Kanye West responds to Kid Cudi following Twitter rant: 'I birthed you'

TAMPA, Fla., Sept. 15 (UPI) -- Kanye West fired back to his former protege Kid Cudi Wednesday during a concert in Tampa following the "Day N Nite" singers social media rant.

"Kid Cudi, don't ever mention 'Ye name. I birthed you," West said onstage according to Billboard after he suddenly stopped performing his song "I Don't Like."

"We all dealing with that emo [expletive] all the time -- me, Pat, Don C. Don't ever mention 'Ye name. Don't try to say who I can do songs with. You mad 'cause I'm doing songs with Drake? Ain't nobody telling 'Ye who to do songs with! Respect the God!" he continued referencing producers that have worked with both artists.

"You know how many people wish they could be signed to G.O.O.D. Music, get they life changed? Have that opportunity? Never forget that. I'm so hurt. I feel so disrespected. Kid Cudi, we're two black men in a racist world. I wore skinny jeans first. I got called names before you, bruh. Why y'all got to come at me? This ain't the end of the Malcolm X movie. I'm out here fighting for y'all: creatives, artists, independent thinkers. Don't never mention my name in a bad manner. None of y'all!"

West's comments came after Cudi took to Twitter Wednesday in order to vent his frustration with various hip-hop artists until he mentioned West and Drake specifically. "Everyone thinks they're soooo great. Talkin top 5 and be having 30 people write songs for them," Cudi started his rant.

"My tweets apply to who they apply. Ye, Drake, whoever. These [expletive] dont give a [expletive] about me. And they aint [expletive] with me," he continued. "I've been loyal to those who haven't been to me and that ends now. Now im your threat."

Cudi was formally signed under West's G.O.O.D. Music label where he released his highest-selling debut album, Man on the Moon: The End of Days in 2009. He left the label in 2013.

Cudi was last heard providing vocals on West's 2016 release, The Life of Pablo. The 32-year-old is readying his sixth studio album, Passion, Pain & Demon Slayin' for the spring.