The Rundown: Kid Cudi, Indicud

A track-by-track look at the elusive singer-rapper's new LP.

The Rundown: Kid Cudi's Indicud - With his third album, Indicud, which drops today, April 16, Kid Cudi's hoping to punctuate a month of bad news with a good album. Cudi surprised fans a couple weeks ago when he announced he was leaving G.O.O.D. Music, one of rap's most powerful and creative imprints. A little later, the release date for Indicud had to be rushed up a week to combat an early leak. But did Cudi put all this drama behind him musically? Click on to find out with our track-by-track review of Indicud.  —Alex Gale  (Photo: G.O.O.D. Music)

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The Rundown: Kid Cudi's Indicud - With his third album, Indicud, which drops today, April 16, Kid Cudi's hoping to punctuate a month of bad news with a good album. Cudi surprised fans a couple weeks ago when he announced he was leaving G.O.O.D. Music, one of rap's most powerful and creative imprints. A little later, the release date for Indicud had to be rushed up a week to combat an early leak. But did Cudi put all this drama behind him musically? Click on to find out with our track-by-track review of Indicud.  —Alex Gale (Photo: G.O.O.D. Music)

“The Resurrection of Scott Mescudi” - The album starts with the sounds of crickets at night, which is fitting. The entire record, which Cudi produced himself, definitely has a desolate, nighttime feel, and the spooky synths—another common sonic theme throughout—that begin creeping in on this hazy instrumental intro set it off.   (Photo: REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/Landov)

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“The Resurrection of Scott Mescudi” - The album starts with the sounds of crickets at night, which is fitting. The entire record, which Cudi produced himself, definitely has a desolate, nighttime feel, and the spooky synths—another common sonic theme throughout—that begin creeping in on this hazy instrumental intro set it off. (Photo: REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/Landov)

“Unf--kwittable” - More gloomy synthesizer swells announce the album's first true song, "Unf--kwittable." Kid Cudi made a left turn on Indicud by taking on the production himself, and this is one of his finer moments, with driving, sparse drums underlying the electric guitar melody that recalls the better moments of his WZRD rap-rock side project. Ironically, it's Cudi's bread and butter—his trademark blend of singing and rapping—that causes problems here, with the off-key adlibs derailing the triumphant hook right when it's about to get catchy.  (Photo: Aaron Gilbert / WENN.com)

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“Unf--kwittable” - More gloomy synthesizer swells announce the album's first true song, "Unf--kwittable." Kid Cudi made a left turn on Indicud by taking on the production himself, and this is one of his finer moments, with driving, sparse drums underlying the electric guitar melody that recalls the better moments of his WZRD rap-rock side project. Ironically, it's Cudi's bread and butter—his trademark blend of singing and rapping—that causes problems here, with the off-key adlibs derailing the triumphant hook right when it's about to get catchy. (Photo: Aaron Gilbert / WENN.com)

"Just What I Am" feat. King Chip - A brutally honest addiction confession hiding as a get-high anthem, "Just What I Am" is an album highlight. King Chip opens with a strong verse—as he does throughout the album—and the huge, vocodered hook ("I need smoke) will have people singing along even as Cudi explains he needs to numb the pain. "These damn pills ain't working, fam," he raps.(Photos from left: Rob Kim/Getty Images for Samsung, Paul A. Hebert/Getty Images)

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"Just What I Am" feat. King Chip - A brutally honest addiction confession hiding as a get-high anthem, "Just What I Am" is an album highlight. King Chip opens with a strong verse—as he does throughout the album—and the huge, vocodered hook ("I need smoke) will have people singing along even as Cudi explains he needs to numb the pain. "These damn pills ain't working, fam," he raps.(Photos from left: Rob Kim/Getty Images for Samsung, Paul A. Hebert/Getty Images)

"Young Lady" - Cudi, long a fan of collaborating with and sampling indie-rock artists, jacks "Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings," from Fleet Foxes front man Father John Misty's 2012 solo album, here. It's an intersting juxtaposition, but the dark, jumbled production, filled with stiff drums and strangely random guitar work, mangles the song's supposedly seductive message.  (Photos from left: Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images, Karl Walter/Getty Images for Coachella)

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"Young Lady" - Cudi, long a fan of collaborating with and sampling indie-rock artists, jacks "Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings," from Fleet Foxes front man Father John Misty's 2012 solo album, here. It's an intersting juxtaposition, but the dark, jumbled production, filled with stiff drums and strangely random guitar work, mangles the song's supposedly seductive message. (Photos from left: Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images, Karl Walter/Getty Images for Coachella)

