There comes a time in every rapper's career when he craves trying something new. Some truly believe in their voices and turn into R&B singers like Drake, others team up with a friend and produce a collaboration record like Jay-Z and Kanye West, and there are the very few who ditch rap all together and try something completely unheard of.

WZRD is the name of an alternative rock duo consisting of rapper Kid Cudi and Producer Dot da Genius, who just released their first self-titled album together. The two have worked on countless projects before, such as the hit song "Day 'n' Nite."

Kid Cudi isn't the first rapper to branch out into unconventional boundaries. West took a step back from rap and showcased his singing talent (or lack thereof) in 808s & Heartbreak in 2008, and Lil' Wayne experimented with a rock album of his own, Rebirth, back in 2010. All have been somewhat controversially good albums, so it was interesting to see if Cudi could pull this one off. There are only two ways this could go: the 11 tracks featured could either be a complete masterpiece or an absolute dud. There was no middle ground.

"Love Hard" is an interesting mix of sound, where most of the song features background guitar and cymbals, and the last two minutes have a dance, almost techno feel to them. The lyrics aren't that great and, like most of the songs on the album, fail to even rhyme. The beat is what saves this track from being almost unlistenable.

"Where Did You Sleep Last Night?" is a cover of Nirvana's song of the same title. This is the clear-cut best song on the album, albeit because the original is by Nirvana. Dot da Genius doesn't deviate from the natural folk-like melody of the song, and he accentuates it with 808 drums, which sound really good. Cudi actually does a good job singing this one, although the lyrics aren't his.

"Efflictim" is four minutes and 27 seconds of boredom. The song features the exact same guitar riff over and over again with intermittent piano. Cudi depreciates the track even more with lyrics that are not only terribly poor, but continue the album trend of not even rhyming. His singing is the nail in the coffin.

Rock is a platform that most rappers tend to stay away from, and for good reason. WZRD is a record that most will be hard-pressed to enjoy, as either a rock or a hip-hop fan. Kid Cudi is already unique enough as a rapper, and he should get back to what he does best. If you are a Cudi enthusiast who is a fan of his rap, tread carefully with this one.

Rating: 2 out of 5