“Entergalactic”–Kid Cudi

Kid Cudi’s “Entergalactic,” his eighth studio album, is a musical project based on Cudi’s new animated Netflix special under the same title. The album, though music in itself, was made to represent Cudi’s desire to leave the music scene, and shift more towards film directing and producing. In “New Mode,” the second song on the album, Cudi expresses an idea of a new identity, with verses like “It’s a new me,” and “I’m in a new mode,” as the song is titled, likely alluding to his recent exploration of acting and directing. Cudi has admitted in interviews that he doesn’t see himself rapping into his forties, which as a thirty-eight year old man, are swiftly approaching. Cudi is transitioning away from his rap career, which he’s most known for, and finding a new sense of identity. Musically, “Entergalactic” is quite a journey, an arguably more experimental than his older works. The album begins with a minute and a half long intro of ambient noise, soft piano, loud breathing, and unsettling chords, before jumping immediately into his usual style. By the fourth song on the album, “Angel,” Cudi has transitioned into heavenly harmonics and a synth melody. The album spans genres, from trap music with features from artists like 2chainz, to lo-fi beats and dream-pop-esque synthesizer. Though his lyrics may be nothing to faun over, Cudi makes up for it with his instrumentals and vocal tone. This album is an unexpected but worthwhile addition to Cudi’s discography, and a good last hurrah to his career if he chooses for it to be so. I give this album an 8/10.