Rating – 7.5 out of 10
Kid Cudi has several vices that he struggles with, which are well-documented in his music. Regardless whether you agree with his actions in his personal life, or if you disagree with his take on other artists, the one thing that speaks louder than his actions is his music. Cudi has this ability to make extremely melodic and catchy songs that people can easily zone to. The vibe his last album gave off to listeners was almost stronger than the lyrics that were being recited. With his new project, Cudi keeps the same formula; he ties together different melodies that are laced by lyrics that set the mood for the entire album. Although it’s not all Hip-Hop, Man on The Moon 2: Legend of Mr. Rager is still original in its own right, and Cudi fans will be pleased with the outcome.
There’s not a genre of music that Kid Cudi fits into neatly. He bleeds into several categories from Hip-Hop, Rock, and even a little touch of Techno/Pop here and there. His sing-song delivery through verses and his harmonizing with the track’s underlying melody are prominent throughout the entire album, and that’s what makes this album so catchy. Factor in the attention to detail that Cudder pays attention to is his presentation of the songs, and you have an impressively put-together album. A perfect example is the ballad “Marijuana”, which is impressive by itself, but the finishing touch is the fact that the track ends at the 4:20 mark. Additional to this, Cudi has audio samples of himself indulging in his drug habits between verses on “These Worries.”
The production on MOTM2 like it’s predecessor is theatrical, and each instrumental fits the vibe of the album down to the small details. There’s no real fault concerning how the album sounds; it all comes together to enhance the overall quality of the LP. The features also help to boost the value as Kanye West gives his G.O.O.D. artist another dope verse on the track “Erase Me.” Chip Tha Ripper steps in alongside GLC and Nicole Wray to deliver some of the best bars you will hear on the album in “The End”, and the extra vocals from Mary J. Blige on “These Worries” help to power that song to become one of the standout tracks.
The only real issue here is the subject matter. Most of the songs seem to recycle the same “this is my life” aspect. “Don’t Play This Song” is a track that essentially goes inside Cudi’s mind while he’s high. Although melodically detailed and by far one of the standout tracks on the LP, if you simplify it, “Marijuana” is a weed ballad. “Wild’n Cuz I’m Young” and “Mojo So Dope” essentially both share the same feel to it, because they both focus on Cudi as he’s talking about being proud of his habits. The album is cohesive together, but at times the subject matter seems to become redundant.
Even with the repeating subject matter, this is still a great album if you’re looking from something different than the normal, easily categorized genres of music that’s available for purchase today. The album flows well, sounds great, and maintains that Kid Cudi vibe that his fans will appreciate and that other listeners with a wider range of musical taste can comprehend.