Kid Cudi: INSANO
Kid Cudi garners a diverse mix of energetic production while capturing a galvanized yet central feel in his 9th studio album, INSANO. The LP delves into a trap-oriented style, taking listeners on an unexpected journey of lyricism and beats while gravitating into some of Cudi's signature knack of production for hip-hop and psychedelia music.
INSANO opens with the narration of DJ Drama in "OFTEN, I HAVE THESE DREAMZ" and furthering features and collaborations from Travis Scott on "GET OFF ME," "AT THE PARTY," with Pharrell Williams, A$AP Rocky on "WOW," XXXTENTACION on "X & CUD," Lil Wayne on "SEVEN," Young Thug on "RAGER BOYZ," and Lil Yachty on "TOO DAMN HIGH." While teaming up with a portion of the music industry's best artists, the feature list makes some of INSANO's best tracks out of the 21. "AT THE PARTY" brings the best out of Cudi in a feature track with samples of "Day N' Night" echoing in the background. Pharrell's voice makes the chorus catchy: "We were just there at the party, she was drinkin', prolly/She serious, not sorry/That's when she just hit it hardly/started feelin' godly/Near death, mmm, outta body," while Scott hypes the track's tone, completing the delivery as the beat sound is clean and cohesive. On "WOW," A$AP is effortlessly fluent in his rap flows, and we hear Cudi's signature melodies intertwined in the production. While the lyrics describe finding peace from struggles, they also set a tone of positivity and love as the chorus emphasizes a catchy repetition of "Wow, wow, wow," indicating a sense of enthusiasm to grasp. The quick switch-up of the drum near the end of the number also elevates the instrumentals in an abrupt yet clean transition. "TOO DAMN HIGH" is a fun short vibe as both Cudi and Lil Yachty capture the essence of being intoxicated with verses that come easy, and the beat is full of rhythm, delivering the collaboration. Lastly, in "RAGER BOYZ," the rhythmic tune is organic and effortless, while a hypnotic-eerie melody surrounds the track. Young Thug's feature perfectly aligns with Cudi as the two artists pair well, making the piece seamless while stimulating creativity.
While some features hoist INSANO, Cudi peaks in his solo recordings, making the listening experience universal. "BLUE SKY" truly is Cudi's sound as the touch of psychedelia and pop-rock-ish fusion compliment his music artistry and capture the feeling of contentment and fulfillment through the lyricism. We genuinely see Cudi's happiness through the song as it naturally delivers the best sound of the entire album. "ELECTROWAVEBABY" is groovy with flowy tune patterns sampled by "All That She Wants" by Ace of Base, bringing a nostalgic and beautiful vibe. In "TORTURED," Cudi brings a spark of old Cudder as the song has "New Mode" vibes from his 8th studio album "Entergalactic" along with a familiar sample from Cashmere Cat's "Mirror Maru." The production of this song alone is a heartfelt musical storytelling experience, giving fans a view of Cudi, the authentic artist that he poises himself to be.
INSANO brings a versatile attraction with catchy hooks, interactive trap style, and many fillers that could be trimmable but overall achievably produced. Still, it showcases the radiant atmosphere of Cudi as he evolves as an artist and grows as an individual.