Kid Cudi, Man on the Moon III: The Chosen | Album Review 💿

Kid Cudi reminds us why he’s such a beloved, key figure in hip-hop with his fine seventh studio album, Man on the Moon III: The Chosen.

When 🎙 Kid Cudi entered into the hip-hop/rap game, he ended up being quite the pioneer.  How so? Cudi brought what was considered at the time more of an alternative, left-field, melodic approach to rap to the mainstream.  Undoubtedly, his influence has permeated throughout the industry, with so many rappers incorporating melody into their rhymes, not to mention ‘emo’ vibes, and merely ‘going against the grain.’  On his seventh studio album, 💿 Man on the Moon III: The Chosen, Scott Mescudi exhibits us his full arsenal – all of the elements that made him such a key proponent in hip-hop.  No, MOTM III isn’t his very best album in a stacked discography, but I would definitely rank it quite high. 

“Beautiful Trip”

37-second opener 🎵 “Beautiful Trip” definitely sets the tone on Man on the Moon III: The Chosen – a vibe by all means.  Notably, it earns the distinction as the shortest song to debut on the Billboard Hot 100.  Random but very cool.  Brief it may be, “Beautiful Trip” features a full house on the production side of things. Kid Cudi himself, Emile Haynie, Dot Da Genius, Plain Pat, FINNEAS, and Dennis Cummings all handle the boards 🎛!

The full-length ✅ 🎵 “Tequila Shots” follows, featuring more sleek production courtesy of Kid Cudi, Dot Da Genius, Dennis Cummings, and Take A Daytrip. Amazingly, “Tequila Shots” sounds very 2020, while also playing to the strengths of Cudi, whose career began in the late aughts. The centerpiece is the utterly infectious, melodic chorus.  No steam is lost on 🎵 ✅ “Another Day,” where we get more lit, rhythmic, melodic rhymes.  Like “Tequila Shots,” “Another Day” gives us another hooky, #winning chorus.  Yes, it’s definitely a vibe, particularly anytime Cudi hums.

“She Knows This”

Once more, the production bangs like a M-F-er on 🎵 “She Knows This” (🎛 J Gramm, 🎛 FnZ, and Dot Da Genius).  Kid Cudi brings even more punch, evidenced by lines like, “Roll it up (Gang), ooh, talk about dude, I give two fucks (Fuck) / But we know (Ooh), truth, duck all the ho shit, burnin’ the burnt clips.” Adding to the oomph is the acceleration of the tempo on the chorus prior to the second verse.

Kid Cudi follows up with 🎵 “Dive,” which continues the consistency of Man on the Moon III.  Here, he references being baked and drinking – there’s clearly a party vibe.  Also, worth noting, Cudi is more melodic on the first verse and chorus, while the second verse features less pitched bars.  The key is that it all works. “How it goes when you’re a damaged man / This is how it goes when you’re a damaged man.” Yikes! From partying on “Dive,” he is clearly 🎵 “Damaged.”  One of the awesome references he makes comes from 💿 Man on the Moon II, specifically the standout, 🎵 “Wild’n Cuz I’m Young”.

“Heaven on Earth”

🎵 “Heaven on Earth” continues to feature a backdrop that’s totally 🔥 (Cudi, Dennis Cummings, Dot Da Genius, Anthony Kilhoffer, and DST The Danger).  Safe to say, Kid didn’t spare any expense.  Besides the minor-key instrumental, the rapper continues to excel at his craft, serving up an agile flow and his usual brand of colorful, impactful rhymes.

Following his premature death at the age of 20, 🎙 Pop Smoke’s legacy continues to be cemented, albeit posthumously on ✅ 🎵 “Show Out.”  Unsurprisingly, “Show Out” marks one of the best, most memorable moments of Man on the Moon III, led by those deep, masculine pipes of Smoke.  Of course, the man of the hour shines as usual, as does British rap standout, 🎙 Skepta.  Still, it’s that Smoke chorus, as well awesome work behind the boards, that really takes “Show Out” to the next level.

