Summary:The debut surprise studio release for the collaboration between Kanye West and Kid Cudi features contributions from André 3000, Mos Def, Ty Dolla $ign as well as samples from Kurt Cobain's "Burn the Rain" and Louis Prima's "What Would Santa Claus Do?".
While Kids See Ghosts feels more like a Cudi album than a Kanye one, it is a production showcase for both. ... The seven-song affair leaves you greedy for more when it’s over in a mere 23 minutes.
For the most part in fact, the album’s production is curated with Cudi in mind, a sonic bag of treats for those who vibe to the gloomy, celestial exploration of his early material as well as the rap rock stylings he has demonstrated since. ... Whereas the beats on ye sounded rushed and underdeveloped, the beats on KSG have some meat on ’em, crafting a sonic mood board that evokes thoughts of psilocybin mushroom trips, spiritual healing and yes, ghosts.
Kids See Ghosts is everything Ye wasn't, delivering a worthwhile listen in spite of the extended PR disaster that preceded its release. With Cudi as the yang to West's yin, the pair inch closer to finding peace and a light in the darkness.
A seven-track album (it’s Kanye’s current obsession; both ‘ye’ and ‘Daytona’ ran to the same length) can hardly help but feel slight, though the brevity actually suits this collaborative record. It sounds, suitably, ghostly and supernatural.
A collaboration that alternates from alienation and sadness to melodic tenderness, punkish rap bravado, and triumph in 23 minutes. It’s both embarrassing and gripping: never boring and often euphoric. ... It makes for a perfect version of a Kid Cudi album, with Cudi taking center stage under the guiding hand of Kanye’s stellar production.
The songs are the most intriguing ones to emerge from this Wyoming project thus far. ... A lot of the energy that "ye" seemed to be gasping for fills the lungs of this project, and it’s humbling to consider how much this material might have enlivened West’s own album.
Though nowhere near as incisive, infectious or rewarding as their best work, Kids See Ghosts is still an important step forward into an era of big moods and short attention spans.
Loved everything about this album from the amazing cover art to the crazy production by Ye and the content from both Cudi & Ye. Hope we getLoved everything about this album from the amazing cover art to the crazy production by Ye and the content from both Cudi & Ye. Hope we get another KSG album in the future.…Expand
Kids See Ghosts can be considered one of the best collaborative efforts In Hip-Hop.
The album, fully produced by Kanye West, strikes withKids See Ghosts can be considered one of the best collaborative efforts In Hip-Hop.
The album, fully produced by Kanye West, strikes with it's eerie and dark samples, as well as rough and gritty melodies. Kid Cudis Voice compliments the beats perfectly, and Kanye's few parts scattered over the Album contain some of of his best lyrics.
They both talk about mental Health and their way to recovery and happiness, climaxing in the Outro "Cudi Montage", which can be considered a Track about Kanye's and Cudi's reunion after their split back a few years ago.
Both Artists perform some of their best craft yet, with Kid Cudi nearly returning to MOTM levels, and Kanye being as strong as ever, with quality production and good vocals. The album gives an in-depth look into mental states of two of the most beloved rappers/singers, which is also reflected in the sound of the beats. If Kanye West's "ye" Is what Heaven sounds like, then Kids see Ghost is the exact, equally good, opposite.…Expand
One of Ye's purest, most Hip-hop efforts. Odd thing is, it takes a ton of influence from psych rock and prog. Fantano mentioned Madlib, butOne of Ye's purest, most Hip-hop efforts. Odd thing is, it takes a ton of influence from psych rock and prog. Fantano mentioned Madlib, but i don't think it's 100% accurate. Several tracks definitely are Ye's most dusty, blunted, sample digging self he's ever been though. Expect some heavy bass, and Cudi is not as annoying as you think he'll be. He's actually pretty damn good!…Expand
I was unsure what to expect going into this album considering Kid Cudi's latest work. While I was a huge fan of Kid Cudi in 2010 but sinceI was unsure what to expect going into this album considering Kid Cudi's latest work. While I was a huge fan of Kid Cudi in 2010 but since WZRD it has been a downward spiral. Kanye on the other hand has always delivered consistently great work and knows how to get the best out of a lot of artists especially Cudi (ex: Father Stretch my hands pt. 1 hook). The thing is Kanye and Cudi come together perfectly on every song here and despite it's short run time there is no shortage of incredible music, well thought out lyrics and different musical styles. One fear I had was that the ideas of the album wouldn't be fleshed out, but Daytona, Ye and Kids See Ghosts to their credit all get across big ideas in short run times.
