Kid Cudi has always felt like an unwilling protégé of Kanye West; for as much as his mentor values instant gratification (to the point that he’ll bus out every influencer in the L.A. rap media space to a listening session for a project he literally only finished minutes prior), Cudi has honorably maintained a tunnel vision for the fringe, often to a fault.
As impactful as his seminal work was, Cudi’s output since 2010’s Man on The Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager has been spotty at best, indecipherable at worst. While the concurrent five releases genuinely attempted to build on the mythology of the “Man on The Moon” mantra, the Ohio native’s scatterbrain artistry merely perplexed even his core fans.
But in the wake of his mentor’s 41st birthday and aftermath of Ye’s hollow ravings, the collaborative Kids See Ghosts is the much-needed comeback arc not only for Cudi but for those who have chosen to stand by Yeezy during these turbulent times. The sonic narratives first introduced at the offset of their relationship are finally seen to a wholly satisfying close with the features and guest producers reading like a who’s who of the Good Music Family: there’s a singular rap verse from Pusha T to kick things off; Yasiin Bey grabs a hypnotic hook on the titular track; Mr. Hudson’s on the outro; and everyone from Mike Dean to Plain Pat find their way onto the boards. Healing the wounded is often a group effort, and as a group, these artists successfully manage to jumpstart the process of building up our battered soul.
In a post-Sandy Hook society, where each week’s episode of The Bachelorette is prefaced with a new school shooting, the world feels sick and the kids are seeing ghosts. And while Cudi and Ye don’t feign to have all the answers, they do confidently boast the mantras that have guided them thus far: “Heaven lift me up”; “Stay strong”; “Keep movin’ forward.” Following the apocalyptic intro, where the world literally threatens to collapse around Cudi’s inexplicable adherence to love, the following six tracks take special care in rebuilding our battered psyche.
Cudi’s naturally warm intonation has only wisened with time and his once-estranged self-doubt has gracefully transformed into something more somber and soulful. On “Reborn,” the album’s moving centerpiece, Cudi simply makes you feel as warm and vulnerable and seen as the best of his early work. Perhaps sensing the importance of this re-introduction for the Kid Named Cudi, there’s also an exactness with which Kanye carves out his verses, making for his most militant and focused turnout in ages. Careful not to waste a syllable, Ye uses the entirety of his airtime to wax poetic on the cyclic and inextricable nature of mental health, gun violence and the prison industrial complex. “They send us off to prison for retirement/Hopefully Alice Johnson will inspire men,” he raps on the rattling, Kurt Cobain inspired-closer, “Cudi Montage.”
The chemistry between Cudi and Ye feels battle tested. With Cudi playing the role once occupied by his own ego, Kanye’s music sounds freer than ever before. Together, these two studio wzrds have managed to produce something that is equal parts raw, honest, touching, spooky and ethereal.
We’re going to need more than seven tracks next time.
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You guys could’ve gave it a higher rating. Amazing project top to bottom.
This album is a 5. The album merges so many different elements in a cohesive way. Bringing in featured like mos def and ty were organic as opposed to forced like most features in today’s rap. Kanye and Cudi continue to solidify their legacy as top tier artists in hip hop with this album.
4.4/5? That’s ridiculous, this album is ahead of its time like Yeezus and 808 and needs at least a 4.8-5. This is a new genre in itself and if rap moves in this direction this is easily one of hip hops greatest albums. The dark side and lack of major hits doesn’t make this a lesser album. This is a concept album and a manifestation of what the artists are going through. This album is ART! definitely best realize of the year and shame on HHDX for dumbing down the rating. In a couple years, yall will be back revising this album and giving it a 5/5 just watch
! I remember when y’all said all this about “Atrocity Exhibition.”
The community was right about that DB album! Like Atrocity Exhibition, this record’s on another level of genre-bending experimentation combined with catchy hooks and emotional depth.
I’m not even a fan of Kanye. This is by far the best thing he’s ever done in my opinion.
