Summary of "KIDS SEE GHOSTS - Self-Titled ALBUM REVIEW"

In this energetic and detailed review, Anthony Fantano dives into Kids See Ghosts, the self-titled collaborative album by Kanye West and Kid Cudi. After a busy summer of Kanye-related releases—including Pusha T’s Daytona and Kanye’s own Ye—Fantano approached this project with some skepticism due to Kid Cudi’s recent inconsistent solo work and the duo’s reportedly rocky friendship. However, he was blown away by the album’s creativity, emotional depth, and production quality.

The album is a tight, 23-minute, 7-track experience that feels longer and more complete than its runtime suggests. Unlike Kanye’s earlier 2018 projects, Kids See Ghosts is a meticulously crafted, experimental hip-hop opus that fuses elements of hip hop, rock, grunge, neo-psychedelia, and even hints of Flaming Lips and Madlib. The duo’s contrasting emotional states—Kanye’s manic energy and Cudi’s melancholic tone—meld into a powerful artistic synergy, creating a “Voltron” of their shared struggles with mental health and ego.

Fantano highlights several standout tracks:

“Feel the Love” (feat. Pusha T): Opens with haunting synths and distorted vocals from Cudi, before Kanye bursts in with wild, gunshot-like snares and shifting musical transitions that pack a lot into a short track.
“Fire”: A low-key, psychedelic, guitar-driven dirge with nostalgic vibes reminiscent of 2000s Kanye, serving as a dark counterpoint to the opener.
“4th Dimension”: The most classic Kanye moment, featuring a genius beat and an explicit, humorous verse about sex as a psychedelic experience. Cudi’s cold-blooded bars complement Kanye perfectly, showcasing their mutual respect and creative chemistry.
“Free”: A hard rock-rap fusion and one of Fantano’s favorites, this track builds on themes of existential freedom with intense guitar samples and powerful vocal harmonies from Ty Dolla $ign. It’s described as a spiritual successor to “Ghost Town” and a redemption for Kid Cudi’s previous rock experiment WZRD.
“Reborn”: A calmer, reflective track about renewal and moving forward, featuring haunting piano and vocals that question whether rebirth means avoiding past mistakes.
“Kids See Ghosts” (title track): The album’s meditative closer, featuring Mos Def (Yasiin Bey) and a chilling Kurt Cobain sample. Kanye delivers one of his most conscious verses in years, pleading for salvation and reflecting cycles of violence, while Cudi’s ethereal harmonies close the album on a supernatural, psychedelic note.

Fantano praises the album’s cohesiveness, emotional honesty, and boundary-pushing sound, calling it mind-blowing and forward-thinking. He rates it a strong 9 out of 10, feeling it stands as a vital artistic statement connected to Kanye’s Ye but distinct in its experimental and emotional scope.

Throughout the review, Fantano’s humor and enthusiasm shine—joking about Kanye’s manic energy, Kid Cudi’s vocal moans, and his own surprise at how much he enjoyed the album despite initial doubts. His vivid descriptions paint the album as a cosmic, reality-bending experience that’s both violent and beautiful.