I think to many people this will feel like a Kid Cudi album featuring Kanye, and while I disagree I understand the sentiment. The reason I think this is truly a group album is the joint production, the joint vision, and Kanye's incredible verses. I am not sure who produced a majority of the album but Kanye's influence can definitely be felt.
On the opening track Cudi's signature vocals ring and Pusha T delivers a monster verse. But the real stand out was Kanye's random gun sounds. At first I thought this was the worst thing since poop and scoop but it really fits the theme of the album as well as the energy of the song. After this craziness finally comes to end and you think the song is over, you hear him yell out in almost pure anger "Where's the chorus." And the energy of the song is suddenly back again. For such a short song it does a lot.
The next song is fire. While probably my least favorite song on the album it's definitely still great. Kanye and Kid Cudi deliver really short but painful verses that are magnified by Kid Cudi's amazing hook. It's then followed up a beautiful outro guitar that might be the best moment on the whole album.
4th dimension is probably my favorite song off of this album. Backed by an amazing sample that is unmistakabley the work of Kanye. It's the last painful song on the album and also the last short song (which is notable considering the ending sample). Kanye delivers an insane verse about sex which to many may seem out of place but Kanye fan's understand that he has been battleing with a sex and porn addiction for years. He has talked about it on MBDTF, Yeezus, Pable and Ye. So it makes sense in an album about their mental health issues he would bring up this addiction. Kid Cudi's verse is intro'd with these ghost noises which feels so MOTM2 (Man on the moon 2) and the verse itself feels like a throwback to 2010 as well.
On Free you get a call out to ghost town off of Ye. Both songs obviously address the feelings of being free and my interpretation is that the knowledge of themselves they have gained through introspection on the first 3 track is what's giving them this feeling. While lyrically simple this track is still incredible.
Reborn is the longest song on the album and for good reason. Intro'd by the signature kid cudi moans it leads right into the hook delivered by Kid Cudi. Straight forward and simple, it flows with the beat perfectly and is the catchiest hook on the album. Kanye delivers another great verse with his best flow so far on the album. I love the lines about wanting all the pain and the idea of flipping this into his amazing art. Kid Cudi delivers a solid verse as well and the outro is fairly lengthy but beautiful and relaxing the whole way out.
Kids See ghosts features a great beat and is a change of pace from the slower reborn. The hook is amazing. Kanye gives a lengthy verse with maybe his best flow since MBDTF. Mos Def's verse/poem at the end really closes out and this feels like it could be the end of the story.
But we are given one final track.
Cudi montage starts out with this awesome guitar that I couldn't place myself but is apparently a sample from Kurt Cobain. Of note it's a post humous track and maybe the usage itself is alluding to what can happen when mental health isn't taken seriously. Kid Cudi and Kanye's verses both talked about cycles fears and pains they are trapped in (though Kanye's may not be himself directly affected). The hook is extremely simple being just some moans and "STAY STRONG" echo'd but it's really powerful considering the last line in Kid Cudi's verse, and Kanye's addition the hook in the latter half "God, shine your light (love) on me. Save me please."
This album is phenomenal start to finish. Each song feels like a different musical style but every single song and style is executed well. I did not expect this to be anywhere near as great as it was and it will probably continue to be a favorite of mine for years to come.…Expand
Kids Seem Ghost is a return to conquer apex for the career of Kid Cudi. After returning to form in his lengthy album Passion, Pain, and DemonKids Seem Ghost is a return to conquer apex for the career of Kid Cudi. After returning to form in his lengthy album Passion, Pain, and Demon Slayin’, Kids See Ghosts cuts out much of the filler gonna that album and stays at maximum output for the duration of the seven tracks.
While Cudi channels the introspective harmonizing backdrop, Kanye provides social commentary and aural diversity and eccentricity to the tracks.
The album is a sonic masterpiece. The vocal mixing, even at times of quirky lyrics and onamonapoetic gun noises, is the pinnacle of the craft. This album was designed and crafted for the audiophiles and its layers cannot be peeled by by a single listen.…Expand
Its interesting watching history unfold in front of our eyes. This collaborative album by Kids See Ghosts will undoubtedly be a watermark forIts interesting watching history unfold in front of our eyes. This collaborative album by Kids See Ghosts will undoubtedly be a watermark for hip-hop 2018, let alone music in general. There is a exciting familiarity about every song, yet its a new sound we have never experienced.…Expand
Overhyped, like everything else Kanye has done. There's nothing here that hasn't been done better elsewhere. Nothing innovative or insightful,Overhyped, like everything else Kanye has done. There's nothing here that hasn't been done better elsewhere. Nothing innovative or insightful, neither of them sound good. A mess really.…Expand
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