Kid Cudi's new legend, 'Man on the Moon 2'

Kid Cudi has fallen in love with the night. While the Brooklyn-based rapper's debut featured the lighthearted "Make Her Say" and the playful breakthrough "Day 'n' Nite," his follow-up is all dark. "Man on the Moon 2: The Legend of Mr. Rager" (Universal Motown) somehow even makes Mary J. Blige sound bleak. Only on the rockish single "Erase Me," featuring Kanye West, and the driving "Maniac," with St. Vincent, does Kid break out of the synthesized melancholy haze. "The Legend of Mr. Rager" could use a lot more rage.

Kid Cudi

Man on the Moon 2: The Legend of Mr. Rager

THE GRADE B-

BOTTOM LINE Dark, ambitious hip-hop