The Cud Life Tour, Kid Cudi’s national tour in support of his latest album, Indicud, stops at the Alliant Energy Center tomorrow night. It will include Kid Cudi (who can be heard on Big Sean’s recently released Hall of Fame), Tyler, the Creator (who released his sophomore album Wolf in April), and Logic, a member of XXL Mag’s 2013 Freshman Class.
Tyler, the Creator; Logic
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Alliant Energy Center Exhibition Hall
7:30 PM; $35/$40
Though Cudi’s never duplicated the success of his ubiquitous “Day ‘N Nite,” the monstrous crossover hit that prefaced his first album, the Lonely Stoner made waves waves earlier in the summer when he announced his departure from mentor Kanye West’s GOOD Music label, citing creative differences.
If the tour and Indicud are any indication, Cudi is still living the good life or at least an entertaining one. He now has a space suit, which should be on full display at the Alliant Energy Center, and tried his hand at production on his most recent album, churning out the lead single “Just What I Am,” a defiant middle finger of a banger that features frequent collaborator King Chip (formerly Chip tha Ripper, who is also apparently starting fresh). Indicud also features this guy, which makes Too $hort (who can be heard on “Girls”) the second oldest musician on the rap album, a rare exception to the rule for the 47-year-old Bay Area veteran.
Meanwhile, expect thrashing and gnashing from Odd Future’s captain. Watch out for flying elbows and stage dives, the hallmarks of Tyler’s excellent and kinetic stage presence.
Philosophically, Thursday’s two leading acts make an interesting combo. Both claim to be outsiders and have made careers out of articulating their discomforts and anxieties musically over disjointed beats and emotional lyrics. We don’t know why Cudi left GOOD Music, but it is safe to say that with this move the Cleveland rapper’s venture into his own territory is a step away from hip-hop’s vanguard and one of its premier musical posses.
On the other hand, Tyler’s brand of left-field appeal has never been more popular. Call it the Vice Effect; as the counterculture media company’s mind-boggling $1.4 billion valuation this summer reveals, there’s money to be made in strenuously cultivating an anti-mainstream image. To be fair to Tyler and Odd Future, maybe Vice was late to the party: Odd Future has its own clothing line, television show, and branding agency.
None of this has any bearing on what is sure to be an exciting concert. But it’s food for thought while watching the two antiheroes playing the game with different playbooks.