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Kid Cudi bares (almost) all in Esquire photo shoot, talks Kanye feud, 2016 stroke

Kid Cudi is on the "Pursuit of Happiness" and Ye, formerly Kanye West, is not joining him on the journey.

The rapper, 38, has an upcoming movie and concert tour on his path but took a stop to share a piece of his mind as Esquire magazine's September cover star. The interview included new photos of the artist partially dressed in Dior, showing off a bare chest and in other pictures, a completely naked body aside from a carefully placed sock.

In the cover story, Kid Cudi, born Scott Mescudi, also removed layers of his life experiences including details from his time in rehab and his severed relationship with frequent collaborator, Ye.

Kid Cudi recently opened up about his conflict with Kanye West, or Ye, in a recent interview with Esquire.
Kid Cudi recently opened up about his conflict with Kanye West, or Ye, in a recent interview with Esquire.

In February, Ye posted a now-deleted Instagram announcement that Kid Cudi would not be featured on "Donda 2" because of his friendship with Pete Davidson (who was at the time dating Ye's ex-wife Kim Kardashian). Kid Cudi responded by calling the Chicago rapper a "dinosaur" and in April confirmed in a tweet that Ye was no longer his friend.

During the Esquire interview published Wednesday, he shared more about his feelings surrounding their feud and revealed he suffered a stroke in 2016.

Kid Cudi:'I checked myself into rehab' for depression, suicidal urges

Kid Cudi was upset with Kanye's Instagram posts

When Ye brought his disagreement with Kid Cudi to the internet, the Ohio-born rapper replied in the comments, according to Complex, writing "too bad I don't want to be on ur album."

Kid Cudi said the worst part about the social media feud was the online harassment he says he experienced from Ye's fans and that it messed with his mental health.

"Do you know how it feels to wake up one day, look at your social media, and you’re trending because somebody’s talking some (expletive) about you," Cudi said. "He used his power to (expletive) with me. That pissed me off."

A 'miracle' would have to mend the relationship

In September 2016, a month before Kid Cudi entered rehab "for depression and suicidal urges," he and Ye fell out after Kid Cudi went on a Twitter rant saying that rappers, including Drake and Ye, didn't care about him.

Ye responded during a concert at the time saying he "birthed" Kid Cudi when he signed him onto his G.O.O.D Music label.

'I birthed you': Kanye's response to Kid Cudi's diss

Kid Cudi used the Esquire interview to "clear that up."

"I wanted to be a part of a family and saw G.O.O.D. Music as that opportunity," Kid Cudi said. "So I finally said yeah. Kanye West did not come and pluck me out of Applebee’s or the Bape store.”

While the two made up after falling out in 2016, Cudi said this time he doesn't think the relationship can be repaired.

"I’m at a place in my life where I have zero tolerance for the wrong energies. I’ve watched so many people throughout the years that are close to him be burned by him," Kid Cudi said. "There’s no repercussions. You’re back cool with this man. He does it over and over."

"With all due respect, I’m not Drake, who’s about to take a picture with him next week and be friends again, and their beef is squashed," he added. "It’s gonna take a (expletive) miracle for me and that man to be friends again. I don’t see it happening. He gon’ have to become a monk."

More: 'The old Kanye' returns as Ye teams up with Drake for Free Larry Hoover Benefit Concert

Drake and Ye had a disagreement in the past and made up, marking the fixed relationship with a joint concert in December.  

After the interview was published Kid Cudi tweeted that he "wasnt tryna throw a shot"  at Drake.

"My point I was tryna make is that im not so forgiving. Meaning he might be a lil nicer than me in that situation w dude. Thats all," he wrote.

Kid Cudi had a stroke while in rehab

Days after releasing his single "Frequency," Kid Cudi announced in October 2016 that he checked himself into rehab, telling fans on Facebook that he battled "anxiety and depression" for "as long as I can remember."

In Esquire, the artist revealed that two weeks into treatment he suffered a stroke, impacting his speech and movement. After going through physical rehab, Kid Cudi said he challenged himself by doing a script read with Michael Cera for a Broadway production.

"I proved to myself that I could do it. I needed that at the time. I was happy," he said adding that he was excited that he "didn't lose something" during his battle to recover.

Many Kid Cudi fans admire the rapper for his ability to be outspoken about his mental health struggles. He said he's proud be an advocate for encouraging others to get help.

"I’m ready to wear those shoes and be a role model," Kid Cudi said. “It’s a lot of pressure, but it keeps me alive. So I’ll take it. It doesn’t stress me out."

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kid Cudi covers Esquire, talks Kanye feud and reveals 2016 stroke