his original mixtape, no one is going to argue against the success of his major label debut. Starting off with the cerebral, In My Dreams, followed by the depression admitting 'Soundtrack 2 My Life', it is clear from the start that this isn't just another run of the mill sittin' on 22s in a benzo production. The album was real, unique, and interestingly paced with interludes from Common.

The Legend of Mr. Rager...and beyond

Although Cudi's sophomore album was not at the same caliber as MOTM I or A Kid Named Cudi, songs like Erase Me, Maniac and Mojo So Dope, proved that his mojo was indeed still dope, even if it wasn't as flawless as previous efforts.