Crazy to think that this was originally just a rumor and/or also a dream collab album but here we are now, dreams can come true ladies and gentlemen. KIDS SEE GHOSTS are the duo of Kanye West and Kid Cudi who both have worked together since 2008 when Kanye had signed Kid Cudi to GOOD MUSIC after receiving Cudi debut mixtape, they both had their up and downs with each other since Cudi had left GOOD MUSIC but glad to see they are working and at peace with one another. This the third album thus far that has been executive produced by Mr. West himself in Wyoming. I was a bit skeptical going into this, For one was Kanye gonna continue with this hot streak of albums that he worked on? also, can Cudi step up and be back on his bullshit since he has been a huge decline with his solo material? Let's get right into this review!
The album kicks off with the track "Feel The Love", Pusha T is the only rap verse awhile Cudi handles the hook and Ye is on the bridge with him making gun noises that sound fucking wild, I do love the transition from the production when Ye pops in and its very heart pounding and pumps you up like you are going into battle. Cudi distorted vocals are very spine-chilling and feel grand and are sung well and it is a perfect way to kick off the track, Push's verse is flashy and luxurious so his feature was a nice added touch to the song.
"Fire" has both men rapping up their failures and people who judge them for the failures they have done, but they chose to ignore it and they enjoyed all the shit talking you've been saying about them both. Cudi verse has him opening up dealing with his mental issues and praying to God to forgive him for his sins and take him up to heaven. Cudi is on the chorus and his signature hums are displayed tremendously, Kanye's verse is expanded on, dealing with his past drug addiction which was the main theme of his solo effort. I love how low key the production, Cudi's hums blends into the beat give it a creepy vibe. The song is very short and low key but the lyrics help it make it grand.
"4th Dimension" has this very throwback vibe of old Kanye with the production, I love how Ye sampled a 1930's Christmas song, I like the "oh's" from the sample has a very eerie effect, it does remind me of "Jesus Walks" in a way now I think about. Kanye's verse is pretty savage and funny with him doing his best impression of Master P and Rick Ross and saying sorry insert into the wrong hole and stroking his own ego saying it was an accident. I fucking love how Kanye ends his verse with clever wordplay with him saying "If I get locked up, I won't finished the sent-" and then goes silent, that double entendre SHEESH! I love the beat switch from the interlude to the first couple of lines of Cudi's verse. Cudi verse remind me of his old self and is cold-blooded, I love that Ric Flair line too mostly cause I am wrestling fan and I love when rappers mention wrestlers in their raps fans, overall good shit here.
"Freeee (Ghost Town pt.2) is easily the most left-field track, mixing rap with psychedelic rock. The whole theme is mostly about being free from all the pain and man this shit powerful. Ty Dolla, Cudi, and Kayne vocals when they say free sounds trippy and godlike, it's a mind trip. Ty Dolla vocals have a major throwback rock and roll, the way he harmonizes is wonderful. This song just makes me think what could've been if Cudi did this style and put more effort into when he was doing "Rock" phase with WZRD and Speeding Bullet to Heaven as well too.
"Reborn" has that MOTM feels to me with Cudi and Kanye saying they feel reborn and I love the very uplifting theme here, it very motivating. Ye's spits his most personal and also best verse on the project, rapping about his few months of antics leading to this and his solo records and that the jokes have Kanye stressed and don't wanna be around people anymore and just hide. Kanye also raps alright ill take all the blame and also he wants all the smoke which could be a little jab at Drake and Rhymefest, That Mario was also pretty dope too. Cudi rapping about his past issues and there's not much he can do about them now, feeling worthless and pondering his own life but at end of the day that was in the past he found peace and feels blessed now. Favorite part is when towards the end of the song where Cudi sings like I feel reborn but which do I go from here now? thinking like should I continue the right path or go left and hit rock bottom, but the best answer is just to keep moving forward and which Cudi is going to do.
The title track has a Yasiin Bey fka Mos Def feature and his on the hook which paints some insight that kids see things that some adults can't. The song has a very relaxing production and has that very supernatural feel to it, Kanye verse totally steals the show and takes shot at the media and other, that breakfast in bed line was dope as fuck. The final track "Cudi Montage" has a Kurt Cobian track being the sample and its handle for the entire song and I love how grimy the guitar is. The song does have a bit of a vibe from Speeding Bullet To Heaven but done correctly and polished, Cudi and Mr. Hudson vocals are fantastic and the transition's from the hook to verses is very well done from being grimy to heavenly. Kanye's get very deep and conscious, his most conscious in years. He raps about the cycle of violence, taking shots at the prison system, I like the line how prison sentences are like retirement. Ye shouts out Alice Johnson with the last line who Kim and Ye helped out and get her released early and yeah this was a perfect song to end the album.
Final thoughts is that damn, Kanye 3/3 so far with these albums he had been working awhile hiding in Wyoming. Yes, the album is short like the other ones that are out and on the way but like those, this is watertight and not too many dull moments. Kanye and Cudi always had great chemistry but on 'KIDS SEE GHOSTS" it is at its strongest thus far. Cudi does outshine Ye a bit on a couple of tracks but Kanye spits far better bars better than his solo effort, you can tell a lot of time and care was put into this album. The subject matter can the same old same old feel to it but I felt this was a continuation of what "ye'" was and it got the job done. Both men did an amazing job, I gotta thank Kanye as a Cudi stan, which I was once upon that this the best Cudi has sound in years, This was Cudi's redemption album here. EVERYBODY WINS.
Favorite Tracks: Reborn, Kids See Ghost, Cudi Montage, Freee (Ghost Town pt.2), Feel The Love, 4th Dimension, Fire
Least Favorite Tracks: None
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