Read on Twitter
MAN ON THE MOON 3, AN ALBUM DECONSTRUCTION.
Hello and Hi, welcome to an album deconstruction of “Man on the Moon 3” by Kid Cudi, an album that has recently been released by the Cleveland Native. Personally, I love this album to death even though it was only released a week ago
Hello and Hi, welcome to an album deconstruction of “Man on the Moon 3” by Kid Cudi, an album that has recently been released by the Cleveland Native. Personally, I love this album to death even though it was only released a week ago
as I'm writing this. I will be providing the storyline that Cudi has set throughout the album and the album’s progression and explaining each track and how it correlates to the main focus of the album. I Hope you enjoy as always 
ACTS
Before I start this deconstruction off, I would like to explain the 4 acts of the album. The first act of the album is titled “Act I: Return 2 Madness” which spans over tracks 1-5. This act essentially starts us off into the journey of what we are about to endure and
Before I start this deconstruction off, I would like to explain the 4 acts of the album. The first act of the album is titled “Act I: Return 2 Madness” which spans over tracks 1-5. This act essentially starts us off into the journey of what we are about to endure and
setting the state for the overall album. The second act from the album, titled “Act II: The Rager, The Menace” is over tracks 5-9 and hits its climax in terms of aggressiveness on the album. The third act, “Act III: Heart of Rose Gold,” spans over tracks 10-14 as here will be
an emotional increase on the album. The last act on the album, “Act IV: Powers” spans over tracks 15-18 and ends the album off as a whole. I would explain the “acts” in more detail however, that’s what the purpose of the tracks are 
Anyways, hope you enjoy.
Anyways, hope you enjoy.
1. Beautiful Trip
To immediately start the album off, we have Cudi humming over an instrumental saying “3, 2, 1” to start us off into the journey of “Man on the Moon 3” that we are about to embark on.
To immediately start the album off, we have Cudi humming over an instrumental saying “3, 2, 1” to start us off into the journey of “Man on the Moon 3” that we are about to embark on.
2. Tequlia Shots
We have now officially embarked on our journey back into Cudi’s mind as he welcomes us back into his mind, getting caught up on reflecting among his past struggles and failures and the wars that constantly go on inside of him. (1/2)
We have now officially embarked on our journey back into Cudi’s mind as he welcomes us back into his mind, getting caught up on reflecting among his past struggles and failures and the wars that constantly go on inside of him. (1/2)
On the hook, he states that the war inside of him is a long one and that now he feels ready to finally own up to it and face it, as he has once before, he can do it again. (2/2)
3. Just Another Day
Now after wanting to confront it and face it he takes that step, but there is a twist. He gets caught back up in the life of partying and drinking alcohol once again. He implies as well, that he hasn’t changed much, and he still feels (1/3)
Now after wanting to confront it and face it he takes that step, but there is a twist. He gets caught back up in the life of partying and drinking alcohol once again. He implies as well, that he hasn’t changed much, and he still feels (1/3)
unhappy with his life and the circumstances and past mistakes that have gone on in his life. At the end, he mimics (2/3)
“Tell me where you're going, tell me where you're headed” which is a callback to his previous song, Mr. Rager, whom is Cudi’s alter-persona and a very destructive one at that, as it seems Mr. Rager has emerged from Cudi and taken over him. (3/3)
4. She Knows This
As the Evil and Destructive Mr. Rager emerges from Cudi in his true form, he truly starts to get involved in his destructive behaviors such as downing multiple cups of alcohol as we see in the music video of the song.
As the Evil and Destructive Mr. Rager emerges from Cudi in his true form, he truly starts to get involved in his destructive behaviors such as downing multiple cups of alcohol as we see in the music video of the song.
