MOVIE/MUSIC REVIEW: KID CUDI - ENTERGALACTIC

 

Album: 4/5

TV Special: 3.5/5

Raging Love.

92 Mins. Starring: Scott Mescudi, Jessica Williams, Laura Harrier, Tyrone Griffin Jr. & Timothee Chalamet. Created By: Scott Mescudi, Kenya Barris & Ian Edelman. 

If you believe, the 'Man On The Moon' is back, then put on. Not even a full year after December's 'The Chosen' conclusion to his trilogy. Mr. Rager rages on despite the hate given to him over a damn skirt and friendship by former friend and frequent flying collaborator, Kanye West. And let's say this, before we make this all about 'Ye. From '808 and Heartbreaks', to the drying of Pusha T's latest album, the instrumental, melodic voice of Kid Cudi has always moved more than mere units for Mr. West. WAKE UP! What you're doing right now is worse than when Drake mocked his mental health. And just like October's Very Own, you're not free from your own controversy. Scott Mescudi has none. 

Shaking it off swiftly, like Taylor. And burning the midnight oil on new passion projects that keep it moving, Kid Cudi has a new TV special movie for monster streaming service Netflix and an actual album to go with it too. More than the soundtrack to his life. Scoring big as this epic animation soars above the clouds, out of this world to a whole new and higher solar, solo system. Going 'Entergalactic' like a spin on the Beastie Boys, this is Scott's great personal love story, like Donald Glover heading out to Amazon's 'Guava Island' with Rihanna. The head-trip, fever dream animation will remind you of the groundbreaking 'Into The Spider-Verse' for miles, as Cudi's character races around the streets on the 'Premium Rush' of a bicycle like Joseph Gordon-Levitt's pre-Uber Eats bike messenger. The spokes of this acting as a love letter to New York City like 'Two Distant Strangers'. 

See this, brother. Although this animation accompanied by his eight wonder of a studio album and the engrossing 'Entergalactic Theme' is not for kids. Swimming in adult themes from the haze of drugs, to getting down and dirty in the laundry. Originally meant to be a series like long-running anime, this special released on late great fashion designer Virgil Abloh's (who inspired this cartoon's costumes) birthday and dedicated to his memory. All the way to an Easter Egg mural.

Mescudi voices Jabari, a street-artist with a familiar tag (Mr. Rager voiced by the great Keith David, who gave us another classic cameo this summer in Jordan Peele's 'Nope') that is about to be turned into a comic-book hero. But this story is a romance novel, not a superhero one, although the special-effects will awe-inspire your wildest dreams. Just like the who's, who of the vocal cast. Jessica Williams, Laura Harrier, Vanessa Hudgens, Jaden Smith, Macaulay Culkin (slaps cheeks...no, not those). And of course Timothee Chalamet in a lead role alongside fellow friend Tyrone Griffin Jr. AKA Ty Dolla $ign. Who alao provides brilliant backing on two key, sound tracks. 'Willing To Trust' and the montage moments of the standout 'Can't Shake Her'. 

2 Chainz ('Can't Believe It') also scores an album appearance, as does the hook of Don Toliver on 'Somewhere To Fly'. And just wait until you hear the Steve Aoki 'Burrow' with Dot Da Genius and the Don. Yet for all this 'New Mode', 'Livin' My Truth', it's 'Angel' with its halo that blesses the movie with its music moment and Scott Mescudi with his next most successful single as the Kid. 'Ignite The Love', 'In Love' and 'She Lookin' For Me' keep the heart beating over the 808s. And 'My Drug' (not mine, the music). 'Maybe So'? Definitely maybe in this outstanding oasis of music and movies and visual and aural amazement. On the explicit, emancipating break-up song 'Do What I Want', Kid Mescudi affirms, "More rage, more rage, black Porsche in the rain/Someone stop me, b####, get off me, man, my life ain't the same/Natural killer, born and suddenly feelin' in pain/Now it's like I'm on my Sepeher and I'm feelin' them games/Been through hell and back, made it, it's a wrap/Can't keep a n#### down, down, baby, that's a fact." Anyone that disagree better do like this special's half-baked catchphrase and "STAY OFF THE WEEEEED!" Cudi is smoking. Enter this galactic. You won't regret it. Flying yourself to the moon like Sinatra on a Hendrix purple haze. TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

Playlist Picks: 'Entergalactic Theme', 'Angel', 'Can't Shake Her (Feat. Ty Dolla $ign)'.

Further Filming: 'Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse', 'Two Distant Strangers', 'Guava Island'.