Following the release of Kanye West’s solo project, Ye, the collaboration album between West and Kid Cudi released. The album itself had been highly anticipated. For a number of years since Cudi’s signing on to G.O.O.D. Music., the music world waited in anticipation. A couple of tweeted/ instagrammed studio sessions might have fanned the flame of desire.

There was some in-house turmoil that may have caused the album delay. Cudi left the G.O.O.D. Music label to explore his own ventures. When he did leave there was no knowledge of bad blood between Cudi and West, but friction did arise when artists were being exposed for using ghostwriters. Cudi tweeted a couple of things about not being cared about despite being loyal. Kanye subsequently tweeted something along the lines of birthing Cudi. These statements were never retracted but they were apologized for after Cudi checked into a rehabilitation center citing battles with depression. West himself battled with his own mental demons during and after the period when the pair had fallen out. 

Since their dispute, the pair collaborated on a few songs placed on their own respective projects and provided a few performances together. It wasn’t until tweets from Kanye revealing that the album Kids See Ghosts would release in June 2018 could listeners finally expect a full project between the two creatives.

The album opens to Kid Cudi’s voice expressing that he “can still feel the love.” Pusha T provides the only verse of the song. In it he discusses being above the term “rapper” because he actually raps about what he knows. Pusha’s verse is an introduction to the gunshot sound effects Kanye rains down. While Cudi, continues to “feel the love.” It’s a juxtaposing image of love and violence that opens the album.  

The album transitions to “Fire.” The title of the song can be used as a metaphor to discuss the subject matter of the song; hate. Both Cudi and West rap about their failures. With failure, the public and the people showed distain. In addition, they felt as though the people closest to them expressed the same feeling. It could even be alluded that the pair had shown a dislike for each other. In their own way, they chose to embrace it as can be heard when Kanye says, “… love all your shit talkin’.” Kanye was back to owning himself after struggling with his mental health and paranoia. Cudi only seeks forgiveness and acceptance after his scarred journey. Individually and almost simultaneously, they walked through a “fire.”

The duo rolls out the theme song in “4th Dimension.” The song quickly covers a variety of subjects such as sex, money, being a boss, depression, and power. The speed in which the subjects are rolled out can be compared to the fast paced lifestyle of the music elite. The phrase “fast money, fast car, fast women” comes to mind. Life moves so fast for a celebrity that, as Kanye said, “If I get locked up, I won’t finish the sent—.” The quickness is all involved in the dream chase and leaves no time for anything else. As Cudi rapped, “drama: we let it go.” There is no time to spend on anything else besides being creative.  

“Freeee (Ghost Town, Pt. 2)” is an addition to “Ghost Town” released on Kanye West’s solo album, Ye. The song on Ye features a variety of vocals on it including Cudi’s. In the original song, Kanye discusses the idea of feeling numb. The sequel hones in on the need to “feel.” Ty Dolla $ign joins the duo by grounding the idea of feeling the need to be loved. He sings, “Hold up, let ‘em politic, ooh/ One day they hate you/ Next day they love you/ I’m still yellin’ ‘fuck you’/ I could never trust—.” The message is clear that the two creatives have found themselves because they “don’t feel pain anymore.” There’s no need to feel strangled by the criticism they have faced. They can focus on creating and being “freeee.”

If “Freeee (Ghost Town, Pt. 2)” is the theme song for the combo of Kanye and Cudi, then it is “Reborn” that is birthed from that newfound freedom. Not to play on the song titles but if each artist was questioning “love” they were garnishing, then walked through the “fire” of criticism, just to find themselves in the “4th dimension” (wherever that is), where they found what it means to be “freeee,” and finally, find the ability to be “reborn.” This is masterful album cohesion. There’s no doubt that that was the goal of this album. The song “Reborn” is acknowledgment in its purest form. For Kanye, it’s acknowledging the things that had him on edge during his ramped up stages. For Kid Cudi, it’s acknowledging that drugs are a coping mechanism. The song is one of vulnerability and acceptance, and Kid Cudi’s voice on the hook makes it impossible to only half listen.

The album crescendos into the mood of the album with the titular song “Kids See Ghosts.” The mood, the music, and the tone of the artists shift.  The music shifts from angry and pensive to dramatic. If there were a sound to a scheme or a plot, it would be this. Yasiin Bey opens the song with the repetition of the song’s name and album title. The “ghosts” could be the past in which Cudi and West have overcome. Each of them discuss their personal battles; Cudi with addiction and depression, Kanye with the media, fame, and mental health. The agreement within themselves has been no more “runnin’” and continue “vibin’ on the future.”

The album concludes with “Cudi Montage” and moves towards what the artists have done with their newfound freedom. Cudi mentions his newly built relationship with his faith and the strength it has provided him. While, Kanye moves away from self-centered discussion to a topic that affects black and brown communities: violence.

The album as a whole is easy to follow. It is very linear. There’s a tale of struggle and introspection, turned to rebirth and acceptance, and finalized with an agenda and a worldly outlook.

Kids See Ghosts is an album carried by the music within it instead of with the lyrics imbedded in the music. The listener can follow the darkness as it morphs from enemy to friend in the album. The lyrics themselves are implanted for guidance, which makes them important. But without the music, there is a loss of emotion.

The album is like a kid trying to explain something they don’t know the words for. They can only feel what they feel.