Bro rap has been the same for the past 10 years. Music is sound at the end of the day, everyone criticized Kanye for coming up with 808s yet that the current sound of rap. People criticized Wayne for auto-tune and lack of lyrical depth yet that the new sound of rap. What’s the point of having a genre that sounds the same for the past 30 years with different words on the same beat? That’s where Kanye and Kendrick come in to move this genre forward. I can maybe add Gambino and Chance to the equation. Kanye goal isn’t to make 4 versions of the same album but instead, continue to innovate and bring new horizons to a genre heavy on beats and predictable in many ways. KSG is a masterpiece: bold, provocative, uncomfortable and the depth is insane
If this is rap’s new direction, then things will only get worse. The lack of content and diversity with the singing is very non-inventive. Saying the same sentence or word, over and over and over, is very dull. Also, constantly talking about depression, demons, drugs, and breaking free is indicative of a lost generation with a lack of guidance and/or inspiration to the point that anxiety is the natural product. I understand that this is essentially “alternative rap,” but I certainly hope that this doesn’t become the norm, particularly when mumble rap has burdened the art form for the last several years.
Two black guys whining for 20 munutes about depression caused because white people wont accept them. Sad.
Sad, but I’ll f##$ with it.
CUDI BACK !! 5 out 5 ??
I’ve always been a huge cudi &ye fan but this was a weak effort.The title track & montage were the only good songs.
Interesting album consisting of “alternative rap” if that’s a decent description. Having listened to the album about 15 times, it’s pretty cool, but nothing I’ll bump for the long-run. I really hope hip-hop’s next changing of the guard disallows mumble rap, depression rap, suicide rap, setting my soul free rap, etc to make way for a return to enlightenment, lyricism, and content.
I’m a fan of both Cudi and Ye. But I think Cudi album is garbage. I think Ye album is pretty decent as a whole.
I really see how anyone can rate the Cudi album 5/5 lol. What would that make man on the moon, 19/10?
I don’t understand the positivity this is getting. The album is complete trash and definitely the worst of the 3. Wack beats, repetitive hooks, zero melody, zero replay value.
However after replaying it I changed my mind.
Just replayed it for the third time and really its just garbage.
4th time is a charm, I love it again
Classic!
yes no come on this is way worse than “ye”. “Free” is probably the most embarrassing thing in either of these guys careers and i’m including Kanye’s “New Workout Plan”, “Drunk and Hot Girls”, “RoboCop”, “Bound 2”, or the last few Cudi albums.
Robocop and Bound 2 were both dope.
WAAAAYYYYYYY BETTER THAN YE
I don‘t care how Kanye calls these shits, a 7-track, 20+ minute-long project is not an „album“ – it is an extended play (EP). But, technicalities aside, I can definitely see (hear) the appeal of this thing. However, in order to be a „10/10“ or a „classic“ to me, it needs to be significantly longer – and as strong over the longer duration. I don‘t think it is fair to grade hour-long projects and these 20-minute ones the same.
According to Grammys, an album is considered at least 7 songs at at least 20 minutes so I see what Kanye is doing. Everyone else just has to catch up.
Album is fire. What’s impressive is that all three GOOD music albums sound totally different sonically and are great in their own way. DAYTONA being the best cause I love bars. Pusha blackout. Nas is next up
Best of the three releases so far.
First listen blew me away and it only gets better with further listens.
How they call it way better than ye with almost the same rating? Shows that the hhdx review system is seriously flawed, ye should’ve never got 4/5, you guys f’d up for lowering that bar, you can always add more numbers to the ratings cause 4/10 is more like it. This album wasn’t bad but wasn’t great.
Strong offering from some good guys. Keep it coming!
i don’t understand why people are overhyping this so called “album”, which is not. this whole review system is f.u.b.a.r. (fucked up beyond all recognition). this EP is garbage from start to finish.
Ya’ll might as well stop bickering about short albums, especially when you’re not buying sh*t and artists are making less than a penny per stream. Ye and G.O.O.D. music is adjusting it’s business model to the current landscape of the music business. Ya’ll treat music like it’s some convenient past time where the authors don’t deserve compensation and most of you wont lift a finger to pull a few dollars out of your pockets to support a worthy effort even by some of the most prolific artists of our time. SO YEA, here take these 7 songs and be happy, or not. No ones spending months in a studio to bang out a 15 track joint that most of ya’ll wont even smoke all of it in the first place. Welcome to the new age!! And ohh yea, this shit bangs 5/5!! Thank you Cudi and Ye!
GOAT
Forgot to add my rating
I disagree. I think Ye is a more enjoyable listen than KSG without a doubt!
This is Kanye as a producer…and not producer FOR Kanye but producing for his artist. Its def a Cudi album, but fueled by Kanye’s vision. When these drops are all released, and we got a bunch of puzzle pieces to fit into personal playlists, these songs will be welcome moments of float and introspection between the bangers that Pusha and Nas blessed ups with.