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"King Wizard"  - One of the album's ill-chosen singles, "King Wizard" puts one of the album's biggest weaknesses up front: Cudi's still a production newbie, and the stiff, mind-numbingly repetitive, synths and drums on this song make it obvious, marring an otherwise dope hook and vocal performance. Pictured: Kid Cudi (Photo: Rick Davis / Splash News)

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"King Wizard" - One of the album's ill-chosen singles, "King Wizard" puts one of the album's biggest weaknesses up front: Cudi's still a production newbie, and the stiff, mind-numbingly repetitive, synths and drums on this song make it obvious, marring an otherwise dope hook and vocal performance. Pictured: Kid Cudi (Photo: Rick Davis / Splash News)

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"Immortal" - Backed by a reversed sample of rock band MGMT's "Congratulations," humming and bright string hits, "Immortal," another single, is one of Cudi's best efforts as a producer. There are powerful moments in the superhero-themed lyrics too, but Cudi extends himself way too far as a vocalist, sometimes sounding shamefully flat on the higher notes. (Photo: Kris Connor/Getty Images)

"Solo Dolo Part II" feat. Kendrick Lamar - A sequel to Cudi's striking 2009 cut "Solo Dolo (Nightmare)," this song again uses a sample from New York funk-soul instrumentalists Mehanan Street Band as its backdrop. Unfortunately, the gloomy horns and keyboards can't redeem the clunky production surrounding them—although another scene-stealing Kendrick Lamar verse nearly does.  (Photos from left: Kevin Winter/Getty Images, Noel Vasquez/Getty Images)

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"Solo Dolo Part II" feat. Kendrick Lamar - A sequel to Cudi's striking 2009 cut "Solo Dolo (Nightmare)," this song again uses a sample from New York funk-soul instrumentalists Mehanan Street Band as its backdrop. Unfortunately, the gloomy horns and keyboards can't redeem the clunky production surrounding them—although another scene-stealing Kendrick Lamar verse nearly does. (Photos from left: Kevin Winter/Getty Images, Noel Vasquez/Getty Images)

"Girls" feat. Too Short - Cudi mixes '80s new wave and Oakland sex rap by recruiting Too $hort to rhyme in between the shimmering synthesizers and poppy hook. The combo is jarring, maybe a little corny, but it's also a damn good time.   (Photos from left: Kevin Winter/Getty Images, Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

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"Girls" feat. Too Short - Cudi mixes '80s new wave and Oakland sex rap by recruiting Too $hort to rhyme in between the shimmering synthesizers and poppy hook. The combo is jarring, maybe a little corny, but it's also a damn good time. (Photos from left: Kevin Winter/Getty Images, Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

"New York City Rage Fest" - An instrumental space-filler on a 18-track album, "New York City Rage Fest" isn't at all necessary, but the marching drum-and-handclap combo have a funky fluidity that's a hopeful glimmer of Cudi's potential as a producer.  (Photo: Will Ragozzino/Getty Images)

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"New York City Rage Fest" - An instrumental space-filler on a 18-track album, "New York City Rage Fest" isn't at all necessary, but the marching drum-and-handclap combo have a funky fluidity that's a hopeful glimmer of Cudi's potential as a producer. (Photo: Will Ragozzino/Getty Images)

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"Red Eye" feat. Haim - Probably Cudi's best chance for a true hit on this album, "Red Eye" hands over the reins to up-and-coming pop-rock sister trio Haim. Their windswept, summery melodies brighten up an otherwise dark album, which is often bogged down by a malaise of swampy synths and Cudi's relentless introspection.    (Photos from left: Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Bacardi, WENN.com)

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"Red Eye" feat. Haim - Probably Cudi's best chance for a true hit on this album, "Red Eye" hands over the reins to up-and-coming pop-rock sister trio Haim. Their windswept, summery melodies brighten up an otherwise dark album, which is often bogged down by a malaise of swampy synths and Cudi's relentless introspection.  (Photos from left: Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Bacardi, WENN.com)

"Mad Solar" - The self-proclaimed Man on the Moon is apparently up for a sun visit as well. But the droning production, which repeats four notes on and on, makes for a cloudy forecast.   (Photo: C.M. Wiggins/WENN.com)

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"Mad Solar" - The self-proclaimed Man on the Moon is apparently up for a sun visit as well. But the droning production, which repeats four notes on and on, makes for a cloudy forecast. (Photo: C.M. Wiggins/WENN.com)

"Beez" feat. RZA - RZA, who also kicked an unexpected verse on British electro-soul singer James Blake's new album, Overgrown, earlier this month is having a good April. His lispy, dramatic boasts ("I'll eat a zombie") and Cudi's creeping beat, sparse to a fault, harks back to the Wu-Tang swami's 1998 Bobby Digital album.    (Photos from left: WENN.com, Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images)

