WZRD (Kid Cudi x Dot Da Genius) – WZRD

    Where PM Dawn’s soft spoken routine was shunned to no end in the early ’90s, recent times have given rise to a subculture allowing today’s generation to comfortably identify with artists straying from rap’s hyper-masculinity and chauvinism. A primary example of this burgeoning alternative perspective has been Kid Cudi, (Drake and projects like Kanye West’s 808s & Heartbreak to boot) as he has offered his innermost turmoil to the world despite the openness leaving his art subject to harsh backlash. WZRD is Cudi’s third release, a creative offering fusing his standard sensitivity and introspection with the Rock production stylings of frequent collaborator Dot Da Genius.

    Kid Cudi’s latest exhibition simultaneously forges a new path and remains true to the spirit of his music’s foundation. While WZRD is technically a departure from his Man On The Moon series, its familiarity comes in the form of Scott Mescudi following the direction his heart and soul guide him. Dot Da Genius (responsible for Cudi’s breakout hit “Day n Nite”) is the perfect foil for his angst, with musicianship reflective of studying Classic Rock and learning multiple instruments. Throughout the project, heavy guitars (reminiscent of Green Day, Foo Fighters and Nirvana) accentuate Cudi’s nearly ambient and hypnotic voice, its topical polarity ranging from contentment to vulnerability in  celebrating success and exorcising his demons. Where “High Off Life” alludes to triumphantly overcoming a well documented drug addiction and “Upper Room” finds him in a serene space, “Love Hard” and “Efflictim” detail his struggles with matters of the heart. Despite the artist sporadically bordering on a cocksure vanity and a few glaringly ill-advised ideas such as “Dr. Pill” (which personifies therapeutic medication), his musical explorations make for an interesting journey overall.

    WZRD’s strengths are rooted in Kid Cudi’s vocal tone, one that is gripping and melodic despite his quite limited singing ability. While some could consider the gumption of Cudi’s aesthetic on this album a byproduct of self-absorbed pretense, he appears to organically gravitate to earnest experimentation. His gift and curse is the courage that expands his creative boundaries, making way for personal subject matter that perpetually risks rendering listeners uncomfortable. For the time being, the ever rising sensation will likely continue hurdling disapproval of his sincerity and adventurous nature, as he has never aimed to reach one-dimensional mainstream Hip Hop listeners who are predisposed to shirking emotion.

    222 thoughts on “WZRD (Kid Cudi x Dot Da Genius) – WZRD

    1. The problem with these sensitive rappers is not the music. It’s that they can’t rap or sing. Which makes it comes off as just no talent whining.

      When these guys are considered musical geniuses it must make a Marvin Gaye or Michale Jackson roll over in their graves. Make a Stevie Wonder wish he could see so he could slap some talent in them.

      Just goes to show how bad music has fallen off when these guys are considered good. When it’s like having an ear ache trying to get through the mess they call an album.

      1. wow wtf are you talkin bout?Stevie Wonder did a fuckin song with Drake.& if your talkin about Cudi then i would hate to break it to ya but KID CUDI IS A MOTHAFUCKIN GENIUS!!!

    2. This is interesting!!

      p.s.
      Are you targeting Japanese market?
      I Officially did promotions for Ace Hood and DJ Infamous We The Best Japan Tour.
      I have more than 20,000 Japanese followers. If you are producer, artiste, DJ, dancer, or records/production company and need my promotions, contact me! http://www.Twitter.com/RSmagazine The details are in the link in my profile!

    3. Cudi has pushed his artistic talent yet again. The self proclaimed “Mr. Rager” never seems to disappoint. I look forward to his future endeavors with WZRD and Man on the Moon III.

    4. It’s just a good album for teenagers who’d like to experiment something different just like Cudi himself, but please, the sound is out of date!

    5. i didnt like it i mean i like cudi but i cant fuck with the rock joint but man on the moon 3 ill be happy with that. sorry yall just giving my my word.

    6. Everybody saying how “amazing” it is needs to expand their vocabulary do you actually have any idea what the word AMAZING even means, I mean this album is decent, at the most it’s good, but amazing, sounds like y’all just will like whatever cudi puts out and wan to label it as amazing.

