4/5
Kids See Astronauts.
If you still believe they put a man on the moon, then Kid Cudi has an album for you. Andy Kaufman in a wrestling match, Jim Carrey, R.E.M or the Rager. Scott Mescudi is back with the third act. 'Man On The Moon III: The Chosen'. The last one to complete the epic trilogy from the "lonely stoner" who has been with us 'Day N Nite' ever since his breakout debut mixtape, 'A Kid Named Cudi' came out. All before his decade and a year ago 'Man On The Moon: The End Of Day' album introduced by Chicago's own Common in nuanced narration after Cudi was signed to Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music imprint. Guesting on the 808's of 'Welcome To Heartbreak' and the late night 'Creepers' of a 'Cruel Summer' compilation album from Yeezus and his followers before Mr. West and Mr. Mescudi saw ghosts with the kids for a collabo album that went deeper and darker than just watching the throne in all its gold. The first trip to the moon was a classic as Cudi was on a 'Pursuit Of Happyness' like Will Smith, sampling Lady Gaga like he made her say and popping bottles with Drake before the Canadian rapper of all people took shots at the emotion of his depression (not cool). Still, Scott survived all that (and depression itself) and bounced back with his second album and the 'Man On The Moon II' sequel for 'The Legend Of Mr. Rager' in 2010. Its been 10 years since then. Since classics like the rocky 'Erase Me' with Kanye and frets even Lil' Wayne's rock God alter-ego, 'Rebirth' couldn't touch. What more could you expect from a man who formed a rock act (WZRD) with super producer Dot Da Genius who executive's here? Still, the man who has worked with everyone from Big Boi (on 'Sir Lucious Left Foot's' lovely 'She Hate Me'), the group with the album of the year, Haim (on a rocked out 'Red Eye') and Michael 'F######' Bolton (for some real steel bars) has released a flurry of albums since then. The incendiary, 'Indicud', his out of this world, 'Satellite Flight: The Journey To Mother Moon', a 'Speedin' Bullet 2 Heaven' in this matrix and his last project, 'Passion, Pain and Demon' Slayin' in the same 2016 as Kids See Ghosts after an incredible half decade of work. Cudi still has been putting it in though. Working on his craft...and his self. The cult, sci-fi, neo-psychedelic, trip hop rapper has also moved into direction, including other producer and executive ventures. He even acted in this years new 'Bill and Ted' reunion movie like 'Brooklyn Nine-Nine' that faced the end of the world like this terrible 2020 as on a truly bogus journey and excellent adventure he faced the music.
"I mean this with no disrespect Kidi, but we only have four and a half minutes," Keanu Reeves told Cudder in the most classic line of the nostalgic movie. The same can be almost said for the time we have left in this year we want to see the back of like the one walking away. But still with almost less than half of four weeks left on the calendar, Kid Cudi releases a play for album of the year and the best in his classic catalogue, let alone his magnum opus trilogy as the next gens Lord of the Rings. With this and 'Face The Music' this Kid could be having a year like the 56 Keanu did last year, killing the competition with his pencil like John Wick in a time of parabellum. This is how to make it in this year's America. "Look what I have created...I have made fire" a Tom Hanks sample from the time he rubbed two sticks together alone with a volleyball on 'Cast Away' says at the end of '4 Da Kidz' like Wu Tang as Kid creates like the album artwork of 'Indicud'. Take note like the Utah Jazz. His voice is like a musical instrument. Bringing so much talent on board his rocket ship, but taking off all on his own. With Part III and the sisters of Haim celebrating this year of 'Women In Music' by collaborating 'Everymore' with Taylor Swift on a not out of the woods superstar singers second surprise album and the terrific track of murder mystery, 'No Body, No Crime', Cudi brings the artist with the second best album of the year on board. As 'Punisher' Phoebe Bridgers gives pleasure to all the pain in this skull and crossbones year with, 'Lovin' Me'. As the chosen one raps, "Please, Lord, hear me now, hope you’re listening/It’s been centuries, it’s what it seems to me/I’ve been on this road, my eyes glistenin’", next to Bridgers', "I’ve been going, going in circles/Reoccurring dreams, talkin’ in my sleep/Then I’m floatin’ up to the surface/I can finally breathe, I could do anything/And I don’t know why/It’s alright, and it’s not at the same time/Then I look up at a blue sky/And I know", before they come together like a Beatle for the classic chorus. Continuing the classic collaborations, he gets grimey with Brit Skepta and homegrown Pop Smoke as they 'Show Out' louder than Scott's weed. All before tripping with Trippie Red, lyrical jousting on these 'Rockstar Knight's' for this night's tale. But still nothing sounds as good or as outstandingly original and in our socially anxious corner like when K Pop juggernaut and rapping BTS just 'Be', as this man's snare and lyrical glare like when he raps as alone as Macualay, going 'Solo Dolo' again for 'Part III'.
