Man on the Moon: The End of Day introduced us to Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi, known by the moniker Kid Cudi, and his distinct style as an artist. His psychedelic mix of rock and rap departed from traditional genres of the music industry, while the subject of his songs offered an alternative to rap's overdone themes of money, cars and women.
Once again, Kid Cudi crafts an album with substance. Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager accomplishes all the same achievements of the first installment, but takes them a step further to create an emotional, experimental and cohesive record.
Like The End of Day, The Legend of Mr. Rager divides the tracks into five acts that serve as a progression of Cudi's life. This journey, however, is darker than the last, an appropriate reflection of what he has been through this past year. After a violent incident with a fan, removal from Lady Gaga's tour and an arrest for drug possession, Cudi provides some insight into his troubles by introducing us to Mr. Rager. The character serves as Cudi's self- destructive, thrill-seeking alter ego, a creation illustrating his personal struggle between good and evil. In Man on the Moon II, Cudi welcomes us into his dark thoughts, an invitation too tempting to refuse.
The opening track, ""Scott Mescudi vs. the World,"" begins with a few eerie synthesized notes. His brooding verses contrast the melodic chorus supplied by Cee Lo Green, setting the mood for the album.
""Marijuana"", appropriately timed four minutes and 20 seconds, is one of the most interesting collaborations on the record. The lyrics mostly repeat the same short chorus, bringing other musical aspects to the forefront. A fluid piano, dark choir and electric guitar solo are all included in this creative mixture of sound.
The lyrics of ""Maniac"" obsessively describe the dark. Lines like ""I love the darkness yea / I'd like to marry it/ It is my cloak/It is my shield / It is my cape / I love the dark"" sink listeners into the blackness of Cudi's world.
Kid Cudi's low, sedate style can verge on repetitive, but the inclusion of a few upbeat tracks helps break up the monotony. ""Revofev,"" ""Erase Me"" and ""Ashin' Kusher"" add enough variation to balance the album while still embodying the emotional aura.
In ""Revofev"" Cudi sings ""I'm so high up / so high up and I like it / hey / I am happy today"" to lively piano and string accompaniments, expressing the fluctuating highs and lows he has been through.
There are not as many sing-along hits like The End of Day's ""Pursuit of Happiness,"" ""Day ‘n' Nite"" and ""Soundtrack to My Life,"" but securing the top of the charts is not this album's purpose. This time around, Cudi focuses on the development of the album's overall unity. The best way to experience The Legend of Mr. Rager is by listening to it as a whole. Although many of the songs are strong enough to stand on their own, out of context they lose some of their emotional impact. His ability to weave songs into a story is Cudi's greatest strength as an artist.
Kid Cudi's Man on the Moon II delivers a successful follow-up record. There is more of the unique style his fans have hungered for, as well as signs of musical evolution to keep them intrigued.
