Kid Cudi Gives Us Part III of Man on the Moon
Source: XXL
Kid Cudi’s third installment of his Man on The Moon trilogy has arrived, and it is everything fans could have hoped for. Man on the Moon III: The Chosen delivers the original Cudi sound that fans have always been familiar with, but with a modern trap-type twist. Prior to the release of the album, Cudi sat down with Zane Lowe and spoke about how he felt that in the hip-hop community, he is underrated as a rapper, “But I felt like, in Hip Hop, I’m slept on as a rapper, as a lyricist,” he tells Lowe. Without knowing that tidbit, it is clear that Cudi is out to prove something. The style of the album is quite different from any of its predecessors; it is much faster and incredibly more lyrically enticing.
The album opens with song “Beautiful Trip,” a short but enticing intro to the fast-upbeat album to come. Fans are greeted with the Man on The Moon chime and melodic humming as the intro fades into “Tequila Shots,” a perfectly crafted title track. “Hm, hear me now, hey, this time I’m ready for it / Can’t stop this war in me,” (Mescudi, “Tequila Shots”).
Cudi has struggled with addiction, depression, and all the stresses that come with fame. The emo-rapper has always been a voice for the youth and this album is nothing short of his prior deliverables. He promises us that nothing will stop him in his pursuit of happiness. The album's standout track, “She Knows This,” includes an impressive display of lyricism as well as Cudi flexing his rap speed capabilities. The accelerated second half is a clear insinuation of Cudi’s long-time friend, Travis Scott, the rager himself.
Source: Pitchfork
Sampling is more relevant on this album than any of his previous albums—samples from various films and music are scattered all throughout the album, giving listeners insight on what Cudi values in pop-culture. Scott Pilgrim, JAY-Z, River Phoenix, Travis Scott, and Raquel Deriane—this eclectic grouping of artists and characters is exactly who Cudi is. The album's weakest track is titled “Show Out,” which is a Mike Dean influenced song featuring Pop Smoke and Skepta. The song appears to be a ploy to gain listeners due to the posthumous feature of Pop Smoke. It feels rushed and lazy, with a gitty 808 beat all with the improperly-placed British style that Skepta brings to the track. “Sad People” is another standout track as it ties together the stoner sounds of the future with heavily relatable writing laid over the beat.
The album's heavy use of repetitive-catchy choruses appears to be an attempt at a more commercialized sound. This works for Cudi as it's still very authentic. On “The Void,” Cudi raps about never truly being alone and knowing what it's like to feel like nothing. The song ends with him going on about, “trying to be the best man I can be,” something all listeners could strive towards. Cudi has this way of giving people hope, and that's exactly what this album is—it’s hope in a time of loss and confusion. There is a very prominent theme of finding love and that process having no real time boundary.
Cudi has been a figurehead for a generation of listeners. He gives us this presence that makes him so relatable and so seemingly understanding. His music has always been transparent for listeners, giving us a sense of feeling like we know who Scott Mescudi is. This album is nothing short of greatness; love ballads, race-like tracks, and catchy hooks are what make the album excellent. Cudi's destructive alter-ego, “The Rager,” was nowhere to be found. For me, this really puts a smile on my face; The Rager was an example of how someone can be going through the worst, but still be glorified—with this project, there was no glorification in the negatives. Rather, there was only reassurance and love.
The Rager has become the Chosen One, and we can only be happy to see Cudi finally in a happy and tranquil place. The album ends with song “Lord I Know,” a strong Tron sampling final piece to the project. The song ends with a beautiful electric outro and a chilling “to be continued” coming from his daughter Vada. Fans can only guess that there is either a second part coming, or that the Man on the Moon collection was never a trilogy—regardless, it has fans excitedly guessing. With the production help of FINNEAS, Mike Dean, and Travis Scott, this album is exactly what the people wanted and then some. It's an album that will absolutely stand the test of time and will continue to inspire the younger generation who discovered Cudi from this third installment.