"Kids See Ghosts" is the eponymous debut studio
album by American hip hop duo Kids See Ghosts, composed
of rapper-producers Kanye West and Kid Cudi. It was
released on June 8, 2018, through Wicked Awesome Records and GOOD Music,
and distributed by Def Jam Recordings. Prior to the release, West and
Cudi had collaborated on each others' work since 2008, although they
experienced personal quarrels due to creative differences. The first
studio sessions for the album began after the two reunited in late 2016 after reconciling.
Kanye and Kid Cudi have been very outspoken about their battles with depression, anxiety and the stigma of mental health in today's society. According to NAMI (National Alliance of Mental Illness) approximately 20.6% of U.S. adults experienced mental illness in 2019 (51.5 million people). This represents about 1 in 5 adults. 5.2% of U.S. adults experienced serious mental illness in 2019 (13.1 million people). Both artists have touched the hearts of many fans who have been affected with some sort of mental illness. Fans have attributed their coping with each artist's music throughout the years. Commentators noted the genre of Kids See Ghosts as a fusion of psychedelic and hip hop. Lyrically, Kids See Ghosts includes references to mental illness throughout. "Freeee (Ghost Town, Pt. 2)" and "Reborn" are related to the recovery from the state, showcasing a transition to
happiness. The album includes the duo battling against their mental fears and anxieties to achieve comfort in a better spirit, with them mostly doing so on the aforementioned tracks.
The duo each bring their own charismatic twist that when implented together truly come in harmony.