Indicud
Indicud (stylized in all lowercase) is the third studio album by American rapper Kid Cudi. It was released on April 16, 2013, by GOOD Music, Wicked Awesome Records, and Republic Records. It was the first album of Cudi's solo career to not be an installment of his Man on the Moon series. The album's cover artwork was designed by Kid Cudi himself, who also served as an executive producer of Indicud. It was Cudi's goal to make more uptempo and positive music with the album. He described it as a completely new format compared to his previous albums.
Indicud
April 16, 2013
2012–2013
- Glenwood Studios (Burbank, California)
- Encore Studios (Burbank, California)
- Westlake Sound (West Hollywood, California)
- Chalice Studios (Los Angeles, California)
70:44
- Scott Mescudi (also exec.)
- Dennis Cummings (exec.)
- Hit-Boy
The album's record production was handled entirely by Cudi as well, with only record producer Hit-Boy co-producing one track, while Cudi's WZRD bandmate Dot da Genius, provided drums on two. The album features guest appearances from King Chip, Kendrick Lamar, Too Short, RZA, ASAP Rocky, Father John Misty, Michael Bolton and Haim.
During the early release of Indicud, it was preceded by four singles – "Just What I Am", "King Wizard", "Immortal" and "Girls". Indicud debuted at number two in the United States. With sales of 139,000 copies and debuted at number 32 on the UK Albums Chart, becoming Cudi's highest-charting album on the chart, while entering at number two on the UK R&B Chart. The album received mixed reviews from critics.
Release and promotion[edit]
On October 28, 2012, after previously announcing hopes of releasing the album in late 2012, Cudi changed the estimate release date from late 2012 to early 2013.[8] In late November, Cudi made it known he would be withholding the album's exact release date, until it was certain, to avoid push backs.[31][32] On December 18, 2012, the same day promotional single "King Wizard" was officially released, Cudi revealed the album would be released in March 2013.[33] On February 12, he announced the album's release date to be April 23, 2013.[34] After the album leaked online in its entirety on April 9, 2013, Kid Cudi decided to push the album's release date up to April 16.[35]
In early January, the album was named the ninth most anticipated album of 2013 by Complex and the 14th most anticipated album by XXL.[36][37] In early 2013, Cudi covered Complex's February/March 2013 issue.[24] In January 2013, Cudi took to Twitter to express his frustrations with record label, Universal Republic, not supporting and promoting his music. After providing facts about singles "Just What I Am" and "King Wizard", defending their strong online presence and lamenting about not getting radio play, Cudi tweeted, "if things dont change soon, theres gonna be some problems."[38]
On March 14, 2013 Kid Cudi performed at Myspace's South by Southwest (SXSW) secret show in Austin, Texas and after performing his many hits, he previewed a new verse from Indicud. He also revealed that the album would feature 18 tracks, while officially confirming ASAP Rocky and Michael Bolton as featured guests.[39] On March 16, Cudi announced that he would release the album's track list and cover art on April 2.[40] Three days later, Kid Cudi announced via Twitter that the album had officially been completed and turned in to his label, Universal Republic.[41] On March 26, the album's cover art and track list was unveiled by Walmart and later Complex.[42] After the album cover's unveiling, Cudi took to Twitter to explain his decision for the artwork: "The album art represents me. A ball of flames in a rose gold frame."[43] The cover's art direction was handled by Cudi himself. In December 2013, it would be named the sixteenth best album cover of 2013 by Complex.[44] Later that day, Cudi appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and performed the album's lead singles; "Just What I Am" and "Immortal", as well as premiering "Mad Solar", which he performed a cappella.[45][46]
During late 2013, Kid Cudi toured in support of Indicud on The Cud Life Tour 2013. The tour was announced on July 15, with tickets going on sale the following day. Supporting acts on the tour include Big Sean, Tyler, The Creator and Logic.[47] The tour took place in the United States beginning on August 22 and ran through October 18, 2013.[48]
Singles[edit]
On August 12, 2012 Kid Cudi released the lead single from Indicud, a song titled "Just What I Am", featuring his longtime collaborator and friend, rapper King Chip.[49] On October 2, 2012, "Just What I Am", was released to iTunes as the first single from the album.[50] The single's music video, which marked Cudi's directorial debut, was released November 6, 2012, via Kid Cudi's Vevo.[51] The song has since peaked at number 74 on the US Billboard Hot 100.[52]
On September 29, 2012, Cudi released a podcast where he previewed "King Wizard", a new song he was "very excited about".[53] On October 3, 2012, one day after "Just What I Am", the album's lead single was officially released via iTunes, Cudi liberated "King Wizard" as the second offering from Indicud via SoundCloud.[54][55] Cudi who also produced the track, had teamed up with Samsung Mobile to release the clean version of the newly mastered "King Wizard" as a free download. The download was available by heading to Samsung Mobile USA's Facebook page under the "music" tab. The explicit version and the music video were officially released via iTunes, on December 18, 2012 as the album's second single.[56][57]
On October 29, Cudi announced he would be releasing the album's second official single at the end of November.[58] On November 7, he revealed the upcoming single's title to be "Immortal", and that it again was produced by himself like the two previous releases, "Just What I Am" and "King Wizard". He claimed the song "will make you feel amazing in the heart and soul."[59] However, on November 30, he revealed "Immortal" would not be released until 2013. "Immortal" would be premiered on March 1, 2013 via SoundCloud.[60] The song was produced by Cudi, with the main sample being a track from one of his favorite bands MGMT's, "Congratulations". He reversed the song, sped it up, and produced over it.[61][62] The song was officially released via iTunes on March 14, 2013 as the album's third single.[63]
On April 2, 2013 Cudi released "Girls" for digital download via the iTunes Store, as the album's fourth single. The song features fellow American rapper Too Short, and was produced by Cudi.[64][65]
Commercial performance[edit]
In its first week of release Indicud debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, selling 139,000 copies in the United States and debuted at number 32 on the UK Albums Chart, becoming Cudi's highest-charting album on the chart, while entering at number 2 on the UK R&B Chart.[83] In its second week the album sold 36,000 more copies.[84] In its third week the album sold 15,000 more copies, bringing its total sales in the United States to 183,000.[85] As of December 19, 2013, the album has sold 260,000 copies in the United States.[86] On February 25, 2019, the album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for combined sales and album-equivalent units of over 500,000 units in the United States.[87]
The album also earned a level of commercial success internationally. In Canada it peaked at number three on the Canadian Albums Chart and peaked at number 32 on the UK Albums Chart.[88][89] It also peaked at number 23 in Australia, number 32 in Denmark and number 33 in New Zealand.[90][91][92] Indicud also charted on the main albums chart in Belgium, France, Germany, Switzerland and Ireland.[93]