Album Review: Kid Cudi– Man On The Moon II: The Legend Of Mr. Rager
Music, REVIEW — By Alex Koenig on November 15, 2010 at 10:54 amForget for a moment the self-aggrandizement of rappers that have permeated the airwaves since the dawn of hip-hop. Recently, rap has been flooded with melancholic MCs who offer an antithesis to the swaggering braggadocio attitude that has dominated the genre, and Kid Cudi is at the helm of it.
Presently, Kid Cudi can easily be classified as the modern poster child for emo-rap, and—as evidenced by the commercial success of his debut Man On The Moon I—doesn’t appear to have many competitors. There are few rappers who can play this sad-sack shtick and sell it quite like Cudi.
So then, based on Cudi’s hype and financial success, it seems only logical that Cudi has the ability to compose an album chock-full of unforgettable downer anthems.
After all, some of hip-hop’s best songs have come from a place of dejection, despair and confusion. Take the Pharcyde’s “Passin’ Me By,” for example, or Lupe Fiasco’s “Hurt Me Soul.” The former touches the topic of unrequited love, as the Pharcyde sound earnest and evocative rather than whiny and lugubrious. In the latter, Lupe addresses his conflicting beliefs on rap itself, resulting in a hypocritical masterpiece: Fiasco addresses his grievances with hip-hop’s influence while paying a personal homage to it.
But contrary to what his millions of record sales would indicate, Cudi doesn’t deliver anything on par with the classics above. Akin to Cudi’s debut Man On The Moon I, Man On The Moon II is marred by Cudi’s inability to channel his emotions toward something memorable.
The first problem of Man On The Moon II is its lyrics. While it’s good for most rappers to have some sort of mystique about their words, Cudi is far too vague for listeners to truly get a grasp of what he’s trying to communicate. On “Please Don’t Play This Song,” it’s easy to diagnose Cudi as depressive and a substance abuser when he says, “My mom’s calling, thank God she hit decline I’m numb faced while I’m thinking about suicide,” but we can’t figure out what led him down that path.
The spacey, atmospheric production that pervades Man On the Moon II is the album’s most notable asset. “Mojo So Dope”, one of the album’s highlights, with its alluring 808-drum beat, woozy weaving synthesizer and hypnotic refrain of “oh, oh, oh” makes the track one of Man On The Moon II’s most notable psychedelic moments.
But production is meaningless without a powerful performer, and Cudi doesn’t have much of a presence. This isn’t to say he doesn’t have musical talent; Kid Cudi seems to have a knack for writing hooks that stick to your brain like bubble gum to a high school desk. The problem is, the impact of these hooks are ebbed by Cudi’s sing-speak delivery which comes as soporific, rendering his flow bland and uninspired. For the majority of the album, Cudi sounds like a man on the moon without enough oxygen—fatigued and out of breath.
The most glaring example of Cudi’s flaws can ironically be found in the album’s first single, “Erase Me.” “I think she hates me deep down I know she does,” Cudi lethargically laments over a banal alt-rock arrangement. By the time the first chorus is over, Cudi sounds just about ready to lie down in a hammock. Sure, the song is catchy, but only in the way Weezer’s “Beverly Hills” is catchy. Even Kanye West’s whip-smart verse can’t save this song from being another hackneyed radio hit.
There are brief moments of brilliance on the album, when Kid Cudi’s rhymes offer a unique glimpse into his psyche set to the trippy backbeat of Pink-Floydian harmonics. But for the majority of Man On The Moon II, Cudi’s musicianship is outweighed by his ennui.
As it stands, for fans of emo-rap, Cudi is probably the most mainstream accessible—but that doesn’t by default enter him into hip-hop’s elite class of MCs. If one thing is clear, emo-rap is here to stay, so unless Kid Cudi finds a way to become truly outstanding at a genre he’s had a heavy hand in leading, he is certain to be bested.
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21 Comments
OK sonya just shut the fuk up and go finger yourself or something.first of all if u dont like kid cudi’s music u should’nt be commenting on this in the first place.go help your mom sell watches in front of walmart.stupid hoe.
Right on, Cudi is a let down. Fair critique!
First of all. It’s a musical masterpiece. He cuts into the different levels and layers of making music. He doesn’t make songs. He tells real shit in stories that comes in the form of an ingenious list of acts. ie: marijuana 4:20 long. Also the acts start with more of the partying of scott and eventually reveals who the real character is, not Scott mescudi, but mr. Rager. Second of all, his versatility of different beats and halfsinging style truly shows soul. No one can touch the style of music cudi is producing.
First of all. It’s a musical masterpiece. He cuts into the different levels and layers of making music. He doesn’t make songs. He tells real shit in stories that comes in the form of an ingenious list of acts. ie: marijuana 4:20 long. The acts start with more of the partying of “mr. Rager” and eventually reveals who the real character is, not Scott mescudi
I was going to write a post criticizing the reviewer for his bias and defending Cudder for the great songwriter and artist he is, but instead I think I’m just gonna go roll one up and turn on my Cudi/Wiz Khalifa playlist and say to hell with all that.
