Man on the Moon III: The Chosen - Kid Cudi (2020) (Black Artist Spotlight)

by Chloe Richardson

The third and final installment of Kid Cudi’s cosmically whimsical Man on the Moon trilogy, Man on the Moon III: The Chosen is an alluring peek into the brain of the star himself. Capturing many of our feelings and mental states during the current pandemic, Cudi provides an escape to a faraway land filled with plucky beats and dreamy vocal effects. Escapism seems to be a common motif of Cudi’s, as he alludes to his indulgence in sex and drugs in songs such as “Tequila Shots” and “The Void.” Cudi even includes some particularly interesting collaborations on this album, revealing some of the last work of the late Pop Smoke; flexing his life of luxury with the help of Trippie Redd; and even enlisting indie icon Phoebe Bridgers to emphasize the importance of self-love in one’s journey to happiness. Taking a more ambitious direction than his usual style, Cudi uses Man on the Moon III as proof that he is here to stay.