Indicud Review

It’s here. One of the MOST anticipated hip hop albums of 2013 has finally arrived. Indicud.

Just over two years have passed since Kid Cudi’s second and most recent individual studio album Man On The Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager and I cannot simply express in words how much the wait has been worth. If you’re like me and have closely monitored the progress and continuing rise of this unbelievably talented artist over the past few years then you should be able to understand the greatness of Indicud once you’ve fed it to your ears.

Once again we are gifted with a musical treat – another masterpiece illustrating the confronting thoughts and imaginings inside Cudi’s head to the present day. And this time it’s all his work.  Bar one song, the track list is entirely produced on his own terms and ultimately a representation of the beginning of a new era for the revived and rehabilitated Kid Cudi.

So NO, there is not a consistent, catchy, and contagious noise right through every track that we are so used to in previous albums. Instead this time round we have a mixed combination of sounds from his recent alternative rock collaboration album, WZRD, with Dot Da Genius and the two Man On The Moon albums. To his credit, and his close colleague called acid, it worked most of the time.

The opening track ‘The Resurrection of Scott Mescudi’ instantly sets the tone for the entire album with a classic galactic futuristic sounding instrumental that takes Cudi fans back to the familiar sounds from his debut album Man On The Moon I: The End of Day. The track concludes with a quote, “once you realize you can do anything, you’re free…You could fly,” used as a general thesis for what Indicud is all about as you listen further into the deep dwellings and ponders of Cudi.

‘Just What I Am’, which claimed the number 62 spot on Triple j’s Top 100 last year, has Cudi in vintage loner form, wailing and twisting cries of hopelessness, insolence and ultimately, victory. Later on A$AP Rocky and Kendrick Lamar contribute verses that ooze charisma on ‘Brothers’ and ‘Solo Dolo Part II’.

All in all fans should be more than satisfied to hear their hero return to good form and provide them with something quirky, in Kid Cudi’s terms, to pore over a few times until the final instalment of the Man on the Moon trilogy yet to be announced.

Song Analysis

• Unfuckwittable – Title quite self explanatory. Positive vibes. Not bothered by anyone or anything anymore.
• Just What I Am – favourite song by far. Awesome lyrics over the top of a well produced beat. Imagine if we’d heard this, let alone the other leaked tracks, for the first time listening to the album – it would have been pretty dope to say the least.
• Young Lady – samples Father John Misty track: Hollywood Forever Cemetry Sings. Cudi appears to rap about a woman who he admires a lot. Seriously whipped.
• King Wizard – bit like Just What I Am in saying that although we were leaked this track a while back before the album release date, it still sounds amazing. Cudi directs these lyrics to all his doubters and haters. He never gave up. His true fans know this.
• Immortal – takes snippet “I am the smartest man alive!” from the film Billy Madison. All about reflecting on his past struggles and now persevering through them into a stronger and better man – immortal.
• Solo Dolo Part II – sequel to Solo Dolo from MOTMI. Cudi admits he’s on acid here and talks about not needing anybody to help him anymore because he’s in a fit state of mind. Kendrick Lamar features here and kills it.
• Girls – single man anthem basically. Talks about the single life and all his experiences and perks that came with it.
• Red Eye – Haim features. She fits the song perfectly with a strong vocal. When Cudi used to not know how to deal with his thoughts, he’d either stay awake or smoke weed all night. He embraces the red eye.
• Mad Solar – great track. Raps about how bright his life is now – solar-like.
• Beez – RZA feature! Nuff’ said.
• Brothers – A$AP Rocky & King Chip features. Good track. Cudi’s had a lot of ups and downs but what now it’s all going well with him and his brothers.
• Burn Baby Burn – Direct strong rant to his haters and critics. Also a shout out to all his supporting fans who’ve stuck by.
• Lord of the Sad and Lonely – self explanatory title nearly. Wants to relate to depressed fans if they need the help.
• The Flight Of The Moon Man – the fifth instrumental and closing track of the album. Weird sounds used.