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kid cudi

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Single: The White House Band – “Grown-Ups”

Track: “Grown-Ups”
Artist: The White House Band
Release Date: November 26, 2010
Label: Cap City Records

Taking a page from Cleveland rapper Kid Cudi‘s book, The White House Band combine heavy guitar riffs with angst-filled, reflective rapping on new single “Grown-Ups”, from the band’s upcoming Stimulus Package EP. Lead man David E. Beats is honest and likable enough, rapping about painful experiences in his childhood and ultimately progressing to becoming a “grown up now.” After a short instrumental interlude reminiscent of the tracks on Kanye West‘s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, David E. Beats returns with verse number two, sounding very similar to Rick Ross on “Devil In A New Dress”. But enough with the comparisons: where Kanye West chooses to use samples in his music (and there’s certainly nothing wrong with that!), The White House Band play every note. Be sure to give this solid track a listen.

Rating: 6/10


Review: Kid Cudi

Kid Cudi – Man On The Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager

Released: October 9, 2010
Label: Motown, G.O.O.D. Music
Purchase: iTunes | Insound | Amazon

It isn’t everyday that you’re invited into the world of a superstar. It isn’t everyday that an artist unabashedly opens up about their recent struggles, especially those that are attempting to cope with fame and superstardom. And most of the time, even if said artist does choose to open up, it isn’t everyday that we can relate. Those that somehow bridge the gap between superstardom and ordinary life are the ones that succeed. In light of Scott Mescudi’s (aka Kid Cudi) recent personal struggles, such a feat seems utterly impossible. Keep in mind that this is the same man who on his debut CD bragged about his “ignorance to coke”, and then in an abrupt turn of events, was arrested for possession of cocaine.

It’s obvious to assume that MOTM II: The Legend of Mr. Rager would be Cudi’s darkest work yet. MOTM I: The End of Day, an album that was supposedly focused on his dreams, was highly introspective, focusing on Cudi’s growing loneliness and inability to really fit in with his peers. The same ideas are as visible as ever onThe Legend of Mr. Rager, but must be observed in a different perspective. Mescudi is no longer the same young, struggling hero depicted in The End of Day, but he’s as lonely as ever and this time, he is the fallen hero: dejected, but with a fiery passion to climb back to the top.

Album opener “Scott Mescudi Vs. The World” begins with Cudi’s ominous, yet welcoming greeting: “Hello, how is everyone doing?” The opening track, benefiting greatly from the Cee-Lo Green hook, offers a peek into Cudi’s life, with Cee-Lo belting, “This is a journey into the horizon; hope you can see that, if its real to you, we can meet on the other side.” On “REVOFEV”, Mescudi presents a gloomy, yet ultimately friendly “revolution”, with the portentous strings and guitar looming in the background.

On tracks “Marijuana” and “Ashin’ Kusher”, Kid Cudi deftly explores his compulsive drug issues, jauntily proclaiming that he needs to balance all the craziness that is happening inside his head. The honesty that has been apparent since A Kid Named Cudi manifests itself again, showing exactly why Cudi has been so successful in such a short period of time: his blatant honesty allows him to connect with his listeners. “The darkness, yeah, I’d like to marry it,” raps Cudi on standout track “Maniac”, where guest feature Cage joins in and plays a psychotic, maniacal fool. Cudi’s high-pitched confession “I am a maniac” eerily looms in the midst of a psychedelic guitar blare and a St. Vincent sample.

“When will the fantasy end? When will the heaven begin?” Cudi desperately questions himself and his self-created Mr. Rager character. With everything that has gone wrong in Cudi’s life, these questions are genuinely sincere and embody Cudi’s thoughts and worries. Even as Mary J. Blige assures, “Don’t you worry,” it seems all hope is lost for the downcast Scott Mescudi, who ultimately comes to the sad conclusion that “All along, I guess I’m meant to be alone” on the stylistically different, but ultimately brilliant “All Alone”.

