If there’s one thing Kid Cudi has proven throughout his atmospheric rise, it’s that he’s not afraid to take a road less traveled, regardless of if the risk is worth the reward. Along the way, the Cleveland, Ohio native has become somewhat of a Rap anti-hero, as he explores themes and musical styles that aren’t typically championed within Hip Hop. Kid Cudi continues this ambitious streak on SATELLITE FLIGHT: The journey to Mother Moon, which serves as his most cohesive album, as well as the furthest he’s navigated away from the boundaries that have been set for Rap artists in its current era.
Maybe the most surprising element of SATELLITE FLIGHT—aside from Cudi’s unexpected release date—are the four instrumental tracks that are found on the project. Fans with two (full) hands can figure out just how many songs are left that feature vocals from the 30-year-old artist. What soon becomes clear is that each instrumental plays a significant role in shaping the musical path that he takes on this album. “Destination: Mother Moon” delivers an epic opening theme, where the listener can visualize Cudi’s ascent into space before he hits cruise altitude on the Rock-infused “Going to the Ceremony.” Similar to his explorations from the Man on the Moon series, Kid Cudi is once again alone is his travels here. “Drinking again, drinking again / Bottles up, I’m in to win / But none of my friends, just me and this bottle,” he quips, as if he wouldn’t want it any other way.
“Copernicus Landing” is another ethereal moment without words. It initially starts out with an intense vibe, before transforming into an enchanting tune that sets up what is without a doubt one of Kid Cudi’s best records to date, “Balmain Jeans.” Passion meets urgency as he throws his complete focus behind discovering euphoria between the sheets. The lush production builds up to a melodic climax, and Cudi plays along by sharing his deepest desires. “I need you to protect my heart / Gimme your hand, put it here / This is where you start,” he croons with poetic cleverness. The inclusion of Raphael Saadiq only adds to the sensual flare, as the celebrated soul singer ends the record with sweet vocals about the love connection that is taking place. “Balmain Jeans” is like “Enter Galactic,” but on steroids. Or maybe more appropriately, MDMA.
Even with these incredible experiences, isolation and heartache play a factor in Cudi’s journey much like they have in the past. The second half of the album highlights his more emotional state with tracks like “Internal Bleeding” and “Too Bad I Have to Destroy You.” The latter record finds Cudi returning to his rapping roots, where he takes aim at everyone who has criticized his moves. Over a piercing synth melody, he rhymes, “This should be in the Bible, middle finger up to the people who don’t like you / Who have no valid reason to say they never liked you / We don’t give a fuck fam / So what? We never liked you niggas anyway.”
His efforts on “Internal Bleeding,” while certainly emotional, pale in comparison. Cudi spends the better part of the record wailing about love lost, but his voice feels so distant that it’s difficult to connect with his pain. “Troubled Boy” is also lukewarm, punctuated by Cudi’s bleak vocals and an eerie guitar riff that goes nowhere. On a related note, it’s odd that Cudi chose “Troubled Boy” to end his album considering its predecessor “Return of the Moon Man (Original Score)” is so exhilarating. This decision is reminiscent of when Kid Cudi closed out Man On The Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager with the drowsy “Trapped In My Mind.”
Flaws and all, SATELLITE FLIGHT: The journey to Mother Moon stands as one of Kid Cudi’s biggest accomplishments. Rejuvenated. Recreated. Rebooted. Call it what you will. Scott Mescudi made an EP’s worth of material feel like an album, and he did it without surrendering his artistic integrity in the process. If SATELLITE FLIGHT truly is a bridge between Indicud and Man on the Moon III, fans will be in for a treat when the third installment is finally released.
Cud fell off
Just because Cudi is doing something different that you don’t like doesn’t mean he fell off, bruh.
It doesn’t matter if he’s doing something different. I excuse Indicud and WZRD on the grounds they were experiments, but this is the 3rd disappointing project in a row. If it was any other artist you’d be quick to call that falling off.
I understand what you’re saying but this shouldn’t be judged on the same grounds as WZRD and Indicud. Those were both full-length albums, this is an EP. It’s supposed to be his transition back to the Man on The Moon series. Concept wise it’s him “traveling” to the Moon, setting it up for Man On the Moon 3. That’s why I don’t judge it as seriously as other people, if Man On The Moon 3 comes out and it’s wack then I’ll decide if he fell off or not. I’m not one of those people who’s quick to say someone fell off, I’m also a Lupe fan so I have a lot of patience lol
I enjoyed it. Always thinking outside the box. Can’t wait to hear the extra tracks he plans on adding for the retail release. Hopefully he raps on those instrumentals because he would make some epics songs with those beats.
