The year after
Kid Cudi
released
INSANO
and its sibling,
INSANO (NITRO MEGA)
, two albums that were essentially par for the course by the rapper's standards, he made one of his occasional pivots away from hip-hop with 2025's
Free
. Not quite as dreamy or psychedelic as
WZRD
and definitely not as raw and rugged as
Speedin' Bullet 2 Heaven
,
is self-described by the artist as a pop album. The ominous, cinematic instrumental "Echoes of the Present" sets the tone, then songs like "Neverland" and "Truman Show" mix new wave-inspired synths and driving guitars with urgent vocal hooks. It's some of
Cudi
's most accessible material, suggesting that he's found a middle ground for the direction of his non-rap work. ~ TiVo Staff