Grade: A-
Kid Cudi’s ambitious sophomore album, “Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager,” is a sprawling 17-track opus divided into five different acts. Cudi picks up right where he left off from his 2009 debut album, as he boldly reshapes genres and styles into a syrupy smooth drawl all his own. By incorporating brash rock sounds into his already crowded blend of strange hip-hop beats, Cudi lends his harsh rhymes and lyrical chaos an appropriately disturbing edge. Tracks like “Marijuana” and “Mr. Rager” cement Kid Cudi’s second record as a collection of hip-hop’s — or music’s — best and most diverse pop tracks.
NOTE: Album does not come out until next Tuesday