5. Dive
On the last track of the first act to the album, “Return 2 Madness,” Cudi continues his partying and destructive behaviors STILL, but he starts to feel uneasy about it all through the track and even at the end of the song he still states, (1/2)
On the last track of the first act to the album, “Return 2 Madness,” Cudi continues his partying and destructive behaviors STILL, but he starts to feel uneasy about it all through the track and even at the end of the song he still states, (1/2)
"This is my fantasy high, saying goodbye, I lay at night it intensifies” as he states that both the pain hasn’t gone away despite all the partying and excitement, but also that he still feels unhappy with his life and that the partying didn't do him good but made it worse. (2/2)
6. Damaged
Starting off Act 2 of the Album titled, “The Rager, The Menace” he details how insane and lost in his mind he feels, as a result of Mr. Rager’s actions and that he feels very damaged as a result of it. He questions everything and everyone around him too as a result.
Starting off Act 2 of the Album titled, “The Rager, The Menace” he details how insane and lost in his mind he feels, as a result of Mr. Rager’s actions and that he feels very damaged as a result of it. He questions everything and everyone around him too as a result.
7. Heaven on Earth
Cudi is yet again riding high on his “Rockstar Lifestyle” being a bit braggadocious and flex-like over the track as he is looking for a safe spot or, Heaven, on the planet earth as stated on the song as he continues to involve himself in dangerous behaviors.
Cudi is yet again riding high on his “Rockstar Lifestyle” being a bit braggadocious and flex-like over the track as he is looking for a safe spot or, Heaven, on the planet earth as stated on the song as he continues to involve himself in dangerous behaviors.
8. Show Out (ft. Skepta and Pop Smoke)
Continuing a theme from the previous song on the album, Cudi starts to get involved in more dangerous behaviors, especially gang life and drug dealing. Assisted by the late rapper Pop Smoke, and the UK Rapper Skepta (1/2)
Continuing a theme from the previous song on the album, Cudi starts to get involved in more dangerous behaviors, especially gang life and drug dealing. Assisted by the late rapper Pop Smoke, and the UK Rapper Skepta (1/2)
both MC’s talk about gang/gun violence. Cudi then comes in and talks about his fair share of it and he states at the end of his verse, that the devil has completely overtaken him and that he does and feels these things as a result of the devil. (2/2)
9. Mr. Solo Dolo, Pt. III
Cudi has now isolated himself in totality from everyone else and is feeling alone (of course) as a result and reflects again among all that he done so far. (1/2)
Cudi has now isolated himself in totality from everyone else and is feeling alone (of course) as a result and reflects again among all that he done so far. (1/2)
He opens up about his drug addiction and the struggles of his life again over this track talking about how he wanted to “get fucked up” to help solve his problems but he realizes it won’t fix them. (2/2)
10. Sad People
To start the third act of the album, “Heart of Rose Gold,” Cudi really feels sad and empty deep down asking various questions among himself, such as “Will I Burn Out?” “What’ll Happen to Me?” and “Have I Been Wrong?” Yet among these questions he tries to (1/2)
To start the third act of the album, “Heart of Rose Gold,” Cudi really feels sad and empty deep down asking various questions among himself, such as “Will I Burn Out?” “What’ll Happen to Me?” and “Have I Been Wrong?” Yet among these questions he tries to (1/2)
and reaffirm himself and he asks for god’s guidance. He starts to feel alright as he comforts himself, but also states that no matter how bad things get, he will continue to work and find that peace in himself that he wants. (2/2)
11. Elsie’s Baby Boy (flashback)
As Cudi is sad and down, he starts to reminisce on his childhood and family, growing up talking about his mother’s and their struggles as a family. He also primarily talks about how alone he felt even with his family (1/2)
As Cudi is sad and down, he starts to reminisce on his childhood and family, growing up talking about his mother’s and their struggles as a family. He also primarily talks about how alone he felt even with his family (1/2)
by his side, expressing how they couldn’t help him and that he always felt sad, especially after his dad passed when Cudi was only 11. (2/2)
12. Sept. 16th
Cudi now gets up out of bed, sadder than ever and starts to think about how he is missing someone in his life, himself, and that he wants his real love from deep within. On the hook he reassures himself that he will get it in time and that once he does
Cudi now gets up out of bed, sadder than ever and starts to think about how he is missing someone in his life, himself, and that he wants his real love from deep within. On the hook he reassures himself that he will get it in time and that once he does
