The last time Kid Cudi graced the cover of Complex, it was quite an unforgettable feature. Fast forward to exactly a year later and Cudder returns as the face of the magazine’s upcoming October/November 2011 issue. In the interview conducted by Editor-in-chief Noah Callahan-Bever, Cudi reflects on past demons and drama from last year, substance abuse, mending ties with Wale, ending business ties with long time associates, and below an excerpt where he speaks on his upcoming rock-inspired Wizard album.

Let’s talk about your number one commitment, the Wizard album. What made you want to take a break from the MOTM series to do something different?

After I got off the drugs I was like, I need a fucking hobby. I can’t be chillin’ in the house playing video games all the time. And I can’t be in the clubs, ’cause that led to the disaster. So what am I going to do? Why don’t I try to pick up an instrument?

I always wanted to play guitar. I tried it as a child and failed, tremendously. I tried to play the trumpet, the fucking clarinet, violin. Back then, when you tried that in school they would want you to read sheet music. It wasn’t about, “Can you play by ear?” I’m not one of those musicians.

So I picked up the guitar last fall and I started fiddling with it. It came kind of natural to me. I’m not saying that the first time around I was shredding riffs. But I was able to pick it up and pick, and go up and down the neck, and find melodies. I was like, “Shit, I want to just make jams with this instrument.” It was something that I took very seriously.

Read Kid Cudi’s full cover story with Complex here. Catch the issue when it hits newsstands on October 4.

View photos from Cudi x Complex’s extended gallery after the jump…..

Previously: The Knux Feat. Kid Cudi – “Run” (Video)