Although lengthy and overstuffed, Kid Cudi delivers plenty of intriguing moments throughout the course of his third studio album, ‘Indicud.’

Kid Cudi is one interesting dude, period.  ‘Left-field’ and ‘left of center’ as they come, the alt- rapper seems to be on his own undiscovered planet. Man On The Moon: The End of the Day (2009) was a huge success, driven by the Grammy-nominated smash single “Day N Nite (Nightmare)”.  He would follow up with Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager. Deeply based on his problems with drugs, Man on the Moon II is a smidge less magical than the first set, but still quite enthralling.  Now he’s back, with Indicud, a lengthy album that more often than not is odd and brilliant.

“The Resurrection of Scott Mescudi”

“The Resurrection of Scott Mescudi” sets the tone as an instrumental introduction. Odd, mysterious, and cerebral, this opener exemplifies the expectations of a Cudi record. “Unfuckwittable” stands out instantly, if for nothing more than its clever, bold title.  A cut where Cudi is both inquisitive and proclamatory, the MC basically states ‘you can’t mess with me’:

“Don’t you feel it? Feel it? Feel it? / You know that I’m unfuckwittable / Don’t you feel it / You know that I’m unfuckwittable.”

As usual, he quasi-raps and sings with and endearing pitchy nature on the hook. On “Just What I Am,” he gets assistance from King Chip.  One of several previously issued singles, “Just What I Am” features superb production and solid rhymes. King Chip handles the first verse, referencing pot:

“Early in the morning, I’m wakin’, bakin’, drinkin’, contemplatin’ / Ain’t no such thing as Satan, evil is what you make it / Thank the Lord for that Burning Bush.”

Kid Cudi confirms his affinity for marijuana, despite previously trying to quit it: “I need to smoke / Who gon’ hold me down / I wanna get high Y’all.” Epic, honest, and notable, “Just What I Am” compels.

“Young Lady”

“Young Lady” embodies portions of “Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings” as performed by Father John Misty (Josh Tillman).  A random ‘collaboration’ you might say, the results are as oddly satisfying. Here, Kid Cudi talks about a girl turning him on…Tillman propels the cut: “Jesus Christ, girl! You got it goin’ on young lady.” Overall, “Young Lady” is a sound blend of indie- and alt-rap; a nice marriage.  “King Wizard” served as another advance single from Indicud.  Kid Cudi never fronts, as he asserts on yet another compelling, ‘crowning’ hook:

“I can’t decide / What if life’s a lie? / I push the lames aside / They’ll learn / I can never front, know why? / It’s not my style, no lie / Fuck all the talk / In time, they’ll burn… They’ll never take me alive / King Wizard!”

Throw in electric piano, and a talk box, and you have another bizarre masterpiece.  He definitely knows what production fits his idiosyncratic style.

“Immortal” samples MGMT (“Congratulations” from Congratulations). Additionally, there are samples from film – Billy Madison and The Good Son.  Solid, the biggest misstep is exhaustive length.  Most of the excess is dominated by instrumental space which is admirable, but too relaxed.  Give him credit for self-allusion (“I’m too damn cool, my Mojo too dope”), while confirming the theme on the hook (“I’m living my life as if I got powers / And tonight, I feel immortal”).

“Solo Dolo Part II”

“Solo Dolo Part II” brings on Kendrick Lamar.  Brilliantly sampling Menahan Street Band (“Going The Distance”), the follow-up to the original is even more crazy! Cudi’s lyrics are memorable from the first verse, asserting, “I just tell ‘em I’m an oxymoron when I open my mouth.” Kendrick drops a killer hook, foreshadowing epic things for the rapper:

“Come, come now, last call, who want some? It’s just me, two bitches and dirty drums / Two lips to kiss, 22 mother nuns / God blessed my tongue, I need it for life / Awkward like Cartwright, twiddling my thumbs / Pondering my next accomplishments / It’s condescending to say I won / Two lips, you kiss my ass tonight, huh?”

“Girls” trades K-Dot for Too $hort.  Cudi’s attempt at chivalry, the hook is simple, yet effective enough: “I see pretty girls everywhere I go / …So many colors and sizes, so many surprises.” He’s not concerned about something as superficial as physical beauty, we assume.

“Mad Solar”

Following “New York Rage Fest” (an instrumental interlude), the Cudi co-produced “Red Eye” finds guest Haim taking the reins.  Although enjoyable, there’s very little vocal Cudi happening here. “Mad Solar” restores the Kid at the forefront, asserting his craziness a couple of times: “I guess I’m loony, I guess I’m on one / Guess I’m just the star of my movie…” as well as, “And people think I’m mad / Won’t you tell them I’m mad solar.” “Beez” features RZA, who raps both verses.  Cudi rocks out on the hook, which is crucial to the record’s success. “In God I trust, now I don’t give no fucks (Dropping them them them, motherfucking beez) / Beez on ‘em / Stings bitch / Bzzz bzzz”.  Expectedly, RZA is on autopilot.

“Brothers” is the superstar collaboration, featuring King Chip and A$AP Rocky.  “Brothers” is good, but just misses the ‘top tier’ of cuts on this stuffed effort. “Burn Baby Burn” is the obligatory hook-less cut to show off Cudi’s agility.  He easily proves himself, but, it’s unnecessary. The title of “Lord of the Sad and Lonely” sounds foreboding. “Yep, yep, yep / Lord of the sad and lonely… and the ones that feel like sit on the daily / I got you” confirms the tone.  Aggressive, complemented with spacey production work, he’s certainly more energized here than the previous cut.  After all, “All of the things I’ve seen and survived / Make a nigga feel way more than just alive… all hail King Wizard.”

“Cold Blooded”

“Cold Blooded” further proves that he isn’t a human.  He confirms this: “Cold! Bitch you know I’m cold yeah / I’m one cold blooded nigga.” “Afterwards (Bring Yo Friends)” goes for over nine minutes!  Featuring the vocals of a resurgent Michael Bolton and, once again, King Chip, Cudi REALLY wants you to come to his place. Why it took over nine minutes to portray this – that never determined. Ugh! Cudi instrumentally returns to planet ‘Cudder’ on “The Flight of The Moon Man.”

Final Thoughts

Like previous albums, Indicud is well done.  It is completely different from every other rap album out there, combining a variety of influences.  The main rub is the length. The 70-minute album is more a rarity these days. This album is overstuffed. Even so, Cudi never truly misses the mark, with more cuts standing out than not.

Gems: “Unfuckwittable,” “Just What I Am,” “Young Lady,” “Solo Dolo Part II,” “Mad Solar” & Beez 

Note: The original version of this article was posed on April 15, 2013 on Brent Music Reviews.

Kid Cudi • Indicud • Republic • Release: 4.16.13

Photo Credit: Republic