WZRD, rapper-singer Kid Cudi's rock-inspired collaboration with producer Dot da Genius, sounds a lot like the bedroom recordings of the "lonely stoner" from Cudi's 2009 hit, "Day 'N' Nite." Whether he's witlessly observing that "most people are pussies" or literally mumbling his lyrics, he hardly seems to care that someone might overhear him. A potentially punky moment, the "blah blah blah" blurt that kicks off "Love Hard," seems a statement of purpose. Meanwhile, the rudimentary guitar, starchy beats and formless synths just sound rough, never fun or spontaneous. And the cover of Lead Belly's "Where Did You Sleep Last Night?" – all it proves is that at least one half of this duo has heard Nirvana's Unplugged in New York.

Listen to WZRD's "Brake":

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• Photos: Random Notes

“Too Close”

Next was formed in Minneapolis when the uncle of Terry "T-Low" and Raphael "Tweety" Brown, who was a gospel choir director, introduced the brothers to Robert Lavelle "R.L." Huggar. Sounds of Blackness singer Ann Nesby groomed the R&B group before handing them over to Naughty by Nature's KayGee, who wrote and produced "Too Close." The idea for the song was sparked "from a conversation we had with several girls at a nightclub," explained T-Low. "It's talking about the club scene, with guys getting out of hand and the female telling him to back up, asking, 'What are you doing?'"