Kid Cudi has a knack for connecting with his listeners at a deeper level than any other artist. While to an outsider, it’s just some more music and noise, there are countless Cudi fans who say that Cudi has forever saved or changed their lives. The latest installment of the Man On The Moon trilogy dropped Friday, December 11, 2020 at midnight EST, much to the pleasure of Cudi fans across the globe. Kid Cudi always seems to have impeccable timing, and none is better than the release of “Man On The Moon III: The Chosen One” in a year filled with such immense pain, loss, and suffering. Without further ado, let’s dive straight in and discover what makes this album so special. 

The intro track Beautiful Trip is a beautifully crafted classic Cudi sound that reminds OG fans why they fell in love with him in the first place and introduces new fans to Cudi’s signature futuristic style. To me, it’s the subtleties of Beautiful Trip that make it so great. With the intentional vinyl record scratches as the needle syncs up in the first few seconds of the track, I am again reminded of how Cudi comes from a generation of artists that has a deeper appreciation for the evolution of music and technology, but are purists and stay true to their original sound and roots. The intro track ends with a countdown, simulating the launch of a rocket as the album begins and Cudi takes us on a journey to the “Man On The Moon”. 

Next is Tequila Shots, which in my opinion is one of the best songs on the albums. It opens with a couple quick hymns from Cudi, immediately followed by a narration that transports listeners straight back to “Man On The Moon II”. The intro of this song perfectly opens the albums and creates a strong sense of nostalgia to Cudi’s previous works. The meaning of this song is one of contrast to Enter Galactic on MOTM II. There he is in a psychedelic state off magic mushrooms, whereas on Tequila Shots he and his thoughts correspond with a drunken state. He continually mentions the war he is fighting in the chorus, which is believed to be regarding his mental struggle with anxiety and depression as he continues to search for inner peace. In this third installment of MOTM, he drowns the pain in alcohol, hence Tequila Shots is born.

Sad People is a merger of Cudi’s new and old styles in a very unique way. He actually takes a more modern, simple yet faster paced beat, but combines it with his traditional softer flow. With lyrics consistent with his search for inner peace, this song creates strong nostalgia and flashbacks to Cudi Zone and his challenge to push his own limits, even at the expense of his mental health.

On Elsie’s Baby Boy (flashback), Cudi opens with a sample from the 1986 movie, “Stand by Me”. The beat is made up of a chord progression similar to the classic rock guitar used in House of the Rising Sun by The Animals, however, it is not sampled, rather, an original chord creation. The lyrics tell the story of Cudi’s relationship with his mother and her hard work to keep their family together despite lacking a traditional father figure. 

Anchoring the album is Lord I Know which successfully puts an end to “The Man on the Moon III: The Chosen One” and the Man On The Moon Trilogy. During an Apple Music interview, Cudi says that this song is a sort of spiritual hymn for him. Looking back on his experiences, he acknowledges he is a warrior, and urges all his fands to overcome their struggles, and realize they are not alone in their fight, but there is always someone in their corner looking out for and rooting for them. In the final seconds of the album, Cudi’s daughter, Vada, whispers, “to be continued” inciting Cudi fans and questions across the globe. 

Looking back on the album as a whole, “Man On The Moon III: The Chosen One” in an incredible musical feat and one that will be played and appreciated for years to come. Because of the difficulty of 2020, the albums couldn’t have been more appreciated and needed; but to look back objectively, I don’t know if this album would have had quite the same impact had it been released in 2018 or 2019. Don’t get me wrong, it is an incredible album and definitely lives up to Cudi standards and those set in the MOTM franchise, but for classic OG Cudi fans, I’m not sure if it totally exceeds expectations. I would argue that this is some of his greatest beat selection, and it is extremely difficult to top MOTMII, but his vocals and lyrics primarily played to his new and younger audience base. That was one of the things that in my opinion makes Cudi so special—is that he has a very soulful unique sound that exists in a genre and category of its own. “The Chosen One” seems to be an attempt by Cudi to shift closer to the modern rap genre and scene. He absolutely does a great job here, but at the end of the day, his talent and the album’s success ought to be accredited to his classic and unique sound and use of hymns that break down the traditional barrier that exists between artists and the listeners. These 18 songs and the 58 minutes of soul-invigorating music they provide, debuted at #1 on the charts, even passing Taylor Swift’s highly anticipated release. This album was a great way to end the “Man On The Moon” trilogy as Cudi continues his journey to find inner peace and come out victorious in an all-too-common battle against his inner demons.