The term “emotional wreck” is one of the best ways to describe the man known as Scott Mescudi. After dropping his seminal debut last year, Man On the Moon: The End of Day, G.O.O.D. Music artist and Cleveland native KiD CuDi looks to repeat his success with his latest sophomore sequel entitled, Man On the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager.
After months of being in the spotlight, it seemed as if Cudi was on top of the world. From being featured on tracks with the likes of Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg and Shakira, to gaining a starring role in the popular new HBO series How to Make it in America, along with opening for Lady Gaga’s grandoise “Monster Ball” tour earlier this year, CuDi’s walk of fame was solidified. However, as MOTM II would detail, all that success could create moments of depression, sometimes even a small addiction.
The neo-psychedelic journey begins with the dark and 808s-induced “Scott Mescudi Vs. The World.” With the soulful voice by popular artist Cee-Lo Green, it is here that Cudi sets the stage for the legend of Mr. Rager, a man possessed by his troubled reality while enduring the pain of his past. “Lost all my friends, maybe they were never meant to be acquainted/ Money seems to make everything tainted…”
With production brought forth by Cudi himself, Kanye West, Chuck Inglish (of The Cool Kids), Jim Jonsin, among others, MOTM II exhibits CuDi wearing his heart on his sleeve by providing an album that is emotionally driven, almost synonymous to an open letter to his fans. Although it presents a pervasive feeling of darkness most notably on tracks like “Maniac,” “Wylin Cause I’m Young,” and “Mr. Rager,” it doesn’t quite take away from its overall effectiveness.
Grammy award winning R&B songstress, Mary J. Blige lends her best vocals on noteworthy tracks such as “These Worries” and “Don’t Play this Song,” which touch on certain depression issues, especially on the latter where CuDi dives into great detail about his previous cocaine addiction.
Overall, KiD CuDi presents a fascinating body of work in MOTM II byoffering a gripping tale of raw emotion, while leaving listeners to wonder if the man/rapper will ever be happy.