Also….CyHi is getting 7. I TOLD YOU ALL…its not going to stop. N#$#$ talk SH$% Ye how do you respond?
With a smile and and a catalog of music that could only come from one camp.
Maybe it’s just me, I know music is subjective but I never got Cudi at all. He can’t rap or sing IMO, I guess his shit can create a “mood” if you’re fucked up on something but I never thought of him as no genius or nothing like that. So alot of this is just noise, although I thought Kanye was better lyrically than on his own shit. I’ll wait for Nas, probably more my speed…
Both albums are dope….HHDX is becoming relevant again with these good scores!!! I love both artists…i just wish Ye had been at least 30 mins long lol
KSG is very over hyped imo. I thought the lyrics were insightful but I think the downfall was that kanye and cudi weren’t using any special flows, they were more just trying to get the lyrics out. I don’t understand how one could say that this is “much better than ‘ye’.” Its only been a week, do you not remember that “Ghost Town” is on ye!!! Although people are referring to this album as being uplifting and the album cover displays bright coloration, the album gives off a dark vibe imo due to the dark instrumentation and featured ghost noises. The color I see most when listening to the album is dark blue. 3.5/5
Fuck off
Album will mature thru time and will be unforgettable. The focus and production on this is more polished than Ye (considering Kanye made Ye is basically 2 weeks and tossed his original album). Cudi Montage & Free (part2) are two of the best tracks of 2018 – providing hope and inspiration to be creative and explore your ideas and free your soul.
Album will mature thru time and will be unforgettable. The focus and production on this is more polished than Ye (considering Kanye made Ye is basically 2 weeks and tossed his original album). Cudi Montage and Free (part2) are two of the best tracks of 2018 – providing hope and inspiration to be creative and explore your ideas and free your soul
OYYYYY LOCCIE SHMULA YABOBOBOBOOOOOO OYABBOBOOOOOO YABABOBOBOBOBOOOOO OYABABOBOBOOOO YABOBOOOOOO YABOBOOOOOO OYABOBOBOBO YABOBOBOBOOOOO SHMULAAAAAAA!!!! OYYYYYY!!!
Great music. Listened to this at least 4 times yesterday. Three times the first time I heard it. If you missed good potent music from these two artists look no further.
Feel the love.
I love the album AND “ye” both a lot. Now to see how the new Nas album turns out, I wonder if there’ll be a Wav listening session for that as well.
5/5
Love this album. Very high replay value. Best of the new GOOD music releases so far, can’t wait to hear Nas’ project.
Great review. Been listening to the album on the commute daily since it came out.
This has to be up there with the best albums of 2018.
Still playing this everyday since release. Reborn and beastly
Love this album, as well as the other 3 released that I consider ‘Ye projects (Ye, DAYTONA and NASIR) although I’m still digesting Nasir, but the first back-to-back-to-back plays were very enjoyable. I LOVE what Kanye’s doing here, with all the releases days apart, and i love the 7 song tracklists. Quality over quantity, plus makes you repeat the entire album much easier, allowing you to learn to love each track that much more. Play all 4 albums in order, and it’s even better. Looking forward to Cyhi’s 7-track release.
LOL, this album is 2/5…..Too much Kanye and not enough Kid Cudi…….
This record is an incredble and bold step forward for Kanye and Cudi. Its able to do so much in such a scant runtime. Really, It’s the finely tuned experimental opus he’s failed to make since Yeezus (I do enjoy TLOP though.) Not only is the production innovative, but the tape is consistently good and both rappers are working to their full potential. Neither Kanye or Cudi have sounded better. In my opinion, This is a top two Kanye album. and it ain’t number two.
side note: Its strange to me that people don’t like Ye. I thought it was pretty good
Pretty trite observations. It’s like the author perused twitter and summarized what he saw.
this is what cudi was truly trying to display with passion pain and demon slaying
Fire
Greatest album ever.
Beautiful.
Honestly this was cudi’s worst work. The flows were weak and he was dragged down by Ye. Like I don’t get why everyone is giving Ye this free pass on putting out trash but if this was a solo cudi album with cudi having the say on what goes on maybe it would have been better. It’s still miles better then the Ye album but all in all a very weak project. Lyrics trash, Cudi Montage and the opening track were the only ones that were listenable. The beats were just ok and the synergy just wasn’t what cudi and Ye used to have.
10X BETTER THEN KAMIKAZE
pretty lackluster, but still worth a listen