Kid Cudi - Man on the Moon

It has been awhile since I've awaited a hip hop album release, so long I can't remember when. However, I've been listening to some tracks from Kid Cudi's Man on the Moon recently.......a lot. Kid Cudi, for those not familiar, is a musician from Cincinnati. More or less, he released a mixtape, it caught Kanye's attention, Kanye signed him and the two started working together. Cudi co-wrote some songs from Kanye's 808's and Heartbreak album. This leads us to Cudi's debut album Man on the Moon, which is slated to be released Sep. 15th. There have been a few singles released, nothing that really got me excited. But, as is now status quo, the album got leaked a few days ago. I got my ears on a few of the other songs from the album that are stinking up the spot, because they are the shit.

Cudi is a breath of fresh air in the world of hip hop. (a world I honestly don't frequent) His lyrics are not filled with bravado and machoism. Instead choosing to focus on his dreams, fears, issues and emotions. Simultaneously, making him seem vulnerable and easy to relate to; two things that are certainly not associated with MC's in general. His delivery, on some songs, is actually singing as apposed to the familiar cadence of hip hop. Add to that the fact that most of his songs could be played by musicians, not just some producer with a lap top and keyboard. True to form his album features a slough of guest spots, there's the not surprising (Kanye, Common) and the could be surprising (MGMT). Either way, count me as a fan.