    7. bought it today, shit is actually pretty dope. I don’t want him to continue on with this, but this a cool side project. At least he put his 100% into this unlike Wayne’s gay ass with Rebirth. And for those Cudi fans who don’t like this, there’s a silver lining, he did say that he was going to start working on MoTMIII after this released.

    8. fuck yall i got dissed on my hhdx post by yall fans and this skinney dildo faggot fuck gets the thumbs up for his half ass rock album,real fuckin cool guys realfuckin cool. i shit a train on myself when i read these reviews.

      1. maybe its because you the listener has shit for brains and should be hung at the gallows for treason against good music. kike.

      2. my God, Bizarre or Bizarre stan, either way this dude is pathetic. Whoever is a fan of that giant sack of shit, should probably have their ears sliced off.

    9. foreal, ive shit water from out of my ass and into the toilet bowl and it sounded better than this. and i mean straight mud-ass.

    10. Just downloaded the album. It’s pretty good. Kid Cudi fails to disappoint. Some people won’t like it, but whatever.

      1. NO ITS NOT WHATEVER BIZARRE HAD THE BEST ALBUM OF ALL TIME(Friday Night at St. Andrews) AND WZRD GETS RAVE REVIEWS IM PISSED IM LITERALLY SHITTING CHICKENS IF EVER AND I MEAN EVER SEE ANOTHER KID CUDI FAN IN THE STREETS IM CLAWING HIS TOUNG OUT AND EYES OUT. KANYE COULDNT SAVE THIS AUDIO FECES. ITS LIKE LASERS ALL OVER AGAIN. FUCK.

      2. Keep drinking that Kanye Kool-aid.

        Fact is, he has brought nothing new and spectacular to the game and has helped push hip-hop and rap into a deep pop-humped, auto-tuned, generic pit.

        His lyrics are weak as hell and his head is constantly up his own ass.

        None of that makes him a beast.

      3. “Haterade”, oh, snap. I best back down. I’m obviously dealing with someone way far out my league.

        Fact is fact, man. Just take a look at Kanye’s entire catalog, listen objectively. The best part of his music is the beats, the instrumentals that back him. That’s where the power in his music is, but the guy alone is just terrible. He is definitely not the genius he thinks he is and his lyrics are actually pretty flimsy most of the time.

      4. honestly, i didn’t read your comment because I don’t care. You’re a fag, you like Bizarre, just for that you’re opinions don’t mean shit to me.

      5. “he has brought nothing new and spectacular to the game”

        yeah, he only brought sample-based beats back to mainstream hip-hop, but that shit don’t really count, no big deal, anyone could do it

        C’THEFUCKMON SON

      1. Love hard should be called Suck Hard, cause it does just that. and you sir are a faggot for enjoying this album why not tattoo a rainbow on your chest next nancy.

    11. This album is fire, Cudi isn’t music he’s an art. For all you weirdo’s on here hating on Cudi, GO HOMELESS WITHOUT EATING FOR A WEEK, AND WALK NAKED THROUGH THE STREETS GETTING SPIT ON…Then his music will sound good.

    12. Wack!!!!!

      stop copyin Lil Wayne & Limp Bizkit!!!! Weezy wuz da first black rocker….. now errbody wanna be a rockstar? smh….. YMCMB da realest! swag

      1. -__- JIMI HENDRIX WOULD SLAP YOU FOR TYPIN THAT!!!wayne is NOT the first black rocker.REBIRTH SUCKED NIGGA!WZRD SHITS ON REBIRTH
        WZRD>REBIRTH

      2. There were alot more black rockers and if you actually know of Cudi hes been making music like this since 07. GO FUCK YOUR

      3. I don’t know if you are aware of this…but Bo Diddley? Of the group that defined the sound that would become rock and roll…Chuck Berry….Jimmy Hendrix? Bad Brains? GTFO

    13. This album is really good. I dig it a lot. My favorite album of the year so far. Lovin’ the vibe, that psychedelic shiat none of these cats know anything about lol

      “teleport to me” and “where did you sleep last night” are my shiat!! “teleport to me” especially.

