Oh lawds! Is that Boris doing a hip-hop review!? Yes. It is.

The Alternative cover is 100x cooler, just saying.

Bursting out onto the scene in 2008 with critically acclaimed mixtape A Kid Named Cudi, Kid Cudi gave us a taste of what was to come. Quickly picked up by Kanye West’s aptly named GOOD Music Label, Cudi released Man On The Moon: The End Of Day in late 2009 to the massive hype produced by the quick signing. Surprisingly, at least to me, it didn’t disappoint at all. It is laced with clever, lyrical manipulation backed by beats of epic proportion. The synth rages, coming to define quite a bit of Cudi’s songs, espcially on such tracks as “Enter Galactic” and “Cudi Zone.” While many hip-hop artists attempt to seem hard, thug, or whatever they call it now-a-days, many of the songs seem more like entries into a diary opposed to NWA style gangsta rap. On “Soundtrack to my Life,” he laments “I’ve got some issues that nobody can see, and all of these emotions are pouring out of me,” and it’s mighty refreshing to realize that everyone isn’t trying to get “cred” for shooting up fools, and intercoursing fine honeys. While he does reference sex, it is not as graphic or as vulgar as most, and even songs like “Make Her Say” (which includes parts by Common and Kanye West, quite possibly making it one of the most epic collaborations of all time) it is clever and seems how it should be, fun. He seems real, and I guess that’s what I dig the most. I’ve had this album for 13 days, and everyone of those 13,  “Soundtrack to my Life,” “Cudi Zone,” and “Make her Say” has been played at least once. I cannot herald enough praise for this record. It’s fun, it’s hip-hop, and it’s real, for the most part. While this shows a different side of hip-hop, completely contrasting the Lil’ Waynes and New Boyz that seem to be popping up on every corner.

This is talent.

Report Card

Beats: 85
Production: 96
Lyrics: 97
Vocals: 76

Overall

92