Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, is an architect of spectacle and controversies, and has been as polarizing as he has been impactful. With his chart-topping music and unapologetic social media breakdowns, Ye's public presence has been a whirlwind of brilliance and chaos, costing him business or family ties, as well as friendships. For instance, Kid Cudi, who stood out with a precious artistic camaraderie for Ye, has now been endangered in the midst of the latter's series of tumultuous antics that hardly let him leave the negative headlines.

Instead of being immortalized in brilliant music, Kid Cudi and Ye's long-standing partnership seems to now exist in shards of a broken friendship.

Kid Cudi is promoting his book Cudi: The Memoir, which arrived on the shelves on Tuesday, August 12, while preparing the release of his 'Free' album later this month. However, it is Ye's recent condescending comments regarding Virgil Abloh that have led him to explore some of his darkest thoughts and heartbreaking reflections in a new CBS interview. Cudi did not hold back when discussing the breakdown of his friendship with Ye. He labeled their relationship as "really heartbreaking," highlighting how ongoing betrayals have deteriorated their relationship over the years.

Cudi directly quoted Ye's vile, disturbing comments on Virgil Abloh, a close collaborator and friend, saying it made him "super angry." Ultimately, this took a toll on his emotions as he could no longer identify this controversial version of Ye. "I just don't know that guy anymore," Cudi woefully stated in a heartfelt eulogy to a friendship now seemingly beyond repair. Cudi, who considered Ye as one of his closest friends who ushered him to stardom, is now "done" with him after years of a rocky relationship, as they finally cut ties with each other. 

“Gave me opportunity to…” – When Kanye West Revealed How His Nearly-Fatal Accident in 2002 Helped Him Create an Album

From collabs to diss tracks, Cudi, who first signed to Ye's G.O.O.D. Music label in 2008, now finds himself dejected in friendship as he emotionally distances himself from the rapper.

Ye and Kid Cudi's first musical collaborations dominated the mid-2000s. In 2013, Cudi parted ways with Ye's record label; however, the duo had since maintained a cordial relationship with several collabs and peaceful interactions in the years, such as a reunion on stage in Sacramento in November 2016, dining together, and releasing their joint project, 2019’s 'Kids See Ghosts.' In March 2025, Ye actively dissed Virgil Abloh during an incendiary rant on X, the reasoning behind it being his "evil" nature, in Ye's own words. Cudi has cited this as the last straw, as he cut ties with the rapper.

Beneath the musical notes and the back-and-forth appreciation were tensions. Cudi has described their personalities as polar opposites and the friendship as repeatedly broken due to Ye's unpredictable nature. As the duo's feud finally ends, their bond, a seismic rupture in the hip-hop scene, ensues. While Cudi moves on to his upcoming album, Ye's daily life succumbs to a tornado of wildly controversial headlines and conspiracies worthy of detailed documentaries.

Ye’s São Paulo Concert Teases Music Mayhem, Here's All About His 2-Day Festival, Co-Headliner, and More

What are your thoughts on Kid Cudi's honest reaction to Ye's recent controversial comments? Tell us in the comments below.