      4/5

    14. OMG im still so pissed my article was shat on by the masses and kid cudi gets mad brownie points. yall act like u never heard my hit song “My Band” it makes day n nite sound like shart. FUCK YALL im going to the lab right now to show you guys whats up.

    15. i mean damn really? yall just gonna turn on me like that. i knew the music buisness would be tough but yall niggas are unbelieveable fuck kid cudi, im a platinum selling rapper out of the durdy D and this niggas getting mad cool reviews. FUCK THIS

      1. Never said Bizarre was a great rapper or anything, just that he’s rich and humorous.

        My point was that he would never be bitching on website comments because of his status, despite him getting there by riding Eminem’s cock to stardom. He is, at the very least, cooler than an internet troll. That’s all.

    16. fuck the rap you hear nowadays, i’m having to resort to my underground/alternative music more nowadays! I CAN NOT BE BOTHERED LISTENING TO DUMBED DOWN LYRICS, REPEATING THE SAME SHIT OVER & OVER ON SOME WHACK DANCE BEAT. for me theres three categories: 1) HipHop 2) Rap( as in actually lyrical talent) & 3) Commercial regurgitated shit that the majority have been brainwashed to like

    17. This album is everything a real Rock album should have. Please do not base this on a Hip Hop scale. Cudder crossed over and succeeded making a better rock album than most experienced rock/alternative artists. I do not like at Cudder as a hiphop/rock artist but a musician. The lyrics in this album are mind blowing. Dot da Genius production is unreal. This is music people right in front of our eyes. We need to support real talent like this please go and buy this. The best album of 2012 so far,an you know what I dont see that changing. Kid Cudi and Dot,you have blessed wtih decades of music in 11 songs.

      1. “Cudder crossed over and succeeded making a better rock album than most experienced rock/alternative artists.” What rock do you actually listen to? This is just ignorant.

      2. Everything dont need at box.

        Rock is music. Hiphop is music.

        Coldplay is rock… but so is the Beatles and Chuck berry.

        You feel me>?

      3. I listen to rock. Mainly Mars Volta and Deftones. This shit ain’t rock. Just because you use a guitar don’t make it rock music. Damn this generation is lost. You guys have been listening to so much bad music for a decade you wouldn’t know good music if it slapped your mama. This shit is terrible.

    18. Loved it. New direction isn’t always a bad thing. Cudi is growing up and is realizing that life can be more without drugs. I miss Mr. Rager and all of the other drug and depression fueled characters from his earlier work but I am happy for Scott Mescudi to be “High Off Life”.

      1. nigga what the fuck you doing coming to a hiphop site talking about carrying notes n other gay shit.

        nah but seriously, most rappers don’t (read: can’t) sing so your comment makes very little sense son

    19. WZRD- Kid cudi, dot da genius all day!
      Wouldn’t mind hearing another WZRD album, before MOTM 3..
      Why is everyone acting like kid cudi is this hip hop jay z lyrical icon.
      He’s a artist who just makes different and good music.
      He’s been making this type of music ever since his mixtape days.
      There should be a genre named after him.

      Happy to hear that there is still real music out in the world!!

    20. Lil wayne rock album was garbage..
      And lil wayne never even hashad a rock vibe.
      Cudi has been on this vibe towards his music career.
      Ghost, erase me, mr. rager, REVOV, heaven at night, pursuit of happiness and more have a rock type of vibe!
      G.O.O. D. > YMCB all day!
      Fuck YMCB!
      They make nothing but hoe music!

    21. cudi said it was under shipped but i found it for 8.99 at hastings no problem here in clarksville tn. anyway dope album but who am i to judge? i am a big kid cudi fan. i recommend it though

    22. Does the nigga even rap on this album??

      I been down with cuddi since ‘kid named’ and watch him slip down the slippery pole covered in razor blades.. slowly.

      Im hoping he aint lyin in a pool of blood at the bottom for this one… Please i want it to work.

      Either way he is talentated..

    23. WZRD is overall an amazing album. It is hard to compare WZRD to MOTM because they are two totally different styles of music. This is not a rap album so ppl need to stop acting all disappointed, Kid Cudi has been saying that it isnt going to be so stop getting your hopes up. Cudi is the only “rapper” who can actually make a rock album sound purely rock, not any of that wannabe garbage. Dot Da Genius and Kid Cudi need an award for this.

