Kid Cudi

Since Kid Cudi released his debut last year, he's made a pop-charting hit with David Guetta, gotten arrested, admitted to cocaine abuse and landed a starring role on HBO's urban yuppie show How To Make It In America. It's safe to say we've witnessed him evolve from industry naïf to smug and overconfident. With Man on the Moon II: the Legend of Mr. Rager, Cudi's still champions the former via his emotional, you-don't-know-me-type angst and delivery. But instead of seeming genuinely frustrated, Cudi – aside from on tracks like Cee-lo featuring opener "Scott Mescudi vs. the World" and "Ghost!" – sounds self-involved, the theme spent and amateur ("Erase Me"). There's no denying that Cudi's musical value lies in his voice – a cavernous, plaintive baritone – and not his lyrical ability, but somewhere in between track ten ("The Mood") and 11 ("MANIAC," featuring Cage and St. Vincent), when you realize there's seven more to go, you can't help but feel the effects of Cudi's rageahol. For what it lacks in content, Man on the Moon II: the Legend of Mr. Rager achieves victory with its fresh production ("Mr. Rager" and "Wild'N Cuz I'm Young"). Emile, who was behind the sonic success of Cudi's debut, racks up the most production credits, with storied Chicago, IL beat maker No I.D. and Plain Pat contributing multiple tracks.