Kid Cudi Defends Performing with Kanye West at Chicago Homecoming Concert

Kid Cudi is defending his decision to perform at Kanye West’s Chicago homecoming concert at Solider Field on Friday night and stand by his longtime friend and collaborator. Cudi addressed the backlash in a Saturday social media post following New York radio personality Peter Rosenberg’s comments condemning people who have remained close to West despite his past antisemitic remarks.

“A lot of people I love are being openly lame about Kanye,” Rosenberg, who is Jewish, said in a social media post “I am not saying no one deserves forgiveness or empathy but this man sang Heil Hitler ONE YEAR AGO,” before adding he was “disappointed in a lot of people.”

While Rosenberg’s post was made hours before Kid Cudi took the stage in Chicago, the rapper responded by saying he understands Rosenberg’s frustration, but “I dont really care if ur disappointed in me.”

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“That man is my brother,” Kid Cudi wrote. “U dont have a relationship w him like I do. Damn near 2 decades of art and friendship. U not family.”

Kid Cudi, who was signed by West to his label in 2008, described the Chicago emcee as having made strides since a public breakdown and antisemitic behavior.

“Ive been around Ye, and I can honestly say talking to him now is how it use to be when I first signed to him, but even better,” Kid Cudi wrote. “He was dealing w mental health struggles for years and now hes good. Everyone deserves some grace when they family. I was the hardest on him out of anybody. I held him accountable. He apologized and it was sincere.”

Rosenberg clarified his original post in a response on Saturday, saying he wasn’t talking specifically about being disappointed in Kid Cudi, but stood by his criticism of people upholding West.

“If you saw me running out to support an artist a year after they made a song called ‘all hail the klan’ you would prolly feel a way,” the New York radio personality said, addressing Kid Cudi. “I am ALL for forgiveness and (empathy) but this man is being hailed as a HERO … f that. go get real help and sit down for a few years then lets talk before im going to run to put money in ur pocket.”

The back and forth stems from West’s remarks and actions over the last couple years. West made a series of antisemitic remarks in 2022 that ultimately escalated into years of controversial behavior, from selling a swastika T-shirt to releasing a song titled “Heil Hitler” in 2025. In January, he took out a full-page ad in The Wall Street Journal apologizing for his behavior and wrote, “I am not a Nazi or an antisemite. I love Jewish people.”

West has been on a comeback tour this year and has performed in Los Angeles, Tampa and San Antonio and internationally in Turkey, the Netherlands, Georgia, Spain, Kazakhstan and other countries.

Aside from Cudi, his Friday night concert in Chicago also boasted appearances from Lupe Fiasco, Travis Scott, Big Sean, Common, Young Thug, Rick Ross, Don Toliver, 2 Chainz, and Chief Keef.

A lot of people I love are being openly lame about Kanye

I am not saying no one deserves forgiveness or empathy but this man sang Heil Hitler ONE YEAR AGO.

Disappointed in a lot of people.

— Peter Rosenberg (@Rosenbergradio) September 4, 2026

I understand ur frustration Peter, I fucks w u, but I dont really care if ur disappointed in me. That man is my brother. U dont have a relationship w him like I do. Damn near 2 decades of art and friendship. U not family. So I get it. Ive been around Ye, and I can honestly say… https://t.co/oIunsCXwEv

— The Chosen One (@KiDCuDi) September 5, 2026

well i wasnt disappointed in you @KiDCuDi (i meant fans) but if you saw me running out to support an artist a year after they made a song called “all hail the klan” you would prolly feel a way. I am ALL for forgiveness and empatjhy but this man is being hailed as a HERO … f… https://t.co/2UUibLi2sX

— Peter Rosenberg (@Rosenbergradio) September 5, 2026