      1. It’s amazing if you just started listening to music. Like last year. This shit is horrible. I mean horrible.

        “WZRD’s strengths are rooted in Kid Cudi’s vocal tone, one that is gripping and melodic despite his quite limited singing ability.”

        Fuck out of here. He has the tone only a dog could love.

    24. You want to hear experimentation. Go listen to Mars Volta. You want to hear a guy who sounds horrible. Listen to this.

    25. Cudi could record a track of him taking a dump and you idiots would love it.

      He might as well because that couldn’t be much worse than this.

    26. WZRD is actually a legit good album. I thought he was committing suicide when I heard that first rock track but this album is actually pretty dope.

    27. simple ass people will always listen to the same simple ass shit, never open their minds to anything new. that is why the world is the place it is, time is the only answer to ignorance.. as for me ill be jamming WZRD day n’ night, but then again its never been that hard for my mind to grasp concepts that are extraordinary. peace

    28. Everyone is allowed to have their own taste in music and their own opinion. If you enjoy the album, great, listen to it. If you don’t, then don’t listen. simple as that. But everyone should stop hating on the people that don’t agree with them and get over it.

    29. the album seriously sucked and is not the original cudi that elevated his style. the WZRD album just sounds like crappy rock. terrible.. but then again i always knew it was gonna suck

      1. not the original cudi…DUMMY HE ALWAYS WANTED TO DO SHIT LIKE THIS!CUDI ALWAYS DID SHIT LIKE THIS.your a lame ass kid named cudi/motm:eod ass type fan.

      2. shut the fuk up u cudi dickrider. as if he needs another one of u hipster faggots backing up his mediocre new style

    30. Cudi is lucky his label even backed this project at all so i don’t know why he was complaining. The album is definitely different, not the usual cudi sound but that was expected. I can listen to a few tracks but the majority are just annoying to me. Get back to the MOTM series please…

    31. Nice Album really !
      I love hiphop but to be honest, I’ve started to return more and more to my “roots”, since I’m a whitey, Y’all figured it out, rock like Hendrix, Led Zep, Stones and so on,
      because hip hop is getting SO boring !
      I started out listening to hiphop, mostly NaS, Pac, Shady, and it’s hard now a days to find something worth listening to, tired of the “camp fire liars”(or whatever drake calls them), and yeah go ‘head hate me for liking Drake as well,
      J. Cole, Jay Electronica, Big Krit, Joe Budden is the only relateable rap left,
      look at a track like “ni**as in paris” so so so WHACK lyrics, a lyrical genius like Jay-Z shouldn’t allow himself to be on such a low level lyrically, but what do I know ?
      much can be said about the current state of hiphop.
      but to get back to the topic, so it’s nice the Cudder never makes the same album twice,
      and he keeps it honest, and THAT’s what rap lacks.
      or is it more than that ?

      Budden expressed the state of hip hop best,
      don’t believe me ?
      go check “who killed hip hop” .. ..

      long live honesty,

      1. don’t forget Kendrick Lamar. If you have been sleeping on him then check him out. Substance, Presence, Flow, Lyrics. Kids got it all…

    32. I like the fact he’s experimenting, but the rock part doesn’t really materialize. The guitar riffs are really simplistic, which rally is a shame. If they’d put more time and effort in the project they’d made a better album.

    33. loveee the album. you people need to stop comparing and listening to the album like its a Man on the moon. Thats like using a Mac apple computer and try using it like its Windows!. Each experience is different and should be judge and handled differently. With that said the album is good to me. I just hoped it had been more longer and stretched out. Im burning all these songs to death already .Cudder the man 🙂

    34. The album was the best hes made so far. The new cudi is amazing. The old cudi is amazing. Cudi is just amazing period, hes the best by far. Who could be better? MGK? trash.. Drake? cmon now. not even close. Lil wayne? Cant even compair them because cudis just so much better.