he will be fine. However, he does state throughout the song that he wants his lover that he has feelings for and wants her love which can be said that yes, he does want his girl to provide her love for her, or he is using a girl as a way of expressing himself in a 3rd Person POV
13. The Void
Now on the path to find his own love, Cudi talks about how he will do anything to avoid the pain and depression he encounters on a day-to-day basis. He details throughout the track that he has feelings of finding peace and finally being able to find himself. (1/2)
Now on the path to find his own love, Cudi talks about how he will do anything to avoid the pain and depression he encounters on a day-to-day basis. He details throughout the track that he has feelings of finding peace and finally being able to find himself. (1/2)
At the end, he thanks god for always being there by his side and never giving up on him, even if he was a sinner before. (this devilish behavior can be seen on tracks such as Show Out, She Knows This, Heaven on Earth). (2/2)
14. Lovin’ Me (ft. Phoebe Bridgers)
To conclude the last track of act 3, “Heart of Rose Gold,” Cudi now finds himself wanting to love himself and asks god for it, claiming that his past doesn’t matter and that he is stronger than ever before, as he now tells himself (1/2)
To conclude the last track of act 3, “Heart of Rose Gold,” Cudi now finds himself wanting to love himself and asks god for it, claiming that his past doesn’t matter and that he is stronger than ever before, as he now tells himself (1/2)
that he cannot grow without loving himself first. The featured artist, Phoebe Bridgers, also goes onto add to the track’s concept of loving oneself providing her own perspective and struggles but to say that she found peace in herself by learning to love herself as well. (2/2)
15. The Pale Moonlight
To start the last act of the album titled “Powers,” Cudi starts us off by thinking about all that he has persevered through and that all the pain and experiences he has gone through, has shaped him into the man he has become today. (1/2)
To start the last act of the album titled “Powers,” Cudi starts us off by thinking about all that he has persevered through and that all the pain and experiences he has gone through, has shaped him into the man he has become today. (1/2)
He also states that he is healing, but he is dealing with things and that the bad shit will never end, yet that’s why he must find that peace within himself, so the bad stuff constantly thrown at him won’t make him break. (2/2)
16. Rockstar Knights (ft. Trippie Redd)
Transitioning from “The Pale Moonlight,” Cudi and feature artist Trippie Redd both act a bit braggadocio on this track, being flex-like over the materialistic things they have, (1/2)
Transitioning from “The Pale Moonlight,” Cudi and feature artist Trippie Redd both act a bit braggadocio on this track, being flex-like over the materialistic things they have, (1/2)
just like we have seen previously in the album yet, he acts a bit more in control and grounded of himself unlike previously when Mr. Rager emerged from Cudi and took over. (2/2)
17. 4 Da Kidz
Cudi digs deep now into a bag of introspection to provide hope and empathy for the younger generation as he realizes that the kids of this world felt and still feel similarly (1/2)
Cudi digs deep now into a bag of introspection to provide hope and empathy for the younger generation as he realizes that the kids of this world felt and still feel similarly (1/2)
to how he did and tries to use the lessons and things he has learned on his many journeys as sources and beacons of hope for the younger generation. (2/2)
18. Lord I Know
And to finish off this spectacle of an album and the last act of the album, we have Lord I Know. On this track, Cudi reminisces on his journeys thus (1/2)
And to finish off this spectacle of an album and the last act of the album, we have Lord I Know. On this track, Cudi reminisces on his journeys thus (1/2)
far throughout his life and claims that he truly feels at peace with himself at long last as he feels satisfied with everything that has happened thus far, including the trials and tribulations. (2/2)
Closing Thoughts:
Overall, this album provides a narrative of someone who wants to be a good person but gets involved in bad stuff to escape the pain they are dealing with, yet in the end realizes that none of the bad stuff can help fix it,
Overall, this album provides a narrative of someone who wants to be a good person but gets involved in bad stuff to escape the pain they are dealing with, yet in the end realizes that none of the bad stuff can help fix it,
so he turns to fix and work on himself as a result. The main lesson to take away is that the only real love and change come from inside and you will feel much better once you have found that, as Cudi proves to us throughout this masterpiece. Till The next one, I hope you enjoyed!
@KidCudi i love u
