Scott Mescudi, the man now iconic for the stage name Kid Cudi, has made his comeback to hip-hop with his sixth studio album, “Passion, Pain, & Demon Slayin’.”
Like all of Cudi’s previous albums, the tracks act as a symphony of emotional and inspirational tunes, with Cudi beginning to turn to overcome them.
Throughout the 19 song tracklist, Scott Mescudi expresses that he has a lot to get off his chest, which comes as no surprise due to his year full of controversy. Through the depression, to high criticism of his latest album, Speeding Bullet to Heaven. Cudi has always cared about the art, even when his daring attempts at being different were short of stellar. He isn’t always brilliant, but he’s always searching for the next step in creativity for music.
Cudi knows about “demons,” his entire career has been an open and honest battle against depression and pain, and it is evident and represented through these songs. We see the emotion taking over, to him overcoming it and eventually being at peace.
With the sound of the album, it presents a futuristic and electronic aurora, filled with symphonic melodies and the typical hum Cudi has branded. The eighty-six minute album has its moments of filler, but highlights of true passion is undeniable.
In the opener to the album, “Frequency”, a sensual track with a steady, mellow beat sets the tone for the album. The theme of the song is love in the sexual nature, a theme that presents itself on multiple occasions. “Dance for eternity” is a pleasure experience with another individual, in which “he can’t trust anyone but this is awesome.” A very soothing track with synchronized beats that puts the listener into a relaxed state, contributing to the overall sound of the album.
In following tracks such as “Swim in the light,” introduces the major theme of the album- the pain he’s going through, where love is the only way to escape. The lack of passion in Cudi’s voice emphasizes the pain, with the rhythm mimicking that of a heartbeat. “Wounds” truly embodies the passion Cudi can have in his voice. A track on the wounds left by his previous lover, placed over a simplistic 808s beat, with hints of electronic sounds the cut as soon as the pitch in his voice begins to shake. The image of “sowing these wounds myself,” is felt through the delicacy of his voice.
Possibly the best track on the album “By Design,” creates a funky vibe with the light piano keys and rhythm created by Cudi’s wavy vocals alongside an islander keyboard. Andre 3000 brings enrichment to the bounce of the song, the track being the most lively of the album. A good runner up is the beautiful duet with Willow Smith, the track “Rose golden,” starting off with the most elegant harp strings, transition into bombastic drums. The beautiful duet highlights personal academic failure but wanting to see their potential, finding who they truly are. Cudi and Willow eventually find inner peace, Cudi becoming the “chosen one,” seemingly giving hope to those who feel the same struggles.
Another funky track, “Flight at first sight/Advanced” has a hypnotizing beat, having a futuristic melody with soft bell in the back- song transitions with a bombastic beat. The song transition shows off complexity, changing from the calm beat, to an intricate African style drum beat. “Does it” is one of the more groovy tracks, having a pulsating beat, being more up-tempo than the rest of the album. This track allows us to see more of the rapper Cudi with a symphonic aurora, being one of the self-empowering compositions.
While the album truly is ambitious and a work of art, it isn’t without flaws. The extensive eighty-six minutes could’ve been cut much short. Songs that should’ve been two or three minutes are stretched out and sucked of life to four or five minutes through Cudi’s’ humming and mumbling. Poor performing tracks such as “The Guide” featuring Andre 3000 is a song filled with mumbling and lifeless verses. The songs subject of Cudi’s’ desire for a “winning woman, a wonder woman” turning to a sexual desire becomes overwhelming with Cudi’s’ breathing.
The album also repeats features with artists Andre 3000 and Pharrell, both having a good and bad track. The superior tracks could’ve been kept and the inferior ones cut. The hiccups in the album takes away from what could be a perfected work.
However, the album brings itself together. “Surfing” is perfect closing of the album, bringing a sound that fills us with positive vibes through and jazzy, African-style elements within the instrumentals. Pharrell provides an excellent backdrop of humming as Cudi expresses to the listener through his wavy vocals that he is “making my own wave baby,” as he truly expresses his passion and pain as he slays his inner demons.
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