    35. This is worst than when lil wayne tried to do a rock album LOL
      you cant honestly say you would bump this in your car smoking a blunt

    36. WZRD is really good and a lot of people just don’t have an ear for good music. There isn’t a whack song on the album. Upper Room and Love Hard are just amazing.

    37. Ok lets stop riding cudi’s dick for 5 minutes. Real talk time. The album is good. But its nowhere near the level of which im expecting of cudi. However, for a first rock album from a rapper its surprisingly good. I’m a huge cudder fan. To be honest i’d rather play Dose Of Dopeness on repeat than listen to this album. It was stupid to release DoD a week before this album. Then his rap style was brought back up and showed how amazing he can be. This album was almost set up to fail. Some of the songs (brake) are awful. But the majority of the album is above average. Props to cudi for branching out. It can only get better from here. Motm3 November. Cheers.

      1. Jay- Z Could Said It No Better In “On To The Next One”… If You Like The OLD CUDI, Then Listen To His OLD Albums… Let The Man Expand! Why Are You All Keeping Him In Your Little Ball Of Expectations? Like He States In “The Upper Room”, You People Are Scared To Be What God Want You To Be Because You All Are Pussies! He Is Not Scared To Show Different Styles Of Himself And Mature In What He Is Doing…. This Album Is A ROCK Album, Wasn’t Suppose To Be Anything Like MOTM Or MOTM2..

    38. Don’t you dare compare cudi to wayne. Ever. Wayne isnt even close to cudi. Cudi puts emotion into his songs. Wayne puts autotune.

    39. Tho I prefer the Cudi that makes mad Classics from “A Kid named Cudi”,”Man on the Moon” and “Man on the Moon 2” the “WZRD” cd is still pretty dope. I just respect the fact that this cat does what the f**k he wants to and doesn’t worry about what others think. If more Artist did that today their would be a lot more better Music out there. Especially Hip Hop wise because most of the stuff coming out today is Garbage. That’s why 90% of the time I’m bumping 80’s and 90’s Hip Hop. I miss the days of when Artist cared more about making good Music over making money.

      Peace and respect to all the Kid Cudi Fans World wide y’all know what time it is Cudi is a Genius. By the way Cudi you should of did a “Cool Head” Remix for “WZRD” that would of been tight.

      1. Man fuck those money over music artist, dont support them even when they switch sides to real music, we must be as ruthless as they are to real music fans, they dont give a fuck so we have to not give a fuck about there bullshit music

    40. Teleport 2 Me is the cut. Maybe Cudi’s best song ever. The rest of this album is a nice try, but these dudes are way out of their league with what they’re trying to do with the rock stuff. It’s cool to try and be different, but it’s more important to make it sound good. So it’s one sick track and a big pile of turd…

    41. Jay- Z Could Said It No Better In “On To The Next One”… If You Like The OLD CUDI, Then Listen To His OLD Albums… Let The Man Expand! Why Are You All Keeping Him In Your Little Ball Of Expectations? Like He States In “The Upper Room”, You People Are Scared To Be What God Want You To Be Because You All Are Pussies! He Is Not Scared To Show Different Styles Of Himself And Mature In What He Is Doing…. This Album Is A ROCK Album, Wasn’t Suppose To Be Anything Like MOTM Or MOTM2.. This Album Is Fucking Great!

    42. yeahhhh…its pretty bad. and I love all types of music…its a little boring…it could have been a a little technical…it sounds like fake indie rock…

    43. I agree. Teleport is sick. Disappointed with the rest. Hopefully MOTM3 will have more songs like Teleport.

    44. Only people who listen to strictly hip hop think this is garbage. Expand your damn horizons and you will see that this album is fucking crack. Every song is fire listen to it 2 times in a row and you will be fine because it does take some getting used to

    45. ayo, its a rock album you fuck*ng idiots..not a hip hop album f*ckheads..and by the way F*CK YOU U FA*GOT, don’t everrrr say this album is worst than Lil Wayne trying the “rock” genre. Rather listen to this than C*CK Sucking wayne..

      Kid Cudi’s music is interesting because he’s not doing the same genre..he’s experimenting with a lot of different ones…I respect that shit. I fucks with the album, i didn’t mind the whole album. few tracks are tight.