The “Solo Dolo” series have always been personal favorites from Kid Cudi’s past albums.  ✅ 🎵 “Solo Dolo, Pt. III” is no different, earning the distinction among the top tier of songs from Man on the Moon III.  As usual, Cudi is melodic, with a cool distortion effect on his vocals during the verse.  No worries, as we get Kid in all his glory on the chorus, which is lush, moody, and finds him being true to self.  Also, while it might play out like a broken record, the supporting instrumental continues to be utterly beastly – no cap!

“Sad People”

“In the dead of the night, I have these dreams / What’ll happen to me? Will I burn out?” Obviously, the title of the song, 🎵 “Sad People,” says it all about what Kid Cudi is feeling.  Clearly, he’s depressed, something that both the minor-key backdrop and anguished lyrics confirm.  He states on the second verse, “I swim in pain,” but also adds, “Never drown, keep my head up above the waves.” Another perfectly emo lyric: “Scars on my heart, woah.” Follow up 🎵 “Elsie’s Baby Boy (flashback)” marks one of the more left-field, ‘oddities’ of MOTM III.  It’s not uncharacteristic of the rapper mind you, just quite different from the majority of the LP.  Elsie, of course, was the name of Cudi’s mother, which further adds a personal touch to this particular record.

“Life goes by / Search for your love wherever it be.” That’s definitely sound advice. Man on the Moon III seems to keep the personal streak going with 🎵 “Sept. 16.” After speaking about his mom on “Elsie’s Baby Boy (flashback),” he moves on to his relationship.  Clearly, MOTM III has grown more optimistic, as the rapper makes assertions such as, “You’re a star, I worship you,” later adding, “You’re my drug, my dose of truth.”  Keeping things interesting, the five-and-a-half-minute-long ✅ 🎵 “The Void” sports one of the most memorable choruses of the album.  Melodic – just like Cudi likes it – “The Void” is firmly planted in major as opposed to minor.  Here, he’s “Never flown so high,” as he rises above mental health challenges that have plagued over the years. Ultimately, he will “Fall in the void just to avoid / Anything that can bring me down or fuck with my flow.”

“Lovin’ Me”

Ah, the major keys don’t end with “The Void.”  Once more, Kid Cudi is supported by ‘happier’ music on ✅ 🎵 “Lovin’ Me.”  Here, the listener is wooed by his distinct vocals, specifically those signature hums.  Also, amplifying the greatness of “Lovin’ Me” is the featured guest, none other than the Grammy-nominated Canadian standout, 🎙 Phoebe Bridgers.  Perhaps on paper this seems like an unlikely pairing but let’s not forget back in 2010 on Man on the Moon II when Kid was a 🎵 “MANIAC” and collaborated with 🎙 St. Vincent.  Their duet works very well and ultimately “Lovin’ Me” ranks among the crème de la crème of MOTM III.

Once more, the production is a major selling point on 🎵 “The Pale Moonlight.” The backdrop – I – is quite lush.  Furthermore, Cudi returns to a minor key.  Even so, there’s still a brightness about “The Pale Moonlight.” It definitely doesn’t sound pained like some of the cuts.  On 🎵 “Rockstar Knights,” he collaborates with one of his disciples, 🎙 Trippie Redd.  The result is a modern, colorful, melodic rap record.  Is “Rockstar Knights” top tier on MOTM III? That’s debatable, but it does show Cudi’s ability to fit the contemporary brand of hip-hop while also not sacrificing what made him so beloved. On the penultimate joint 🎵 “4 Da Kidz,” the listener continues to be blessed by his electrifying flow and signature style.  Again, it’s not the ‘top of the bill’ on MOTM III, but it’s still a pretty sweet showing. Similarly, 🎵 “Lord I Know” is well-rounded, fitting conclusion, without breaking into the top tier of this strong LP. 

Final Thoughts 💭 

All in all, Kid Cudi came through in 2020 with a gem.  To reiterate, Man on the Moon III: The Chosen highlights Cudi’s artistic strengths. Throughout, he showcases various emotions, with the different sections of the album taking on different personalities and vibes.  Is it the exemplification of perfection? No, but it is easily one of the best albums in his discography. 

✅ Gems 💎: “Tequila Shots,” “Another Day,” “Show Out,” “Solo Dolo, Pt. III,” “The Void” & “Lovin’ Me”

🎙 Kid Cudi • 💿 Man on the Moon III: The Chosen • 🏷 Republic • 🗓 12.11.20

[📷: Republic]