MOTM II: The Legend of Mr. Rager provides an engrossing and brilliant glimpse into the struggles of Scott Mescudi, showing that the young star is indeed “on the moon.” While it is true that Cudi seemingly mumbles through some of his verses, his message shines through loud and clear. While the low-key and gloomy atmosphere may put off fans of Cudi’s more catchy works, the menacing, introspective manner of MOTM IIserves its purpose perfectly.

9.0

Standout Tracks: “Maniac (feat. Cage & St. Vincent)”, “Mr. Rager” and “All Alone”

“Maniac” On Fallon

Watch Kid Cudi, St. Vincent, and Cage perform “Maniac”, a new song from Kid Cudi’s upcoming album, on Jimmy Fallon here. Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager will be released on November 9, 2010.

G.O.O.D Friday Joy

Kanye West‘s newest G.O.O.D Friday release is “The Joy,” featuring Pete Rock, Jay-Z, Charlie Wilson, Kid Cudi, and a sample of Curtis Mayfield‘s “The Makings of You.” You can download the track here.

Kid Cudi Over Rapping, Forms Rock Band

At the preview for his new album Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager in New York City, Kid Cudi revealed that he will be slowing down on hip hop to focus on his newly-created rock band. Cudi and producer Dot Da Genius have formed Wizard, which will allow Cudi to focus more on his guitar-playing and singing (in the vein of new single “Erase Me”).

“I’m just over rapping. I don’t get any fulfillment out of it anymore. I don’t get fulfillment out of writing a 16. That’s why you don’t ever hear me on Kanye joints like that,” Cudi explained to MTV. “I’m more passionate when he’s like, ‘yo Cudi, come up with a hook.’ Cause he asks me to put verses down but I’ll try to procrastinate or disappear or something. I just really get more fulfillment out of singing now. I’m teaching myself the guitar, that’s my new found love. I never thought that I could play an instrument. Picked it up, surprised myself. It’s been two and a half months I’ve been playing, I’m already starting my next project. It’s a rock album, I’m doing a band with Dot [da Genius] called Wizard.”

Kid Cudi’s sophomore album Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager is set to be released on November 9, 2010 via G.O.O.D Music.

Man On The Moon II Track Listing

Check out the track listing for Kid Cudi‘s upcoming album, Man On The Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager. The album is 17 tracks long and features five acts, following in the style of his first release. MOTM2 drops on November 9, 2010 on G.O.O.D Music.

Act I: The World I Am Ruling
1. Scott Mescudi vs. The World (feat. Cee-Lo Green)
2. REVOFEV
Act II: A Stronger Trip
3. Don’t Play This Song (feat. Mary J. Blige)
4. We Aite (Wake Your Mind Up)
5. Marijuana
6. Mojo So Dope
Act III: Party On
7. Ashin’ Kusher
8. Erase Me (feat. Kanye West)
9. Wild’n Cause I’m Young
10. The Mood
Act IV: The Transformation
11. Maniac (feat. Cage and St. Vincent)
12. Mr. Rager
13. These Worries (feat. Mary J. Blige)
14. The End (feat. GLC, Chip Tha Ripper, and Nicole Wray)
Act V: You Live & You Learn
15. All Along
16. GHOST!
17. Trapped in My Mind

Kid Cudi Music Video

Kid Cudi has just released a music video for his new single, “Erase Me (ft. Kanye West)”. The video features Kid Cudi, Kanye West, and other surprise guest stars.

Head over to Youtube to watch the silly, but awesome music video.

 

GOOD Saturday?

Following the leak of “Lost In The World”, Kanye West announced that there would not be a GOOD Friday track released this week. Even so, Kanye has indeed released a new GOOD Friday track, surfacing early Saturday morning. The new track “Christian Dior Denim Flow” is almost seven minutes long and features Kid Cudi, Pusha T, John Legend, Lloyd Banks and Ryan Leslie.

You can download the new track and other past GOOD Friday tracks here.

GOOD Friday

Kanye West‘s latest GOOD Friday release features Common, Pusha T, Kid Cudi, Big Sean, and Charlie Wilson can be downloaded on the new GOOD Friday website.