"Being Around Kanye [West] & Music Was My Escape"

G.O.O.D. Music's Kid Cudi opens up about spending ample amounts of time in New York City and around mentor Kanye West at the start of 2011 in the new issue of Complex Magazine.

Cudi said his ultimate urge to stay around Yeezy was due to a romance break-up.

"I was at another place, another dark place. Me and my girl had broken up. I wasn't fully healed yet. And being around Kanye and music was my escape. He's a sober guy, he has a drink every once in a while, but seeing how he throws himself into the studio when he's stressing about something, I totally admire that. Being around that was therapy for me. [Now?] Yeah, [me and my girl,] we're solid. I'm just trying to figure out love. I never was really good at it, but when you have someone who loves you so much and can take your good and your bad, and work with you and help you grow--that's priceless. To have a ride-or-die woman, for somebody that's in the position I'm in, that's a once-in-a-lifetime thing." (Complex)

Last winter, West discussed his love woes and future aim to have a child.

"I'm a hopeless romantic and I'm looking and trying to decide who the mother of my child will be. It's not going to be based off a whim of being in love; she has to bring a certain level to the table. I want to be married, I want that super-dope counterpart, that one woman, but she has to be super-fresh, super-smart and not overwhelmed by her career. I'll find her, maybe I'll be 38 ... maybe I'm not fully who I am yet, maybe that's why I haven't found her ... The main quality is that you know that this person will ride or die for you. Whether she's mad at you, whether she's with you or nor, she still loves you, she stills bigs you up in any circle. She doesn't talk down about you to other people. That's the main thing that I need." (ID Magazine)

In the spring, R&B singer Olivia talked to SOHH about her policy on dating rappers.

"Me personally, I don't do rappers, I never have," Olivia told SOHH when asked if she is up for dating hip-hop artists. "I really prefer athletes. That's who I've always dated. And [DJ] Whoo Kid and I have always joked and we still joke to this day. Like, I strangle him every time I see him and he thinks it's all fun and games. He's just retarded. [laughs] There's no specific guys [I'm checking for]. [NBA star] Amar'e [Stoudemire] and I are actually friends. I've known him since he was on [the Phoenix Suns]. My manager actually manages one of his artists so that [dating] rumor was actually very hilarious to me. I don't actually have anybody in particular. It's just who I meet and will spark my interest." (SOHH)

In December, R&B singer Keri Hilson also spoke on her "no-rapper" policy.

"When you mix a man who has popularity, who has money, who has b*tches, that's a scary thing for me. It doesn't speak to my insecurities, it's just not the type of man that I want and I think I'm not the type of girl they want. I have a brain, I'm a little more than they bargained for." ("Chelsea Lately")