After having a solid couple of days to listen to Kid Cudi’s new album, I am finally prepared to write about it. First of all, it truly is Man on the Moon II, because the style of the album is a perfect continuation of the original Man on the Moon. The tracks are all very much laid back, and filled with the same dreamy ambience that dominates most of Cudi’s previous work. You can expect the slow Cudi flow to roll smoothly over the various stellar (read cosmic) backdrops full of enough bass to blow your spaceship right out of the sky.
Looking in retrospect, it is a little ridiculous how much of this album has been circulating around the web since mid-June. Six of the songs from the album have actually already been featured on this site, albeit some not in finished form. The previously posted songs include: “Erase Me” and “Maniac”, “REVOFFEV”, “Mr. Rager” and “Wylin’ Cuz I’m Young”, and “Mojo So Dope”.
Overall, the album is a decrease in energy relative to Cudi’s earlier work. I don’t hear any songs on this album that can really pump you up… aside from “Erase Me”, which is still arguably mellow. My favorite tracks off the new album (that haven’t already been posted on at least 500 other sites) are “The End” and “These Worries”. Both of these tracks have great beats and sick flows. Chip Tha Ripper is also a plus for me. I love Chip, especially in his collaborations with Cudi.
Kid Cudi – The End (Feat. GLC, Chip Tha Ripper, and Nicole Wray)
Listen: Kid Cudi Feat. GLC, Chip Tha Ripper, and Nicole Wray – The End
Kid Cudi – These Worries (Feat. Mary J. Blige)
Listen: Kid Cudi Feat. Mary J. Blige – These Worries
However, I would say that most of the hits on this album have already been released (see the above list). In my opinion, “Maniac” is really the star of the album. “Erase Me” takes a close second. I’m sure that many people would disagree with me on this too, so voice your opinion! I want to hear it! I’ll post “Maniac” and “Erase Me” for stream below.
Kid Cudi – Erase Me (Feat. Kanye West)
Listen: Kid Cudi Feat. Kanye West – Erase Me
Kid Cudi Feat. St. Vincent and Cage – Maniac
Listen: Kid Cudi Feat. St. Vincent and Cage – Maniac
Overall, the album is good, but it did not blow me away. It’s good music to chill to, and I will undoubtable use it for that purpose. But, I would have liked a little more definitive variety. I would have liked some more uplifting/banging content. I can only handle so much of the low-voiced, slow-flow Cudi. In his earlier days I feel like he really had a great deal of variety to his sound. For the die hard Cudi fans out there, this will most likely be a slam dunk. It is consistent with his now engrained style and it has an all-star feature line up.
Purchase: Kid Cudi – Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager
Tracklist:
1.) Scott Mescudi VS the World feat. Cee-Lo
2.) REVOFEV
3.) Don’t Play This Song feat. Mary J. Blige
4). We Aite (Wake Your Mind Up)
5.) Marijuana
6.) Mojo So Dope
7.) Ashin’ Kusher
8.) Erase Me feat. Kanye West
9.) Wild’n Cuz Im Young
10.) The Mood
11.) MANIAC feat. Cage & St. Vincent
12.) Mr. Rager
13.) These Worries feat. Mary J. Blige
14.) The End feat. GLC, Chip Tha Ripper & Nicole Wray
15.) All Along
16.) GHOST!
17.) Trapped In My Mind
On that note, I thought I would also toss in a few old songs from Cudi off of A Kid Named Cudi, one of Cudder’s old mixtapes. This bad boy dropped back in 2008. In my opinion this is Cudi at his finest. Whenever I bring it up or put it on, people around me are dumbfounded. I feel like not very many people have got to experience it. If you like what you hear, go grab it for FREE here. So, without further ado, here are a couple of my favorite tracks for your download pleasure.
Kid Cudi – Cleveland Is The Reason
Download: Kid Cudi – Cleveland is the Reason
Kid Cudi – Embrace The Martian feat. Crookers
Download: Kid Cudi – Embrace the Martian Feat. Crookers
Kid Cudi – T.G.I.F. feat. Chip The Ripper
Download: Kid Cudi – T.G.I.F. Feat. Chip The Ripper
Download: Kid Cudi – A Kid Named Cudi (Mixtape)
