Two of the most innovative music minds of recent times come together on Ye’s Birthday for the third Kayne orchestrated GOOD Music installment; Kids See Ghosts. This album, from the newly formed duo comes just a week after “Ye” Kanye’s eighth studio album(which I haven’t even heard in full yet). Kid Cudi, on the other hand, has had long battles with mental health and hasn’t really been buzzing for a minute(Through Late Night ft Travis Scott timeframe).
Kanye is definitely the one in the spotlight out of the two. His Trump endorsement and slavery was a choice comments completely overshadowed some of the rationale he put out in the interview he did with Charlemagne. Putting their demons and controversy aside, it’s still undeniable what both these artists have done to enable the eccentric and emotive “mood” infused music in Hip-Hop today. I was very much impressed by the density of Daytona(read my thoughts here) and expect the same level of impact with this one!
1. Feel the Love ft Pusha T
This is has to be one of the craziest intros I’ve ever heard, what the hell is going on hahaha. It’s has gotta be Kanye spurting out these random sound effects shortly after the Pusha out of place verse. A completely minimal chorus only intro would’ve been enough for me to get it.
2. Fire
Yes, and here is where the album begins. There are so many instruments going with some intense chords(I guess played by Cudi?) which just hit you in the head. I haven’t heard this Kid Cudi in a long time, I can feel how he’s bringing us into the darkness of fighting his demons.
It’s so many days I prayed to God
All this pain I couldn’t seem to find a way
On a mission livin’, carry on
Got my family, I’m seein’ through by the days – Kid Cudi
3. 4th Dimension ft Louis Prima*
WOW, WOW, WOW, WOW, YEEZY SEASON. The way he opens this track up is outlandishly confident, man, what a vibe. I’m quite surprised this was on the joint project, I thought there would be hardly any conventional hip-hop songs. Cudi’s flow grew on me the more the song went on and overall the back to back was “Fire“.
4. Freeee (Ghost Town Pt. 2)
This production is completely out of this world. Where does Kanye pull all of these sounds from the Man on the Moon? (spoiler alert Ty Dolla $ign is also featured on the song). It is therapeutic to hear both of them talking so openly about feeling free from the negativity and bad vibes.
5. Reborn*
I like the feeling of this whole project so far, its feel-good progressive music. The chorus form Cudi is exactly what is missing with a lot of mainstream music today. This is the song you turn to when you need to dust your shoulders off, get up and keep on. Kanye’s openness about the stresses he was faced with and mindstate during that period also aligns perfectly.
I’m so-I’m so reborn, I’m movin’ forward
Keep movin’ forward, keep movin’ forward
Ain’t no stress on me Lord, I’m movin’ forward
Keep movin’ forward, keep movin’ forward – Kid Cudi
6. Kids See Ghosts
This is the most trippy song so far on the album production wise. I’m really struggling to get into it though, maybe its one that will grow on me. The message is consistent like all the songs on album but its first track since the opener which I just don’t like.
7. Cudi Montage*
I actually cant make out all of the words Cudi is saying in this song but that’s not uncommon for a Cudi song. Its the vibe, the echoes, and the vibrations that give you the feel. The blend between the chorus and the verses is flawless. It’s like a message to the world, what a powerful outro.
All growin’ up in environment
Where doin’ crime the requirement
They send us off to prison for retirement
Hopefully Alice Johnson will inspire men – Kanye
I had some astronomical expectations for this album when I thought back to what Ye was able to do with Jay on Watch The Throne(one of my favorite albums ever). Now, I can’t put this up there in that bracket yet, but this it is exceptional on all fronts. Ye didn’t try to recreate the old wheel, Ye and Cudi came together and got a combination of sounds which compliment each other perfectly. This album, like Daytona, is dense enough for you to get the whole picture of awareness, appreciation, and thankfulness to God. Shameless plug but this is exactly what I’m talking about when I say music ForThe Mindset.
This album should be the boost for Cudi comeback if he feels fit and ready to do so. 2018 seems like its going to be GOOD’s year with Kanye leading the way both in the booth and outside of it on the production. What a shame it is that we will probably never hear a Drake x Cudi x PND collab.
Top 3 Tracks: 4th Dimension, Reborn, and Cudi Montage
Rating: 8.9/10
Fancy becoming part of the inspirEnrich contributor family? 😀 head over to here: inspirenrich.com/contribute