The moonbeam levels on this one. This is a bigger hit than 'The Scott's' for your billboard number one. Or 'The Adventures Of Moon Man and Slim Shady' with Eminem when this album was first lyrically teased. As like Marshall Mathers going to 'Stan' battle with his bleached blonde alter-ego, these four acts are all about Scott Mescudi waging war with Mr. Rager for his soul. Peace and happiness and all. Just like the flesh and blood of the albums amazing artwork is vibrant, out of this world capillary colours as Sam Spratt makes the paint splat. In Act 1 this 'Return 2 Madness' makes for a 'Beautiful Trip' and inspired intro before we drink to 'Tequila Problems' and lyrical shots...at his own alter. Living for 'Another Day' this multi-talented and faceted rapper raps, "Oh no, hit 'em out and I'm rippin', rippin' in it (Yeah)/And I'm comin' full blown to the tombstone (Yeah)/How I'm livin', gotta push it, gotta set the tone (Yeah)/It ain't nothin' to me, baby, say I'm livin' long (Livin' long)". Before 'She Knows This' sounds like another classic we can't wait for our playlists to get to know. 'Dive' takes us even deeper before the darkness of Act II shows us everything that's been 'Damaged' by 'The Rager, The Menace' like the Lakers changing of the guard, Dennis Schröder. Imagining like John Lennon a 'Heaven On Earth' amongst all the brimstone of this hell, Rager rages, "Heaven on earth, I am curious/Yeah, I'm livin' until I'm gone (Right?)/The stronger, the men catch us on the throne (Right?)", but will you show sympathy for the devil like a Rolling Stone before the 16 plat, double Grammy winners third act? Because this ones for all the 'Sad People' with a 'Heart Of Rose Gold' like the time he faced himself in the mirrors of a toilet cubicle after a drunken pursuit, soaked in the misspelled happiness of glitter. On a flashback to 'Elsie's Baby Boy' he gives us his 'Brenda's Got A Baby'. Then marking 'Sept. 16' in a year we're everyday is the same he stares into 'The Void', quarantine rapping, "Oh man, oh man, takin' me home/When you awake in bed and I'm alone/In my memory/Runnin' through my brain and I'm searchin' for you, you know/In my memory". Before locking us down with, "Heyo, need to free my mind, ah yeah, this a little ritual of mine/As I head home, head up high, get some, hello, sailing by/Now we say open the day, let it out alive/Let go, they say I survive, if you say so, please don't lie/My days are low, I give it a try/Seen new things in my soul when I'm just sittin' in my room all alone/This is as real as I'll ever be", bars as he gets to know himself better in all this worse like everyone else at a social distance. But it's the final act of 'Powers' going fourth where this cult hero really gets his cape, making sure no one else will stand on it for a man who made his own way to the moon, shooting without hanging on to anyone's coatatils. Not even a King who walks with Jesus and runs next to Trump. Stepping with us and Mr. Rager for one last dance like Wade or Batman and The Joker in 'The Pale Moonlight'. Four acts deserves another part of this series right? "To be continued" a voice whispers into our earwormed headphones like a shout at the end of 'Lord I Know' and another neon heaven in space sent album in this year of our not so great depression. We hope it will be. The soundtrack to his life keeps scoring. When it comes to genre bending on an interstellar, intergalactic (the epic 'Entergalatic' comes next, next year to enter 2021) scale in a year of new, best yet albums from Jay Electronica, Childish Gambino, Nas, Common, Busta Rhymes and Big Sean, this kid is a beast boy like Adam Yauch. That's one small step for rap... TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Playlist Picks: 'Tequila Shots', 'Elsie's Baby Boy (Flashback)', 'Lovin' Me (Feat. Phoebe Bridgers)'.
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