On the rapper's first greatest-hits set.
The Boy Who Flew to the Moon, Vol. 1
,
Kid Cudi
presents a wealth of evidence that he was one of the most innovative and influential artist of the 2010s. Culled from each of his major-label releases, the collection kicks off with his multi-platinum hit singles "Day 'n' Nite" and "Pursuit of Happiness" featuring indie alternative acts
MGMT
and
Ratatat
from his best-selling debut, 2009's
Man on the Moon: The End of Day
. From there, it's a chronological trip through space, touching down on 2010's
Man on the Moon II
with "GHOST!" and "Mr. Rager" and flying all the way to 2020's
Man on the Moon III
. His mid-2010s forays into alternative rock also make the cut, with 2012's
WZRD
contributing "The Dream Time Machine" and "Upper Room" and 2015's
Speedin' Bullet 2 Heaven
injects "CONFUSED!" and the title track to the mix. Packaged together, this compilation provides a fascinating peek into both
Cudi
's evolution and artistic scope, presenting a figure that maybe doesn't get enough credit for the creative leaps he's taken and the inspiration that he's provided to contemporaries and up-and-coming artists alike. ~ Neil Z. Yeung