Kid Cudi, an American rapper originating from Cleveland, Ohio, has drawn the eyes of many avid music listeners with a unique style of rap, blending genres together seamlessly while simultaneously focusing on telling a story through his lyricism, rhythm, and complex instrumentals. However, in his latest album, he experiments with a new, more mainstream, yet modern approach to rap. 

   Baohuy Do Cao (‘24), an avid listener of his music since middle school, comments on how his style has evolved since he came into fame. He remarks on the modern style of his latest album, talking about how he’s “actually rapping” instead of a more melodic based humming and singing.

   “He’s taken such a different direction,” Baohuy said. “All his previous albums always focused on depressing, darker topics, but now it’s like, it’s a celebration of life and I have to adjust to that.” Although he did not like the change at first, he says the album is growing on him, and rates it as an 8/10. 

   Another fan of Kid Cudi’s music, Evan Tropnas (‘24) comments on how the latest album is “good, but definitely not as magical as his past albums”. This latest album definitely strays from Kid Cudi’s past work, and for some listeners, it is difficult to compare to some of his older work, such as the Man On The Moon Series. Overall, he rates the album a 7/10.

   One of the features on the album, DJ Drama, caught Evan’s attention throughout its runtime. “DJ Drama’s voice overs were cool, and it had me thinking that it was ‘Call Me If You Get Lost,’ since he was on that too.” Referring to a separate album released by Tyler The Creator back in 2021 which also featured DJ Drama, both albums are introduced by DJ Drama’s unique and powerful sound, and have explosive instrumentals to match. 

   Kid Cudi exploring a new direction in music seems to be both an exciting turn in his career, but also a point of contention for old listeners who enjoyed his ethereal beats and melodious rapping style. This latest album may not match the popularity of his others, but it is still enjoyed by his fans. He has announced on social media that he plans to publish a memoir, titled CUDI, which is sure to bring back his die-hard supporters who follow him for not only his sound, but his message of authenticity through his struggle with mental health.