I hope you know your an idiot cause cudi has not sold millions of records
well first of all the quote “My mom’s calling, thank God she hit decline I’m numb faced while I’m thinking about suicide,” is wrong its actually “my moms calling, think i should hit decline, i’m numb face while i’m thinking about suicide.” second of all its not actually a problem of biased review just lack of open mindedness going into review so i think it terribly impaired the quality of the review personally i like cudi but everyone has their opinion. finally although his initial tracks are dreary as pointed out before there is a act named party on were cudi reflects and show that hes “trapped in his mind but hey its not that bad at all” so you cant classify his genre over a few of his songs scott mescudi is a rapper, a revolutionary one at that he deserves more credit.
Wuzgood, i am not an emo rapper, you just can’t think deep enough to understand my rhymes. Laterrrr
First of all those calling the reviewer “biased” make no sense. What exactly IS his bias? He HAS NO bias. He doesn’t know Cudi, he isn’t related to Cudi, I don’t even think he is a fellow soul bro either. So really, allow for a diversity of opinion.
Next, I like Cudi, but frankly I am not so blind to understand why others feel like Alex does. No one likes labels but how else are you going to refer to it other than emo-rap? Depression-rap? I dont think so.
i agree with with K. This album is darker and slower because it shows the things he has gone through in his life. The different ways he expresses his feelings through music are new, exciting, and intriguing. He even describes his albums as being “movies”. The legend of Mr. Rager is the second movie in a 3 movie series. His next album will sounds different as his story and music evolves- and it will be awesome.
I completely agree with most people on here in saying this review is dead wrong. Emo rap is a crazy term for this. Cudi can spit.. and he will in future albums.
everyone should watch this video (especially Sonya)…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13NvmPybDfs
cudi is changing hip-hop music for the better, anyone who says he’s starting ‘Emo-rap” should really think about what that term implies. That implies a lifestyle that kid cudi doesn’t follow. He’s not some kid in a highschool hallway complaining about stupid shit, upset that things aren’t handed to him; he’s a man who went thru the death of his father and struggled through a cocain addiction after he moved to new york where he tried to START OUT ON HIS OWN. Even if you think he completely botched this album, you have to admit he puts deep philosophical meanings into what he’s saying. Something other hip-hop artists almost never do, with the exception of a few, maybe lupe fiasco. I hate when people call it “emo-rap”, just because he’s being honest about tough things he went through, and dares to make music that isnt about hooking up with a slut in some club, DOES NOT make it emo, it makes it mentally stimulating and philosphical. Get the terms straight.
Even if this review was right I respect Kid Cudi for doing this album and showing that that hip hop isn’t all autotune and strippers and there’s actual emotion. That said the review is all off showing examples of freak coincidences in the album that do not at all define or exemplify the album. If you’re a Kid Cudi fan buy it, in all honesty I’m not a fan of a couple songs but is still worth the buy and in comparison to the current competition this is gold.
Biased as hell… you would be lucky we took time to read this garbage.
Crappy review
Stupid review. Emo-rap? Please. This album is darker because he is expressing a crappy and hard time in his life while battling drug addiction. Notice the acts on the album? Do your research before you form an opinion and publish it Alex.
Terrible review, extremely biased. Also, cudi’s albums aren’t for people who take music so literally. Plus, his hazy lethargic voice works well with the slow drawn out melodies and beats of the album.
Victor,there ought to be a drink and dont drive law for those that trip and type. You should not embarrass yourself with such whacked crap. Alex is on this! About time someone called Cudi out–he is boring and overrated no matter how high one gets.
Dude I agree with aaron this is just about the worst review ever and its a complete waste of time.I don’t understand y “mojo so dope” would be the psychodelic part of the album that’s what “we aite” and “marijuana” is for. And also I disagree with the whole emo-rap thing people don’t fukin cut thereselfs to this music they get high as hell to it.its really called neo-psychodelia.and u can’t say all his music is dark that’s y there’s a part of the CD called “party on” with nothing but up beat songs .who ever the wrote this review is mental.
This review is pure garbage. That’s probably why I’ve never heard of this website, because you have such biased reviews. Thanks for the waste of time.
Thats exactly what it is: emo rap. I agree, he sounds lethargic and never seems to cross that magic line.
I disagree with your criticism on cudi’s lyric’s. His music isn’t just words and a beat, every song not only Leeds you into his mind but into our own. Yeah he’s a little dark and if I had to put it in words it is emo rap. I wish there where more artist like him.
I think you’re being far to critical of cudi here, his appeal isn’t at all in his subject matter or traditional lyricism. it’s in unheard of melodic rhyme schemes and unconventional delivery. open you’re ears a bit and don’t try to define him as a conventional rapper, and i think you’ll see more value in this disc. it’s just cool to listen to, that’s why people like him.