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"Beez" feat. RZA - RZA, who also kicked an unexpected verse on British electro-soul singer James Blake's new album, Overgrown, earlier this month is having a good April. His lispy, dramatic boasts ("I'll eat a zombie") and Cudi's creeping beat, sparse to a fault, harks back to the Wu-Tang swami's 1998 Bobby Digital album.  (Photos from left: WENN.com, Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images)

"Brothers" feat. King Chip & A$AP Rocky - There's an awesome slinky energy to "Creepy," with junky, breakbeat drums that are reminiscent of the amazing score to the 1983 classic film Wild Style. Kid Cudi, perhaps inspired by the sharp guest verses, drops the sing-song delivery and kicks his best pure rap verse on the album. (Photos from left: Derek Reed / Picture Group Promo, Flashpoint / WENN.com)

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"Brothers" feat. King Chip & A$AP Rocky - There's an awesome slinky energy to "Creepy," with junky, breakbeat drums that are reminiscent of the amazing score to the 1983 classic film Wild Style. Kid Cudi, perhaps inspired by the sharp guest verses, drops the sing-song delivery and kicks his best pure rap verse on the album. (Photos from left: Derek Reed / Picture Group Promo, Flashpoint / WENN.com)

Kid Cudi - Kid Cudi changed the name of his 2010 sophomore album several times, from Cudder to Cudder & The Revolution of Evolution Man to Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager. (Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images for the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research)

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"Burn Baby Burn" - Cudi's beatmaking newbie-ness rears its head again here. A single, simple synthesizer line repeats endlessly, accompanied only by some off-kilter drums. It's hard to imagine Kanye signing off on this.(Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images for the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research)

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"Lord of the Sad and Lonely" - We're not sure how this album ended up at 18 tracks. As "Lord of the Sad and Lonely" kicks in, the album's same-y production, filled with quirky percrussion and dark minor-key riffs played by—you guessed it—synths, becomes even more glaring. It's a shame, because Cudi kind of blacks out lyrically here.  (Photo: Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Bacardi)

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"Lord of the Sad and Lonely" - We're not sure how this album ended up at 18 tracks. As "Lord of the Sad and Lonely" kicks in, the album's same-y production, filled with quirky percrussion and dark minor-key riffs played by—you guessed it—synths, becomes even more glaring. It's a shame, because Cudi kind of blacks out lyrically here. (Photo: Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Bacardi)

Kid Cudi Jumps In - Cudi unexpectedly joined the fray via his own Twitter mini-rant the same month: "I love my n---a Pusha T, f--k anybody who feel different. We ain't h--s out here." (Photo: Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images)

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"Cold Blooded" - Although the apolacyptic beat never gels, the steady, straightforward breakbeat drums allow for some of Cudi's nimblest rhymes on the album. "The lost black sheep of G.O.O.D. Music, only good for a hook, let me show you flows," he raps. (Photo: Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images)

"Afterwards (Bring Yo Friends)" feat. Michael Bolton & King Chip - The long-awaited, long-rumored collaboration between Kid Cudi and lite FM icon Michael Bolton is finally a reality. But seriously, this song is kind of amazing. Hearing Bolton soulfully sing to the ladies to "Bring Yo Friends" over a throwback hip-house backdrop is priceless. The song didn't need to be nine minutes long, but it's still a blast overall.  (Photos from left: Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images for VEVO, John Sciulli/Getty Images for Andrea Bocelli Foundation)

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"Afterwards (Bring Yo Friends)" feat. Michael Bolton & King Chip - The long-awaited, long-rumored collaboration between Kid Cudi and lite FM icon Michael Bolton is finally a reality. But seriously, this song is kind of amazing. Hearing Bolton soulfully sing to the ladies to "Bring Yo Friends" over a throwback hip-house backdrop is priceless. The song didn't need to be nine minutes long, but it's still a blast overall. (Photos from left: Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images for VEVO, John Sciulli/Getty Images for Andrea Bocelli Foundation)

"The Flight of the Moon Man"  - Kid Cudi ends the album with another rather pointless instrumental digression, adding even more minutes to the already hefty 18 tracks. Ironically though, the production here is more dynamic and interesting than many of the more central songs. Cudi's making a point here—"I produced this album myself!"—but really he makes us miss the presence of Kanye West, Emile, Ratatat and his other former beatmaking collaborators.  (Photo: Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images)

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"The Flight of the Moon Man" - Kid Cudi ends the album with another rather pointless instrumental digression, adding even more minutes to the already hefty 18 tracks. Ironically though, the production here is more dynamic and interesting than many of the more central songs. Cudi's making a point here—"I produced this album myself!"—but really he makes us miss the presence of Kanye West, Emile, Ratatat and his other former beatmaking collaborators. (Photo: Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images)