ArtistConnection

Personally, the release of Kid Cudi's sophomore album was highly anticipated. After a year that involved Cudi's arrest and exposing of his drug issues, I knew that this album was going to allow us to see who Kid Cudi really was. Cudi now claims that he is leading a cleaner lifestyle and opening a new chapter in his life. Rager indicates that Cudi is taking the first steps to doing so through its dark messages. Cudi's voice matched with the heavy rhythmic beats almost hypnotize the listener, but it is important not to miss the messages of the songs. The messages of the moods seem to come from the mind of a demented, dark individual, and most would assume this to come from an artist that is still battling drug use; however, I view it as a form of rehabilitation. Cudi told Complex Magazine, “Yup. No more blow. People do drugs to camouflage emotions and run away from their problems. Now I’m going to deal with certain things as they come, prioritize ****—man up, so to speak."

The album begins with "Scott Mescudi vs. The World." This song, along with Cee Lo's chorus, sets the tone for the entire album. Dark messages, and thumping beat, and Cudi proclaiming that we are in the world that he is "now ruling." Without taking away anything from Cudi, the chorus performed by Cee Lo is amazing. Cee Lo truly has an amazing voice, and the context of the chorus is perfect.

The second track "REVOFEV" continues the "welcoming" to both the album and to Cudi's new life. "Yea; Welcome; Welcome You; Hey." Cudi admits that "life gets tough" but urges us not to let it "hold us back too much." The trance inducing beat begins in this song I believe. Cudi continues through the next few songs to confront his past world, and welcome his new world. While Cudi confronts his past and drug use, emotional instability is discovered, and I found myself questioning Cudi. All of this seems dark, but it is real to Cudi. I realized it was not so much emotional instability as it was him dealing with himself.

The track that leaves the listener with the most questions is "Marijuana." The repetitive chorus resounds throughout the song, almost taking over the song, representing the impact that marijuana had on Cudi's life. "Pre pre pretty green bud; All in my blood; Ohhh I need it; We can take off now; Ohh Marijuana." I would not question this song so much if the verses did not detail a physical and spiritual addiction to marijuana. Cudi talks about how he "needs" marijuana to function, and about how it has always "had his back." I am assuming that Cudi included this song as his personal confession that marijuana and drugs have over taken him having an "admission of problem" effect. This is most likely the intended effect. Despite the lyrics, this song has the most addictive rhythm and flow.


Overall, I personally give this album an A-. The lyrics and messages are very dark, but they mean something. They mean something to Cudi, and they convey exactly what he is thinking. He tell us this in "Mojo So Dope." Cudi explains, “Damn, you must understand, when I speak about a song this is really how I am/Yeah, this is how I really think, you could see what I see, yes I really think."

One thing that takes away from making the album great is that many of the beats behind the tracks sound the same. I understand that there might be an intended effect in the continuous thumping, but there has to be some difference between the tracks.


The conviction and realization of Kid Cudi appears in "GHOST!." Cudi realizes and exclaims, “Got to get it through my thick head that I was so close to being dead.” What comes across as a dark, drug-induced mixture of songs is really Cudi's story of redemption. Let us hope that Cudi succeeds in his battle and his next album will be about his victory instead of his fight.

__________________
Link removed - No advertising, please