I have been following Kid Cudi’s career for quite some time now and his recent announcement that he was walking away from G.O.O.D. Music was a definite shock for me. His absence on the recent G.O.O.D. Music compilation Cruel Summer (“Creepers” was recorded during the Man on The Moon II sessions) should have been a sign that things were changing, I guess. I wasn’t sure how to feel about the departure, but after listening to this album, Cudder will definitely be alright with or without Kanye’s assistance. There is only one mention of G.O.O.D. Music on the entire album and that’s on “Cold Blooded” where Cudi spits “I Got A Vendetta with showing n*ggas that I’m way better, feeling way worthless, the lost black sheep of G.O.O.D. Music.” All of the G.O.O.D. music features on the album were late scratches, but there are some other dope features on Indicud that make up for them.
Kid Cudi handled the production on an entire album for the first time with Indicud (he co-produced WZRD with Dot Da Genius last year). Cudder puts his production skills on full display with instrumentals like the opening and closing tracks, plus an interlude. The record that I felt his production was the best on was the previously released “Immortal.” It is hands down my favorite track on the entire album. Cudi sampled MGMT’s “Congratulations,” playing the record in reverse, speeding up the track and building a beat around it. Pretty awesome stuff. Many of the tracks that were released prior to the release of the entire album still ended being some of my favorites off of the album, which somewhat explains why they were released early. Tracks like “King Wizard” and “Just What I Am” will be played on my iTunes for many years to come. Cudi handling the production on the entire record, singing the hooks on a majority of the songs and rapping on all tracks leaves one question: Why have any features? After listening to the features on the album, I understand why. His selection process for features, aside from long-time collaborator King Chip, is pretty great on this album.
The most random feature on the album has to be Michael Bolton’s appearance on the 9-minute “Afterwards (Bring Yo Friends)” along with Cudder and King Chip. It is one of the stand-out tracks for me as Cudder’s production skills shine while Michael Bolton sings his way through the hook. Kid Cudi also recruited some hip hop legends like RZA and Too Short for the tracks “Beez” and “Girls.” “Girls” is my favorite of the two, maybe because I’ve been listening to it since its release last week. Other features include hip hop’s go-to guys like Kendrick Lamar and A$AP Rocky on “Solo Dolo Pt. II” and “Brothers,” respectively, but the one feature that stood out to me was the Los Angeles-based HAIM. I have been hearing good things about them and their track “Red Eye” on the album is very impressive. I will have to check out some of their music before they make their way to Chicago for Lollapalooza.
Kid Cudi really proves to be “Unfuckwittable” on Indicud. We will be keeping our eyes pealed for his tour announcement in support of the album, but until then pick up the album on iTunes here or in stores on April 16th.
Key Tracks: Immortal, King Wizard, Girls, Solo Dolo Pt. II, Red Eye, Brothers
DOPENESS FACTOR
