Indicud
I gotta say, this album from Cudi is super intriguing. MOTM was solid but got kinda generic after a bit, with those poppy beats feeling like a sugar rush sometimes. But here, Cudi's trying something different. It's more spacious and slow, packed with cool ideas, even if some of them need a bit more polish.
"Just What I Am" is now my favorite Cudi track. It's got these powerful vibes and some really vulnerable lyrics. Sadly, only "Solo Dolo" and "Immortal" hit that same level. "Girls" has a great beat but the lyrics are cringe. "Young Lady" is cool but needs more pop. "King Wizard" is hard but feels empty. "Brothers" has solid verses but the beat is kinda boring. And honestly, I'd cut "Lord of the Sad and Lonely," "Burn Baby Burn," and "Red Eye" (seriously, Haim can be somewhere else).
It’s obvious Cudi is still figuring out producing, but that’s not all bad. He’s taking control, and it makes his work exciting and super confident, even if it's hit or miss. The lyrics are a step away from his usual sad stoner vibe, and the ideas are awesome, just not always well executed. He's pulling from so many genres and styles it’s dizzying. I dig the instrumental intros and outros, and the darker, more cinematic tone. It’s all apocalyptic and menacing, with beats you don’t hear in mainstream stuff. "Cold Blooded" almost feels like a pop-rap track New Order would be proud of.
I love the electric guitars in some of the songs; he just needs to refine that. And the outros! I’m a fan of songs that just play out, and Cudi nails that with like eight tracks here. He gets the appeal of a slow burn in a world of quick, punchy songs, especially in rap. Not many songs would have a soft outro like the beautiful one on "Mad Solar," and "Afterwards (Bring Yo Friends)" follows suit. The outro is ethereal and rewarding, ending on a peaceful note. It just needs more punch and development. It's all part of the learning process, and I really appreciate that.
KID CUDI - INDICUD
RATING - 8.1/10
FAVORITE TRACK - Just What I Am
GENRE - Rap, Hip-Hop, Rnb, Rock