Ever since Drake debuted as Jimmy on Degrassi, I have always been a fan of his talent and hard work. His famous line "started from the bottom, now we here," reflects the poverty he came from and the troubles he went through to obtain his fame and fortune. I respect Drake's dedication that got him to where he is today. However, when I saw this week's current events and the story about Drake and Kid Cudi, I was disappointed in Drake. He decided to use his fame to send a negative message about a person seeking help. For those of you who don't know, Kid Cudi just checked himself into rehab for depression and suicidal tendencies. Drake, rather than extending a helping hand or kind word, released a song, openly dissing Kid Cudi for his mental disorder. The lyrics are,
“You were the man on the moon, now you go through your phases
Life of the angry and famous
Rap like I know I’m the greatest and give you the tropical flavors
Still never been on hiatus
You stay xan and perked up so when reality set in you don’t gotta face it.”
Let me start by saying this: mental illnesses are no joke. They are not something to laugh about. Sicknesses like these need to be addressed before they become suffocating and harmful. Mental afflictions are not something that should be diminished. The fact that Drake called this a "phase" blows my mind and proves just how ignorant our society is to these kinds of sicknesses. Depression is not a phase, Drake. It is a constant, overwhelming feeling of complete uselessness, and it does not go away.
Modern day society has created a reputation for itself as being judgmental and heartless. From telling teenage girls that the ideal body weight is under 100 pounds to stressing that the only love that can exist is that between a male and a female, there are so many ideas that are put into the heads of young people that encourage them against certain behaviors. To think that one should hide their mental illness or be ashamed of it is disgusting and sad. We need to stop viewing these things as weaknesses rather than what they actually are: diseases. We have been raised in a generation where we are afraid to say we are depressed, anxious, or stressed due to the fear of what people will say. Nobody should be ashamed of their sickness. If a person is brave enough to realize that they are not okay, they should be welcomed with open arms, not belittled by a world famous rapper.
I completely admire Kid Cudi for stepping up and getting the help he deserves. Too often, people do not seek help due to embarrassment and end up dealing with their problems alone, or becoming victims to their own ailment. Kid Cudi's ability to be open to the world about what is going on in his life, may give some people the courage they need to speak up about what is going on in theirs.
Drake, you let me down. You have used your fame to send a cruel, degrading message. You have the power to influence others by being a role model. Why not use your fame to send positive messages to those who are struggling rather than embarrassing them? Kid Cudi is not the first person to struggle with depression and he will certainly not be the last one. Yet if we continue to discourage mental afflictions, Kid Cudi will be one of few who actually seeks help. Celebrities have more influence on the teenagers of my generation than they think. So, Drake, I'm sorry if your fame has gotten to your head, but nobody is too famous for a mental illness.