    46. I don’t see how any music lover can honestly say this is a bad album. This would be considered a decent first album for any new band. If anything it’s better because we are already used to Kid Cudi and his unique style and approach to his music.

      This is definitely a solid first try for both Cudi and Dot, especially since this is totally new ground and out of their comfort zone. I dont even think we should look at this as a third album from the rapper Cudi, but as a first album from the alternative rock group WZRD.

      That being said, I look forward to watching the progress they make as they grow more comfortable with their instruments and fine tune their sound.

    47. been a cudder fan since b4 motm
      took a while to digest but if u like cudi’s ideas and tones you will eventually dig it
      it’s not all slammin but the majority is memorable
      i’ll listen to it again
      probably won’t be breakin it out as much as the others

      good to jam by yourself while cleain tha house
      not a crowd pleaser fo sho

      1. Fuck are you talkin’ bout cuz, Kanye’s last solo album was My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy… If you thought that was wack, please stop listening to rap

      2. Man, you don’t know what you’re talking about. WZRD is a good album and MBDTF is a classic. I’m really pleased with WZRD because I thought MOTM2 was average so its good to see Cudi come out with a solid project.

      3. Cudi releases nothing but good music. He’s one of the most consistent artists out right now. WZRD is thyt, I would say it’s more hip hop than Rock but more alternative/psychodelic shyt than anything lol I love it. If you don’t like it..okay, shut up and move on. 4/5

    48. I thought WZRD has been quite a large success, I’ve been vibing to it all weak. There really are some amazing songs on there.
      Honestly, I think some people are hating simply because Cudi didnt rap on the album. But it wasn’t released under ‘WZRD’ for nothing.

      I’d give the album about a 3.5 – 4.

    49. I’m impressed. I didn’t expect WZRD to be as good as it is. Cudi did an amazing job in his genre transition, as did Lupe w/ Japanese Cartoon. I’m glad this didn’t turn out like Rebirth.

    50. This album is boring. I hardly listen to rock. Good for him trying to experiment but this shit is disposable. Yawn….

    51. I really dont like “Rock/Rap” albums. Its been like that for me since the Judgement Night soundtrack. I like Cudi but I DONT like this album. I appreciate any artist for going out of their realm but part of me just wants rappers to make hip hop music. How many rock stars make rap albums?

    52. Poorly mixed and Cudi has shit vocals, which confuses me as he sounded decent on his other releases. Only people who listen strictly to hip hop think this is good aha.

    53. Don’t think this was made for hip hop heads. This was disappointing from Kudi I thought this album would be more on the Dose of Dopeness tip.

    54. I love this album! I didn’t understand a word the guy that wrote this article said (ie: …organically gravitate to earnest experimentation)I listened to it myself and think it’s DOPE! Step outside your box – you may just find something new (and HOT HOT HOT)!

    55. sorely disappointed unfortunately! call be rap bias, but theres too many not-album-quality-tracks and instrumentals/humms in this. could have been really good but Kudi ruined it

    56. NEED BEATS?

      BET YOU HAVEN’T HEARD BEATS LIKE

      THIS BEFORE!

      GET FREE BEATS FOR LIKING THE SITE!!

      7DOLLABEATS(.)COM
      7DOLLABEATS(.)COM

      VOTED TOP 5 BEAT PACKAGE ONLINE!
      50 BEATS FOR 19.99!
      50 BEATS FOR ONE TIME PAYMENT OF 19.99!

    57. Come to think of it, does DX ever take a stance on anything? It’s like they keep everything at a 3-3.5 so they don’t face any backlash. Lazy motherfuckers lol.

    58. This is in heavy rotation for me w/Big K.R.I.T.’s latest. Strange mix i know. I like music in general tho.

    59. yeah this sound of this album is awesome as fuck. so many people dissed it, but I disagree highly. love it

    60. this just sounds like another Cudi album honestly without all the rapping but it’s not like he didn’t have melody in his music before.

    61. The Album Was Hella Good To Me… Didnt expect all the alternative music, but now i know what kinda range to expect from Cudi. The music is so soothing and hypnotic, that for me, its very easy ta catch myself listening to tracks over&over&over(aka repeat).

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *