Kanye West/Kid Cudi - Kids See Ghosts Album Review

Released by G.O.O.D Music 2018

Kids See Ghosts was first announced on Twitter by Kanye on April 18, after re-activating his twitter account following a brief hiatus. Ye and Cudi have worked together for nearly a decade now, linking up on hits such as "Welcome to Heartbreak" on Kanye's hip-hop altering album 808's & Heartbreak, and "Gorgeous" off Ye's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy in 2010.

The opening track of the collaborative album, "Feel the Love" features fellow GOOD Music artist Pusha T, who delivers the song's only rap verse. Throughout the song, Cudi is 'feeling the love' with his hums and soothing flow, despite Kanye's best attempts to disrupt his vibe with his finest Desiigner impression, shouting audible gunshots that signify the state of mind Ye can have with his bipolar tendencies. 

A surprising production credit on the album goes to Andre 3000, who co-produces the second song on the album - "Fire". Three Stacks' touch is evident as the beat has an OutKast feel, with Kanye and Cudi's chemistry syncing at just the right time. 

Like other Kanye-produced albums, Kids See Ghosts boasts an interesting and diverse range of samples, with the most surprising sample courtesy of Louis Prima's "What Will Santa Claus Say". Kanye somehow manages to turn the seasonal tune into a loop of haunting, chanting voices throughout the third song on the album '4th Dimension'. The sample's drastic change ties in well with the interlude and outro to the song - an eerie few seconds of demonic laughter followed by Cudi's reference to his substance abuse and depression in 2016.

Cudi and Kanye both have well-documented recent struggles with mental health and substance abuse. "Freeee (Ghost Town Pt.2)" is a sequel to the track "Ghost Town" which was released one week prior on Kanye's album "ye", and also featured vocals from Cudi.
On "Freeee", Kanye brushes off the perception he is seen as insane by the public, as he sarcastically raps: "I was off the meds/I was called insane/What a awesome thing/Engulfed in shame". 
Although the lyrics on the chorus may be similar on both parts of "Ghost Town", 070 Shake resonated feeling "kinda free". The Kids See Ghosts track shifts both artists' state of mind, as the duo rap about feeling free, and no longer being able to feel the pain of their past which Ty Dolla $ign and Anthony Hamilton's channel through their gospel-like refrain halfway through the song. 

Kanye has always managed to get the best out of his protégé, and on the fifth track of the album "Reborn", Cudi turns back the clock to the Mr. Rager days, and reaches his peak. Back in 2016, Cudi courageously released a statement on Facebook announcing that he had checked himself into rehab for depression and suicidal urges. Towards the end, he wrote: "I'll be back, stronger, better. Reborn." Cudi has done exactly that, "I'm so reborn/I'm moving forward" he sings on the chorus, noting that his dark past is behind him, and he is living a new life.

"Cudi Montage", the seventh and final song of the album, samples the legendary Kurt Cobain's "Burn the Rain", a track from the Nirvana musician's "Montage of Heck" - a posthumous album released in 2015 which inspired the name of the track.
Cudi's recognised faith in God is at the forefront of his mind on the track, which also features a previous collaborator of Kanye's, Mr. Hudson.
"Lord shine your light on me, save me, please" Cudi mumbles on the chorus. Instead of using stimulants as a coping device, he now relies on his faith towards God to save him from his troubled past.

Despite Kanye and Cudi embracing some heavy topics, Kids See Ghosts feels like the duo are actually having fun. On "4th Dimension", Ye and Cudi touch on everything from accidental anal sex, to Ric Flair, to substance abuse.
Although "Ye" may have been a couple songs too short, Kids See Ghosts feels just right.