I published that same road less traveled comment on a youtube comment 2 hours ago. Im going to sue you and then kick your ass and steal your job and life and I hope your ass has a dog cus Im gonna steal that too.
Also, Cudi the best.
YO GOTTTTTTIII!
Cudi doesn’t disappoint
satellite flight beat oxymoron? you guys are so retarded
Everyone got their own opinion and taste in music. Gotta respect that.
I always thought that Anonymous stood for freedom of speech and mind… I guess you should change your nick everytime you post.
my buddy’s half-sister makes $66 an hour on the laptop . She has been without a job for 6 months but last month her pay check was $15556 just working on the laptop for a few hours. look at here now,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, http://WWW.Works6.COM
Cudi always dope
artist who put there hearts in it right or wrong always get my money
good shit
4.33 what a joke. This ep is trash and has literally 2 1/2 songs of lyrics. #RealTalk
By that logic, most music pre-1900s is trash.
This album was horrible.
Decent
I’ve listening to it on repeat for the last few days so… way better than indicud and a great prelude to what all of us Cudi fans are really waiting for…
*been
Solid transition from a good album, Indicud. All in all a well developed EP turned into an album!!
I totally disagree with this review. I thought this album was even worse than Indicud *Kanye shrug*
Dope Album.
solid album, well done cudi
Some Dope isssh right there
i liked the album, although I wish it would just been called an EP, but I wish cudi would get back to rappin as well
want old cudi, buy his old albums
this has me so hyped for MOTM3 i think cudi killed it!
cudi is the man
Above average effort….seem to like the overall direction cudi is going with this album…respect the minimalist approach as well
Looking forward to motm 3 for 1st time in a while!
So surprised as a long cudi fan that fell off the wagon, this album is so reincarnated in a way, its new the minimalist approach, the universal sounds that make you feel like youre in space, he just teleports you to a whole other world in those 50 minutes
TRASHHHHHHH
Dope, cudi produced every track. Definitely deserves a 5/5. Can’t wait for MOTM 3!
classic cudi.
Great Review DX, coudnt agree more.
really good album
remember this shit was gon be a mixtape then cudi decide to make it a full on album/ ep, so stop whining about its length
HHDX reviews are hit or miss, but this one’s spot on. Exactly how I felt (except I kind of did like troubled boy). What people have to remember is that this was meant to be an EP to hold off fans until MOTM3, but just got longer and he decided to name it as an album. I thought it was a dope project and the wait for MOTM3 is now even harder to bear
Lol at this “for the fans” bullshit. This should have been a mixtape. People who pay for this shit are suckers.
lurve
Cant hate, like the album. Even if with instrumentalsthey grow on you, Give a chance.
Balmain jeans- Best song. Fcken love it!
Kid Cudi is a musical prophet.
BEST ALBUM EVER, deserves more credit
In the history of music this is the best album ever? your mother should have swallowed u. this isnt even the best hip hop album this year
LOL. Best Album Ever? Not even best album of the year. Not even 2nd best album of the month. Oxymoron and The Tortoise and The Crow were both better.
great album
Dope!
WHERE IS THE RICKY ROZAY REVIEW!?
Cudi fell off big time after MOTM1
The greatest
Love Cudi, but this sucked.
Liked it. Thought it was dope. I just really hope he gets back to rappin for MOTM3, cuz he’s a very capable lyricist. Niggaz don’t even know.
As a huge kid cudi fan I have to admit I didn’t expect an album like this from him, but I’m so glad he made it. I personally think its way better than indicud and I hope MOTM3 follows this route.
INDICUD WAS HORRIBLE
Indicud was great, you all just can’t handle minor genres changes
Dope album. This is how the soundtrack of my life should sound.
this album blew. Stop dick ridin cudi.
Not My favorite Cudi album, but then again he doesn’t have a bad album. 5/5
cudi fan till the day I die
I LIKE CUDI, BUT THIS ALBUM WAS TOO DEPRESSING
Balmain Jeans is probably a top 5-10 Cudi banger. After that, the album was sub par. 10 songs with 4 of them being instrumentals for $9.99 is for the fans? Yeah, okay Cudi. I am a Cudi fan, but some of you fans are unbearable. Praise him when it is deserved. Some of you ride his dick way too hard. It’s okay to be a critical thinker. Nobody thinks you’re cool for being the biggest dickrider.
music is subjective maybe some people enjoy instrumentals
The “album” as grown on me a little bit, but there should be more than 3-4 good songs. I had already listened to Satellite Flight and Going to the Ceremony many times before it released. I’m not hating, I think Cudi’s a beast, but this wasn’t a great effort and he’s trolling the fuck out of you guys saying this is for the fans. He knows you guys are loyal and will pay for anything he puts out whether it is classic or bunk. It would be free if it was for the fans.
