Kid Cudi: Man On The Moon II: The Legend Of Mr. Rager

Kid Cudi is the black sheep. He’s been the black sheep growing up, in G.O.O.D. Music, and in Hip-Hop. With this has come very distinct music that his fans have fallen in love with.  After a widely acclaimed debut album, Cudi’s second effort Man on the Moon II (The Legend of Mr. Rager) has expectations aimed at the stars. Would this man on the moon come down to Earth, or stay in musical orbit?

The album starts out with the cosmic thumps of “Scott Mescudi vs. The World”. The opener features Cee-Lo on the hook, which really brings the song to life- a good thing to do on an intro. This is followed up by one of the more lively tracks on the album, “REVOFEV”. Highlighted by an enticing off-key piano loop and Cudder’s signature choruses, the song seems to wake the listener up. While Kid Cudi is known for his spacious music, it does him some good to heighten the tone on this project. One of the better songs, “Ashin’ Kusher”, does exactly this. Produced by Chuck Inglish, the instrumental boasts banging percussion that Cudi bounces off. Also, the album’s lead single “Erase Me” brings energetic guitar strums that assist in making it a hit. A slick verse from Kanye West doesn’t hurt either, “I know I seen ya’ before/ But don’t know where I seen ya’/ Oh I remember now, you something that I dreamed of/ Don C said, ‘She cool, but don’t let her fuck your cream up/ Monica Lewinsky on the dress/ She’ll take you to the cleaners”.

Cudi stays very mellow on the album for the most part, and the majority of it is well done. On “Mojo So Dope”, the emcee flexes his laid back voice and flow to brag, “Give a fuck about your lifestyle”. One of the more personal songs on the album, “These Worries”, probably showcases Kid Cudi’s natural sound at its best. With eerie snares and baselines, Cudi is heard snorting- an obvious reference to his cocaine addiction. In the song, he lays down some of his best and most heartfelt lines, “So much whiskey all in my liver/ I really like the punch, it delivers/ Makes me warm, as I high-five sinners”. Throw in a guest appearance from Mary J. Blige and you have a winner. “The End” comes up next and is backed by spacious, introspective instrumentation that’s insanely addicting. Guests GLC and Chip Tha Ripper speak calm bars and Nicole Wray on the hook helps bring the track down to a different kind of cool.

All in all, it’s all about what kind of music you like… (duh). Let me explain. Man on the Moon II (The Legend of Mr. Rager) is not a transcending album. If you didn’t like the ‘Cudi sound’ before, this won’t be the album to change your musical paradigm. And if you were enamored with the man on the moon to begin with, the LP plays right into your tastes. Subjectively, there will be a handful of songs that any Hip-Hop fan will enjoy- it’s merely based on how much you can endure.  There are tracks that share similar production and lyrics that may induce yawns, (“Marijuana”, “All Along”) and others that have a slight difference and strike a chord with the listener (“GHOST!”). Kid Cudi made the album you would expect him to make; it just depends on your expectations are.

8.0/10

Ashin’ Kusher

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These Worries

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The End

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