"Make Her Say" (CD single) (by Kid Cudi, Rap)

Breakout rap star Kid Cudi's second single, MAKE HER SAY, features guest performances by mega-famous rappers Kanye West and Common. The song is a stark reversal from Cudi's debut track, "Day N Nite," in which the artist gave a refreshingly honest chronicle of his battles with depression. In this follow-up single, Cudi copies the tired formula of women/partying/riches that's employed by so many other unoriginal rappers today. As a result, the song seems like just another entry in the long list of rap tracks about trying to accumulate as many gratuitous sexual experiences and material goods as you can. Though the clean version bleeps out the egregious swearing, all the references to sex, etc., remain.

It's a shame this song's lyrics are so vapid, because the music is appealing. The track sets a sample of Lady GaGa's "Poker Face" against a mellow beat and cool scratching, making for a unique, contagious flow. Though Cudi, Kanye, and Common have different styles, each are proficient rappers in their own right, so putting their performances back-to-back here results in an interesting rather than jarring sound.

Released on: June 9, 2009
Label: Universal
Genre: Rap
Parental advisory: Yes
Edited version available: Yes