Kid Cudi unveiled his debut collaboration with producer, Dot Da Genius, "WZRD," at a NYC listening party. It was evident he had a few things to get off his chest.
"I'll root for anybody that steps out of their comfort zone to do something different," the G.O.O.D. Music artist admitted to an intimate crowd at NYC's artsy W.I.P. club.
His new album is built on heavy riffage, dark, schizophrenic production, and Cudi's signature soul searching. The rock influences on this project are also more pronounced than Cudi's former.
"One thing I love about Pink Floyd," Cudi said, "is how the instrumentals take you to a whole other place." The artist/actor also mentioned that the Pixies, Nirvana, and Electric Light Orchestra were heavy influences on the album's soundscapes. At a time when many indie rock/alternative musicians are dabbling in hip-hop, majority of "WZRD" could pass for Cudi fronting Sleigh Bells, filtered through the urban rock aesthetic of The Neptunes.
For an artist known for his inner demons, portrayed lyrically in his storytelling, the guitar has had a calming effect on the 28 yr. old Cleveland native. "I woke up one morning and realized I love playing the guitar; it's therapeutic for me. So I called Dot Da Genius and said I wanted to make a rock band."
"WZRD" isn't a total departure from Cudi's past. The album favors programmed drums to maintain a self-described "hip-hop feel," and much of the record's personality should be familiar to Cudi fans: "It's not that different; the message and subject matter are still the same."
