Kid Cudi “Insano” album review
Cleveland's multifaceted artist, KiD CuDi, kicks off New Music Fridays for 2024 by dropping his ninth full-length solo LP. Rising to fame in 2008 with his debut mixtape "A KiD Named CuDi" and contributing to Kanye West's "808s & Heartbreak," CuDi's profile soared with groundbreaking albums like "Man on the Moon: The End of the Day" and "Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager." After the self-produced and underrated "Indicud," CuDi amicably parted ways with G.O.O.D. Music to establish his own Republic Records imprint, Wicked Awesome Records.
While "Satellite Flight: The Journey to Mother Moon" received mixed reviews, CuDi faced criticism for his alt-rock venture, "Speedin’ Bullet 2 Heaven." Redemption came with "Pain & Demon Slayin’" in 2016 and the well-received self-titled album as part of the duo KIDS SEE GHOSTS with Kanye a couple of summers later. Even "Man on the Moon III: The Chosen" arrived the day after my 24th birthday, showcasing a noticeable Travis Scott influence.
In 2022, Kanye announced CuDi's absence from the unfinished "DONDA 2," attributing it to CuDi's friendship with Skete, who was dating Kanye's ex-wife. This led to a fallout between the mentor and protege. CuDi faced challenges at Rolling Loud, where he left the stage due to disrespectful hecklers, and later, Mike Dean revealed on Twitter that CuDi removed him from the Moon Man’s Landing festival for his ties with Kanye.
Shortly after, CuDi released his previous LP, "Entergalactic," to mixed reviews. Despite making amends with Kanye, CuDi is now concluding his longstanding Republic deal, a month after reconciling with Ye.
The track "Often, I Have These Dreams" kicks off with the assurance that God has your back when facing adversity, delivered against a psychedelic instrumental from Mike Zombie. Meanwhile, "Keep Bouncin'," produced by Honorable C.N.O.T.E., adopts an electro-trap vibe, encouraging everyone to bounce to the infectious rhythm. "Get Off Me" by The Scotts boasts about being fresher than the rest over horns and hi-hats, and "Most Ain't Dennis" strikes a balance between trap and rage, with BNYX showcasing a carefree attitude as a nod to his manager, Dennis Cummings.
In the trippy "Wow," A$AP Rocky joins CuDi to share that life is amazing for them, expressing optimism for the future as they enjoy a blunt. Following this, "Electrowavebaby" sings over a synth-funk beat, inviting anyone without issues to join him as he seeks a superstar to fly with. "A Tale of a Knight" provides a glimpse into CuDi's life with a vibrant trap instrumental, leading seamlessly into the mind-altering "CuD Life," where CuDi refers to himself as the king of Rager Town.
"Too Damn High," featuring Lil Yachty, delves deeper into rage beats as they both aim to get into an elevated state, while "Getcha Gone" embraces a cloudier trap groove, working tirelessly all night long. The Scotts reunite for the album's final single, "At the Party," bringing lively energy over a synthwave instrumental from Pharrell, whose hook could have been performed with a bit more finesse. Lastly, "Mr. Coola" sets an airy backdrop with hi-hats, dropping braggadocious verses to round out the album.
In "Freshie," CuDi collaborates with his longtime partner and WZRD cohort Dot da Genius, co-produced by Plain Pat, creating a murky atmosphere asserting that nobody can tell him anything when he steps into the room. "Tortured" takes a different tone, as CuDi seeks help from God over a quirky trap beat crafted by WondaGurl and Cubeatz. The track "X & CuD" prominently samples the late XXXTENTACION's "Orlando," expressing that he was born to grind and he's doing it exceptionally well. Featuring Lil Wayne, "7" delves into heavy themes over cloudy trap production by Clams Casino and Take a Daytrip.
"Funky Wizard Smoke" grooves with an incredibly swishy instrumental, giving a shout-out to those with style and substance. "Rager Boyz" featuring Young Thug, with its acoustic trap flavor, rebelliously dismisses authority. "Porsche Topless," despite initial criticism, stands out as a fun lead single with its summertime bop vibes. The warm and uplifting "Blue Sky," produced by CuDi alongside Yachty and Sadpony, embarks on a quest for success. The album concludes on a groovy note with "Hit the Streetz in My Nikes," where CuDi talks about being too cold.
Despite the ups and downs, CuDi's collaboration with Kanye and the subsequent beef, the album "INSANO" surpassed expectations and proved to be superior to "Entergalactic." The production blends old and new sounds, boasts a strong feature list, and CuDi raises a toast to those living their best lives, unbothered by others' opinions. The album captures a spirit of independence and self-expression.
I would give this album 2 out of 4 stars.