EW.com
EW's GRADE
A-Details Release Date: Sep 15, 2009; Lead Performance: Kid Cudi; Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap
The protégé who helped Kanye West create the self-pitying singsong style of last fall's uneven 808s & Heartbreak develops that sound to much greater effect on his own debut, Man on the Moon: The End of Day. The album surrounds his smash single ''Day 'N' Nite'' with an arcane story line, but you won't have to follow it to be impressed by Kid Cudi's introspective persona, ear for melody, and eclectic taste in beats — including two excellent collabs with the electro duo Ratatat. Cudi turns out to be that rarest of rap phenomena: a hyped upstart who really does represent a promising new phase in the genre's evolution. A–
Download This: Listen to the song Alive (nightmare) at amazon.com
Featured Video
OscarWatch TV: 'Avatar' as underdog?
Dave Karger and Missy Schwartz on the rise of ''Hurt Locker,'' Sandra leapfrogging Meryl for Best Actress
More 
Today's Most Popular
-
Hollywood Insider 'Deadliest Catch' Captain Phil Harris has died -
-
Ken Tucker's TV The last 'Jay Leno Show': I watched it so you didn't have to -
-
Special Coverage
Totally 'Lost'!
Get up to speed for the final season:
New theories and news from Doc Jensen, exclusive video, photos, trivia, and more
More
Add your comment
The rules: Keep it clean, and stay on the subject or we might delete your comment. If you see inappropriate language, e-mail us. An asterisk * indicates a required field.