3/13/2025
MOTM 1 — Cudi’s debut that broke through the mold for real, capturing an essence of emo in Hip-Hop, with infectious hums that I couldn’t help but sing along to even long after the songs had ended. This one released the year I was graduating high school, and the preceding tapes & singles from Kid Cudi had me amped for it. I knew when I heard Common on the intro for him, it was going to be something special. Spoken word that had truly captured the feeling & the journey we were all to embark upon while listening. The isolating anthem “Solo Dolo”, as sad & lonely as it sounded, felt more empowering than it did any of the former. It oddly nurtured a sense of solace in my solitude. “Soundtrack 2 My Life” had us all admitting to our issues in harmony lol “Pursuit of Happiness” was & still is a release, a permission slip to hope, and to acknowledge that even though things aren’t always perfect, that I’ll find a way to be good through it all. “Hyyerr” was on repeat for me long before it even made sense for it to be 😂 but the flow & vibe were just so on point, and reminiscent of Bone Thugs a bit, which was already good for me. Lastly, “Man on the Moon” really was that culminating piece that cemented everything together for me. Really a proclamation of self identity, embracing my difference & otherness from those around me. Just an all around defining body of work for me, and a reminder of why Kid Cudi was just put in another category that other Hip-Hop artists just really couldn’t reach in that era.
Man On The Moon: The End Of Day (Deluxe)
1/1/2009
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