Passion, Pain & Demon Slayin'
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Metascore
70

Generally favorable reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 155 Ratings

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  • Summary: The sixth full-length release for the hip-hop artist features guest appearances from André Benjamin, Travis Scott, Willow Smith, and Pharrell Williams.
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Top Track

Rose Golden
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 11
  3. Negative: 0 out of 11
  1. Exclaim
    Jan 3, 2017
    80
    Not only is Passion, Pain & Demon Slayin' loaded with hits, but it also draws attention to Cudi's renewed sense of self. Cudi has finally slayed his demons, and he sounds all the better for it.
  2. AllMusic
    Jan 3, 2017
    80
    Passion, Pain & Demon Slayin' breathes gravitas into the Kid Cudi discography, realigning his trajectory and hinting at hope, possibility, and, most importantly, recovery.
  3. Sputnikmusic
    Aug 7, 2017
    80
    PP&DS is self-indulgent, silly, messy and heartfelt. It's Cudi at top songwriting form, and the songs on it are arguably the best he's ever written.
  4. Pitchfork
    Jan 3, 2017
    67
    The 87-minute runtime is both ridiculous and somehow necessary; if the redundancies were cut, some of the self-importance would be lost. The extended monotony allows you to get lost in Cudi’s ego and your own head, clearing room amid the nothingness to discover and create meaning.
  5. PopMatters
    Jan 9, 2017
    60
    The consistent sound here isn’t so much redundant as repetitive; it builds a world in a way that too few records do. It’s not a particularly deep work--and it’s certainly not as important as its maker implies. But if there is a deeper truth to be found, it’s going to be in the album’s texture which conjures a beautiful night where the streets are wet, and you might be sad, but not sad enough to go to bed just yet.
  6. The Observer (UK)
    Jan 3, 2017
    60
    Pharrell Williams and Andre 3000 add support on this hefty but intriguingly experimental 19-track marathon, while Willow Smith adds weirdness to Mescudi’s trademark humming on the dub hip-hop of Rose Golden.
  7. The Line of Best Fit
    Jan 11, 2017
    50
    Divisive as they might be, Cudi’s experimental urges are what make him interesting; on Passion, Pain & Demon Slayin’, he’s largely drowned them in a sea of unenlightened navel-gazing.

See all 11 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 22
  3. Negative: 1 out of 22
  1. lilYACHTY
    Jan 4, 2017
    10
    Kid Cudi at his best. Passion, Pain & Demon Slayin' is an energetic, positive vibed masterpiece. "By Design" and "Surfin'" produced byKid Cudi at his best. Passion, Pain & Demon Slayin' is an energetic, positive vibed masterpiece. "By Design" and "Surfin'" produced by Pharrell Williams are the album's highlights, and are, in my opinion, the best songs of the year. Passion, Pain & Demon Slayin' is a positive, energetic masterpiece with a beautiful summer vibe.
    10/10
    This and Birds in The Trap = 2016's highlights    … Expand
  2. karamjoud
    Mar 6, 2017
    10
    its all about the production. its too DAMN GOOD . Cuid put all his effort on his album and damn it was so good it made my dick hard like aits all about the production. its too DAMN GOOD . Cuid put all his effort on his album and damn it was so good it made my dick hard like a **** guys listen to it right now… Expand
  4. ZubriQ
    Mar 30, 2020
    10
    This is one of the best of his albums so far. When I listen to this I see.. this is my man. I only discovered it in 2020 for myself. Euphonious
  5. RafikiPablo
    Apr 17, 2017
    8
    Kid Cudi - Passion, Pain & Demon Slayin (2016)
    8.5 / 10
    Kid Cudi takes listeners on a baptizing journey of self discovery and recovery.    Kid Cudi - Passion, Pain & Demon Slayin (2016)
    8.5 / 10

    Kid Cudi takes listeners on a baptizing journey of self discovery and recovery. The only problem with this project, preventing it from being a true masterpiece, is that it's too long, and contains a couple useless sleepy tracks that need to be removed from the album.    … Expand
  6. ignacyklimont
    Jan 4, 2017
    8
    This album is not only a triumphant return. It is a great comeback to Kid Cudi's roots, that made him one of the bestThis album is not only a triumphant return. It is a great comeback to Kid Cudi's roots, that made him one of the best moaning-depressing-chilling rappers in the game ever. PP&DS won't be a classic, but it is a great album that the world needed: statement that Cudder is back. The album is definitely too long: few songs are too long, and few could be dropped of record. Creating 7-minute version of Surfin' seems also pointless. Nevertheless, the rest is just good or great. Tracks like Frequency and By Design are easily one of the 50,100 best rap tracks of the year. The production, climate, melody, Cudi's voice. Everything is on point in those. The collaborations with Willow Smith and Travis are also standouts, especially this second. Though "Through the late night" seemed to be a perfect dark-deep night rap track, Baptized in fire is on the same level. The album gets strong 8 from me and I hope next would be on even better level.… Expand
  7. thegoat2486
    Jul 30, 2019
    8
    This album has really grown on me over the years and i will definitely say that it is Underrated
  8. Creamtoast
    Oct 11, 2017
    2
    Two songs! Out of all of the songs in this bloody album, only two were "OK" (By Design / Rose Golden).
    This album was supposed to be about    Two songs! Out of all of the songs in this bloody album, only two were "OK" (By Design / Rose Golden).
    This album was supposed to be about Scott finding himself, exploring new sounds etc.
    Well... it sucks! Auto-Tune up to MAX and everything sounds bland and the same...
    CUDI, groove back to your old sounds before it's too late.
    Also, the critic reviews for this album are really wrong, he isn't at this best, he's at this worst it's quality not quantity that matters.
    So sad to see one of my favourite artists make this much crap but it is what it is I suppose.    … Expand

See all 22 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

49
#49 Most Discussed Album of 2016
90
#90 Most Shared Album of 2016

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