Kid Cudi takes us on yet another emotional/powerful/unique journey in “Man On The Moon III: The Chosen.”

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TOP 5

5. THE PALE MOONLIGHT

If you’ve been f**king with Kid Cudi since his mixtape days, “The Pale Moonlight” should be a song that resonates with you mightily.

On “The Pale Moonlight,” Kid Cudi does everything that he likes to do: He raps ruggedly, he sings daringly, he hums, he calls a song that isn’t an interlude an interlude, and he talks about being both a gangsta and a troubled individual. Even the beat that powers the song sounds like some s**t I’m used to hearing him spit bars over.

4. SAD PEOPLE

Of course, a song called “Sad People” is fire!

I’m one of those weird-ass people that would want to hear “Sad People” in a nightclub. Even though it boasts semi-disheartening lyrics (Cudi talks about shaking depression in the song), the song’s beat makes me want to shake my ass and the melodies Cudi hits us with seem to resonate with the side of my brain that wants to hop on bar tables.

Hey, sad people know how to two-step, too!

3. THE VOID

Kid Cudi thanks GOD for sticking with him in “The Void.”

I’m pretty sure that Kid Cudi made “The Void” right after he found out that he had superpowers. In the song, he sounds like he’s gliding, like a dude that just pinned his demons to a mat, happy, and most importantly, like no other musician I’ve ever heard in my life.

I’m so glad that Kid Cudi is in a much better place these days.

2.  LOVIN ME

I’m pretty sure that Kid Cudi and Pheobe Bridges made “Lovin Me” at a studio in heaven.

“Lovin Me” is a very beautiful song. Not only is it powered by a divine instrumental, but it also features lyrics about deliverance that should strike a chord with you, melodies that should pierce your soul, and humming that should feel therapeutic to you.

“Lovin Me” almost made my evil ass cry.

1. SEPT. 16

Kid Cudi talks about seeking love from a special someone in “Sept. 16.”

Did anyone else get goosebumps hearing “Eisle’s Baby Boy (Flashback)” transition into “Sept. 16?” Did anyone else get goosebumps hearing Kid Cudi spill his heart out from start to finish on “Sept. 16?” Did anyone else Google ‘Sept. 16’ to see why that date made Kid Cudi want to release one of his most emotional, most vulnerable, and most complete songs to-date?

As good as Kid Cudi is, even I didn’t know that he was capable of making a song like “Sept. 16.”

SONG BY SONG BREAKDOWN

1. BEAUTIFUL TRIP (N/A)

2. TEQUILLA SHOTS (4/5)

3. ANOTHER DAY (4/5)

4. SHE KNOWS THIS (4/5)

5. DIVE (4/5)

6. DAMAGED (4/5)

7. HEAVEN ON EARTH (4/5)

8. SHOW OUT (4/5)

9. SOLO DOLO, PT. III (4/5)

10. SAD PEOPLE (5/5)

11. EISIE’S BABY BOY (FLASHBACK) (3/5)

12. SEPT. 16 (5/5)

13. THE VOID (5/5)

14. LOVIN’ ME (5/5)

15. THE PALE MOONLIGHT (4/5)

16. ROCKSTAR KNIGHTS (3/5)

17. 4 DA KIDZ (4/5)

18. LORD I KNOW (5/5)

OVERALL RATING

(B)

So how do I describe the music on Man On The Moon III: The Chosen? Well, I will say the album is full of bangers, hymns, and next-level hip-hop songs. Since Kid Cudi is a talented muthaf**ka, throughout the album, he has fun throwing all kinds of melodies and rap styles at the wall; thankfully, each and everything he throws at the wall sticks.

In Man On The Moon III: The Chosen, Kid Cudi openly talks about his personal struggles. During the album, you will hear him sound free from darkness, while at other times, you will hear him sound defeated. The tug-o-war is fascinating to listen to, especially considering that we all have gone through such a tug-o-war ourselves.

I am surprised at how dynamic Man On The Moon III: The Chosen sounds. The album features drill bangers, club bangers, lyrical bangers, pop bangers, and even gospel bangers. I admit, when I first heard about the album, I was hoping that Cudi would stick to one sound; I’m glad he didn’t listen to my basic ass!

I don’t mean to sound like a nerd, but I love how beautifully Man On The Moon III: The Chosen is mixed, how it flows, and that Cudi’s vocals are deliberately given star treatment on the album. While I think it is perfectly fine to listen to the album in your car, I do think it will hit differently if you listen to it through some of your best headphones.

When Kid Cudi shifts gears on Man On The Moon III: The Chosen (From track 9-14), I truly believe that he is the best musician on this planet. Within that short span, he gives us divine music. With that being said, I hope this album forces people to rethink the impact that well-structured/thought-provoking/high-quality/out-of-this-world music can have on you.

What Grade Do You Give #ManOnTheMoonIII by #KidCudi?

— Ratings Game Music (@RatingsGame) December 11, 2020

Quincy

Quincy is the creator of Ratings Game Music. He loves writing about music, taking long walks on beaches, and spaghetti that fights him back.