[originally posted Apr. 2009]
I mean, I don’t know bout y’all bbbut after the first dish that KiD CuDi served up (A Kid Name CuDi), I couldn’t wait for the second course. Well the time has finally come for all those who already have CuDi’s first in constant rotation. Less than a year after putting the “A Kid Name CuDi” mixtape on the menu, CuDi adds yet another, coming up completely reloaded with “Dat Kid From Cleveland.” I honestly wasn’t sure if he would be capable of cutting such a stellar second tape, considering the shadow that “A Kid Name…” casts. His work was so unbelievably polish on the first that I wasn’t sure if his talent could soar any higher but I will go ahead and say one thing… KiD CuDi, I should have never doubted you. Just by checking out the featurings I knew it had to be as good as “A Kid Name…,” which I definitely would not complain about. As soon as I started flipping through the tracks, I knew I struck gold. The first tune hypnotizes you with somewhat monotone vocals and this repetitive backbeat, almost setting the stage for his transition from mixtape to mixtape (this is complimented perfectly by the lyrics, “As he transforms to a whole nother being….”) The second song, “I Poke Her Face” is a classic and classy [sarcasm…] little ditty, boasting heavy hitters Mr. Kanye West himself and the un-common Common. Taking that base and adding CuDi with a dash of Lady Ga Ga produces this freshness about boys being boys. CuDi thankfully teams up yet again with Wale [track 5] and Clip Tha Ripper [track 20]. Both are welcomed guests on any track and they definitely demonstrate their worth as creditable sidekicks. Following the first section of the tape are tunes that are beyond any rappers on the radio today. CuDi’s musical prowess and pure talent effortlessly take flight, whipping up bass bumping beats like “Rollin’ (Remix) ft. Jackie Chain” and “Can I Be.” Both hotfire in their own right but I’m ganna go ahead and crown my #1 – “She Came Along,” which kicks it old old old school, like way before old school was even a thought. “She Came Along” samples the great Patsy Cline’s “Strange,” adding this whole other untouched dynamic with some haunting old Western guitar rifts drifting around in the shadows. Cline’s peerless voice provides a wonderful smoothness to CuDi’s relatively unpolished vocals [which feature Sharam from time to time] and just produces this multi-faceted tune that bumps with quirkiness. All in all, the whole tape is the perfect follow up to “A Kid Name…,” providing the same great CuDi quality but with innovation and definite freshness.
