Album Review: Kid Cudi-Indicud

RATING: 3.5/5

One of 2013's most anticipated albums, Indicud signals the return of an unmistakable hip-hop icon of this decade. After straying from a highly acclaimed path on his rock collaboration with Dot da Genius entitled WZRD (2012), Scott Mescudi left fans with the burning question of what would be next.

Indicud is a boast of independence for the ex-G.O.O.D. Music affiliate, and showcases the rapper's skills as a producer (the album is produced almost entirely by Mescudi himself) as he experiments with divergent new styles. It features an unlikely cast of guest artists, and flirts with the inner gears of Cudi's musicality to create a woozy, downtempo mixture of feelings and abstract intuitions. I'm going to go right ahead and say that it's not exactly what you probably had on your wish list if you're anything but a die-hard Cudi fan, and I include myself in that category. But upon debating the quality of the album, I recalled a quote from my favorite Cudi track "Man On the Moon"; "... and all my people would give me feedback like yo, why your shit sound so different?...like it's a bad thing." Indicud may be a somewhat baffling outcome of a monstrous hype induced largely by the rapper himself, but don't be so quick to judge its true creative worth.

To give credit where credit is due, Indicud marks Cudi's most well-rounded attempt yet at a psychedelic -infused hip-hop project. For the most part it has a dark feel; whirring electric grooves and irregular beats set a mood ideal for some late night trips. But it's hard to find that bouncing bass that you can move to. "Just What I Am'' is the closest you're going to get, with a prominent kick that's perfect for just cruising. Tracks like "Lord of the Sad and Lonely" and "Unfuckwittable" just seem to ooze all over the place without a defiant beat, which can make for a slightly awkward listening experience. Rich, buzzing synths can come off a bit heavy at times, and definitely push the envelope as far as traditional hip-hop production goes. Don't even bother with the instrumental filler unless you're planning on venturing to another state of consciousness.

Mescudi continues to support his "Lonely Stoner" persona with a unique delivery that sets him apart from the rest of the field. Lyrically, I think Indicud is solid--classic Moon Man material. His carefree and blissfully hypnotic flow finds a way to dance over every beat, creating irresistibly catchy hooks that uphold tracks like "Girls" and "Cold Blooded." The IDGAF attitude that propelled him past the doubters is still there, and as always, his lyrics are a testament to his persona. "Now fuck you I ain't left/ I'm outta my mind like all the time/ And ni**a I ain't missed one step", raps Cudi on "King Wizard." I only wish there was more of this to showcase though. In fact, 1/3 of the music is left without a single verse by the man himself. However, this is partially justified by the diversity of those alongside Cudi on the album. Kendrick and ASAP once again prove to be safe bets on any song, while the sparkling vocals of female rock trio Haim on "Red Eye" put an uplifting twist on things. I just don't think the Billboard charts are ready for a Michael Bolton revival yet...

While not all of my expectations for this album were met, I realized that the one thing you can expect from a Kid Cudi album is for it to be different. That's always been Cudi's way of doing things, and it's what's garnered him so much respect among fans and critics (myself included here). Indicud deserves to be appreciated as an enigmatic exploration, deeper and more avant-garde than anything the Cleveland hero has graced us with before.