The first album since his 2015 indie rock sojourn finds Kid Cudi back behind the microphone. He communes with the drum, modulating his voice in eerie and commanding tones, savoring each syllable. Willow Smith, Pharrell Williams, Travis Scott, and André 3000 (billed as André Benjamin here) pick up valuable assists, with Three Stacks reasserting his status as a feature king, electrifying his bars on “By Design” and “The Guide.” Passion, Pain & Demon Slayin’ is a cleansing journey—Cudi acknowledging the past while keeping an eye on the future.