Ever since arriving on the scene in 2008 with his mix-tape A Kid Named Cudi, artist Kid Cudi has been evolving his sound and bringing an ever-changing voice to the hip hop genre. At one time, hardcore rap artists like Notorious B.I.G., 50 Cent, Tupac, and Snoop Dogg ruled the rap scene; however, over the last few years there has been a growing emergence and popularity of alternative-based rappers—including Kanye West, Childish Gambino, Chance the Rapper, and Kid Cudi. With the release of his fourth solo album Kid Cudi Presents Satellite Flight:The Journey to Mother Moon, Cudi—who has never been shy of taking risks—continues to take the road less-traveled. In an industry filled with conformity and musicians surrendering their artistic integrity, Cudi has once again bucked the modern by dropping an album with a different feel than any other rappers around.

Satellite Flight is acting as a bridge from Cudi’s 2013 release Indicud to his 2015 release Man on the Moon III. Thus, since the album is acting as a bridge it is not surprising that the album has a similar dark and spacey feel as Indicud and his two previous Man on the Moon albums. Furthermore just like Indicud, Satellite Flight involves the use of synthesizers and several tracks featuring little-to-no words. While these instrumental tracks were the cause of some complaint by fans who viewed the tracks as pointless filler, the instrumentals—just like Satellite Flight itself—are bridges that help transition the mood of one song to the next. 

Satellite Flight overall was another solid effort, especially considering it was only supposed to be a bridge album, that should definitely get fans excited all while holding them over for Cudi’s big release of Man on the Moon III in 2015. The album contains a little bit of everything as Cudi flexes his well-known versatility by rapping and singing to tracks that range from rock guitar riffs to synthesizers.

For those who only want to listen to a few tracks, check out “Going to the Ceremony,” where Cudi sings in front of a catchy guitar riff; “Too Bad I Have Too Destroy You Now,” where Cudi tells off his detractors; and “Satellite Flight,” which harks back to Man on the Moon II as Cudi tells listeners to “Take it to the satellite, tonight/Take flight to the moon.”