Richie’s Review: Baptized in Fire (Track Review)

Kid Cudi has been a huge part of this generation’s hip-hop scene ever since the release of “Day ‘n’ Nite” and his breakout album Man on the Moon: “The End of Day”. Ever since then, Cudi has released four other studio albums with another one about to release this month. Travis Scott is a new and upcoming rapper who has been making hits after hits from “Mamacita” off his “Days Before Rodeo” tape, until now releasing the album “Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight” this last September. With Travis Scott openly saying he is heavily influenced by Kid Cudi, the two have recently been collaborating on each other’s projects. With Cudi appearing on Scott’s “Through the Late Night,” and now Scott appearing on Cudi’s “Baptized in Fire.”

The track starts off with haunting hollow synths, as if it were sampled by a vintage space soundtrack. Then, the crisp bass and the abrupt alternating snare kick in, completing and unifying the beat for a platform of creativity. Kid Cudi slides in with his verse, his voice sounds subtle with a slight echo and attitude, the flow is choppy yet manages to still sound smooth. Once the end of his verse finishes, Travis Scott’s grimy voice is initiated on the hook. This is where Scott, again, shows his talents by flowing so effortlessly and transitioning into vocals in matter of seconds. The spacey and interstellar mood these two create is relentless, they seemed to get how to use and feed off each other’s flair.

I personally was pleased to hear the two artists on another song together, they know how to use their styles compatibility to make something greater than if they were solo. The track is laid back while still delivering that punch it needs to be a repeatable track. This song just makes me excited for Kid Cudi’s upcoming album, and what songs they might have in store for us in the future.