First published 2025
Scott Mescudi opens his story as a kid from Cleveland who would become the Grammy-winning artist Kid Cudi. He traces his rise through hits like "Day 'N' Nite," "Pursuit of Happiness," and "Mr. Rager," songs that transformed his personal struggles into anthems for a generation. While his music climbed the charts and gave voice to countless fans, Mescudi himself was falling apart behind the scenes. He writes candidly about his fights with depression, addiction, isolation, and self-doubt during his climb to fame. The memoir follows his path through these dark periods toward recovery and self-understanding. Mescudi shares the tools and insights he discovered during his journey back to stability. He explores how vulnerability became strength and how he learned to reinvent himself repeatedly. The book reveals how he found the courage to continue when everything seemed hopeless. This is the story of an artist who turned pain into purpose.
Genres: mental-health, addiction, african-american, autobiography, biography-memoir, music, 21st-century, musicians
Vibes: emotional-atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: personal-journey, vulnerability-as-strength
Setting: Cleveland
Period: 21st-century
320 pages · Hardcover · Simon & Schuster
Content warnings: addiction, depression, mental-illness