Coming soon.

Not a very original idea (Brandon has done it, so has Breihan - RIP S.A.H.), but no tape has had me this excited in a long time. Gucci’s recent run has been impressive, and there’s plenty to listen/enjoy, but this trumps it. Planning on breaking down each song; hoping to find the right words to accurately pinpoint my enthusiasm. It won’t be easy.

If you can watch the above interview and still give a fuck but the end of it, congratulations. You’re better than me.

Kid Cudi’s answer (to such a loaded question - “What don’t you like about hip-hop right now?) isn’t surprising. In fact, it’s typical of the Cleveland MC — bloated, trying too hard and boring. Taking shots at “ringtone rappers.” (Which is dated in itself — Soulja Boy isn’t Mr. “Crank Dat” anymore. Plus, I’m sure there’s people buying Cudi’s “Make Her Say” for their cells.) Name-dropping Band of Horses (“I SAMPLED THEM ON MY MIX TAPE!!!”). Reaffirming that he is one of the few rappers “saying something,” whatever the hell that means (even going so far to say he’s Top 5 “saying something”). It’s sickening.

No other “Freshman” rapper irks me as much as Cudi. Every interview is a blaring reminder of his struggle, his greatness, his importance. He’s called his lone hit (and best song) “Day ‘N’ Nite” a classic. Regarding his forthcoming album, he told Prefix: “Everybody is going to be blown away. Quote me: This will be the most magnificent album that people will hear for some time. The amount of creativeness and storyline, the vibe and intensity: People aren’t going to be ready.” I understand being proud is a part of the game, but I can’t get behind Cudi’s arrogance and entitlement. “Day ‘N’ Nite” is great, but it’s only made him a one-hit wonder (IN THE BLOG WORLD!). “Getting a head of himself” is an understatement when it comes to dude. And it doesn’t make me want to listen to his music.

(Also, RE: “Make Her Say”: While it is gaining steam, the sunny song (about facefucking, by the way) might as well be a Kanye song since A) his production is the best part and B) Cudi’s verse is forgettable.)

The mix tape that garnered Cudi his praise, A Kid Named Cudi, is overrated and rarely (if ever) gets spins in my iTunes. It’s a lot of grandstanding about being “different,” which is just as big of a hip-hop cliche as saying you have “swag.” Journalism and storytelling 101: Show, don’t tell. I listened to the tape a bunch of times when it first dropped, but now the only songs I come back to are “Day ‘N’ Nite” and the lonely “Man On the Moon.” I’m still perplexed why it has so many supporters.

If this rant seems all over the place, I apologize. It just seems that every interview I hear/see with this guy was seemingly meant to turn me off. And the worst part? Cudi’s album, Man On the Moon: The End of Day (horrible title, by the way … Did Michael Bay executive produce?), will be OK, but could very likely choke on its own attempts of “saying something” important. I mean, fuck, man, he has Common narrating the damn thing. Talk about things I don’t want to hear.

If there’s one thing I’m trying to say with this, it’s this: Cudi needs to shut up. Fall back on the self-aggrandizing interviews, the talks of retirement (ANOTHER CLICHE), and anything else that spews from his mouth. When (if) his album drops, I’ll give it a fair spin. But it’s not something I’m looking forward to or rooting for.