Album was great just heard it oh of course my girl Mary was there.
Roll one and take flight.. Good shiit
Amazing album. Love Balmain Jeans and a few others
his album was fucking horrible and you guys suck at critiquing
lol
Bro, you didnt do any better job. “This album was horrible” – awesome insight!
this blows
Hated it. The beats are meh and that’s basically the entirety of the album.. oh yeah, he sings on autotune.
..da fuck
It grows on you
what the fuck cudi,this album is not worth shitting on late alone….forget it am done. ill just go back to listening your mixtapes. DAM
1.Motm1
2.Kid named cudi
3.Motm2
4.Satellite Flight
5.Indicud
Garbage…didnt spit one verse on the whole album..such a disappointment
Cudi Raps on “Too bad I have to destroy you now” which I feel is the best track on the entire EP. I call it an EP because it’s 8 full songs and 2 interludes. And I hear what you’re saying Cudi can do much better then this. Tho their are some interesting songs on “Satellite Flight: The Journey to Mother Moon” but it’s not his best work.
love cudi but this sucked
You Shallow kunts such stupidity y even listen to dis man if ul cant even interpret or see the creativity this album brings, such a waste you all are…but then again this album iz light yearz ahead of u ignorant fukz….lol
I liked this album. Took me a few listens to really get into it, as did Indicud, but it’s a good album. I like that Cudi doesn’t put himself in a box, he does what the fuck he wants, and that is pretty damn awesome. Can’t wait for MOTM 3!
Did not enjoy this album
Was expecting him to actually rap like in his other album. Instead it’s just a bunch of genuinely BAD audio tracks. Good thing I bootlegged it anyways.
Kid Cudi is truly an Artist not a rapper. I have every album and I am looking forward to the next one. Keep them coming Kid!
Wow. Never ever heard of his music before, but listening to this makes me want to hear every song he has made. Beautiful production, which requires seriously good audio setup to sound good.
4/5
I love the production on this one, but his voice is just unbearable. What the hell happened? I even liked Indicud, but this is just bad.
Darkest unintended main stream music out there. Kanye sound Usher soft when he’s on the same radar as Cudi. Head banger
I’m a big Kid Cudi Fan and I’ve been following him since “A Kid named Cudi” mixtape came out. This is an interesting listen and Cudi is doing what the f**k he wants but it doesn’t mean it always turns out great. Throughout the whole album Cudi spits once on “Too Bad I have to destroy you now” and to me that’s the best track on the Album. Not because he’s Rapping but because the production is dope, his flow sounds tight over the beat and a lot of People can relate to that track. I don’t mind Cudi singing sometimes that’s cool but I think he should allow the Producers he’s worked with in the past to do their Part. I think the LP would of been better if Cudi did maybe 3 songs and let some other Producers do the other 7. Out of 5 I give this 3 and a half because for one it’s not an LP like he said. Yes it’s 10 songs but 2 of them are pretty much an Intro/Interlude. EP’s are usually 8 full songs or less. Anybody saying this is Kid Cudi’s best LP clearly hasn’t been following Scott long enough. Either way I am a Cudi fan and I will support this when it drops on CD, but trust me Cudi can do way better then this. And I hope he shuts up all the Haters and naysayers on the next Man on the Moon LP.
My favourite 3 Kid Cudi Albums
1. Man on the Moon: The End of day (Classic)
2. Man on the Moon 2: The Legend of Mr Rager
3. Indicud was a slept on LP and better then WZRD and Satellite Flight: The Journey to Mother Moon in my opinion.
Congrats on the success of Need for Speed Cudi good Job in the Movie too. Come on Cudi drop that LP with King Chip soon let’s go!!!!
Taking it to another level!! No roads so them haters can’t follow!!
Kid cudi Is really different, and being different when all you hear is lame stuff is really good.
Amen
top 3 albums of 2014
I actually like this album kid cudi still is the same. the track satellite flight to me was the best you get a certain unexplainable good feeling vibe. Almost if it was like you was high.
this is cudi’s first solo project, if you really think about it, hes kinda just an indie artist now cuz hes under one label, but they only pretty much work with him in the point of sales and selling his records, cudi actually didnt even go to a studio, he just stayed in his crib and made it, cudi really by this point is just technically a indie artist, and this project landed in top ten first week sales, i have to give him credit honestly, 5/5
This album has a very different sound, and is a pretty short project, but I enjoyed most of it.
I listen to all his music , this album is very good. Keep the vibes coming.