Man on the Moon: The End of Day

Review

Common Sense Media says

Hypnotic beats mix deep thoughts with strong language.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

Find out more

Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

Find out more

Parents say

Not yet rated

Kids say

AGE
14
QUALITY
 

What parents need to know

Parents need to know although Kid Cudi sings mellow, thought-provoking rhymes, there's too much profanity and sexual references to make this album OK for kids. Talk of pot-smoking and women's bodies, plus lots of the "N" word make this album a no-no for young listeners. To Cudi's credit, he does offer up positive messages about working through emotions and doesn't delve into violence.

  • Positive messages1
    Trying to turn pain and sorrow into something positive is a big theme of the album. "Everything turns out dope...here in my dreams." Although there are sexual references, Cudi does sing: "It's not just about sex, my heart you can collect."
  • Positive role models0
    Kid Cudi sends mixed signals, smoking and referencing getting high sometimes and then moving into deep discussions of depression and loneliness. "I got some issues that no one else can see."
  • Violence0
    Not applicable.
  • Sex3
    Only a few songs reference sex. "Make Her Say" includes the chorus from Lady Gaga's "Poker Face" sample: "I make her say oh, ah, oh oh, oh, when I 'ppppoker face'." This song also includes the lines "girl got a fat ol' a--..f--k them other bitches, 'cause she down for the stickin'." "Soundtrack to My Life" includes the line "my c--k's been sucked."
  • Language4
    Lots of "f--k," "s--t" and "bitch" scattered throughout the album. The "N" word is also used repeatedly.
  • Consumerism0
    Not applicable.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking3
    Kid Cudi is shown smoking in the bonus documentary videos included with this album and the song "Hyyer" makes references to "getting high" and mentions "weed" once. On "Day and Night" Cudi raps about being a "lonely stoner."
CloseExpand to see more details

What's the story?

Kid Cudi launches his debut album MAN ON THE MOON: THE END OF DAY, an experimental, alternative hip-hop release filled with hypnotic raps and images of dreams and nightmares. The album includes nearly an hour of video footage, from music videos to behind-the-scenes clips and also features many guest appearances, from Kanye West and Common to MGMT and Billy Cravens. The album has gained attention for the success of two of its singles: "Day 'n' Night" and "I Make Her Say," the latter sporting an acoustic sampling of Lady Gaga's "Poker Face."

Is it any good?

 

Kid Cudi's premiere album is appropriately-titled Man on the Moon. With it, Cudi takes listeners into unexplored territory, creating a surprisingly new sound that combines rap, R&B, psychedelic rock, and ambient melodies. The rapper crosses new ground in his concept album that moves through his psyche and uncovers the dreams and nightmares lurking within. At the same time, Cudi appears to be an astute observer of today's hip-hop scene, dropping lines from popular rap songs and morphing them for his own benefit. With this debut, Kid Cudi raises the creative bar for rappers who thought they could get away with just a tough swagger and Auto-tune samples.

Sign Up Message
Sign up for our weekly newsletter
Each week we send a customized newsletter to our parent and teen subscribers. Parents can customize their settings to receive recommendations and parent tips based on their kids’ ages. Teens receive a version just for them with the latest reviews and top picks for movies, video games, apps, music, books, and more.
Please enter an email address.
Please check your email address for possible typos.
Sorry, you must be 13 or older to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
Sign me up!

What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about lyrics that aren't appropriate for younger ears. Sometimes lyrics can be hard for parents to decode. Do you think slang words are used so only a certain group or generation can know their meanings?

  • One song on the album takes a tame popular song and reinterprets it to make it sexually charged. What are your family's guidelines about racy lyrics?

  • Families can talk about hip-hop music and age-appropriate messages. If an album isn't violent or mean-spirited, but still includes lots of profanity and mature messages, should it still be off limits? Why do you think rappers usually include bad language in their music? Do you think they would be labeled "uncool" if they didn't?

This review was written by Jacqueline Rupp
Teen, 14 years old
September 29, 2009
AGE
13
 
ONE OF THE YEAR'S BEST
THE ALBUM OF THE YEAR HAS ARRIVED GOIN UP WITH RELAPSE AS THE BEST HIP HOP ALBUM OF THE YEAR THE BEATS HYPNOTIC HIS TALEN BRILLIANT HIS INSIGHTFULNIS CAN BE SEEN ON SUCH TRACKS AS SOUNDTRACK TO MY LIFE CUDI ZONE AND PURSUIT OF HAPPINES HIS TALENT TO CREATE COOL ADICTIVE SO GS INCLUDE DAY N NITE ALIVE AND THE MESMERIZIN SOLO DOLO WHAT A SUPRISE FROM A UNKNOWN RAPPER TO CREATE A AWESOME RAP ALBUM THE PROFANITY IS MINIMAL PLUS ANY TEEN WILL ENJOY THE BEATS THE HOOKS AND THE AWESOME VERSES THAT ARE THE MAN ON THE MOON END OF DAY GRADE A DOWNLOAD THIS ONE ALIVE
Was this review useful?
Helped me decide (7) | Had useful details (2) | Read my mind (3)
Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 16 years old
August 4, 2010
AGE
14
 
love it
this music is hot helps u chill down after a tough lost in a football game u know and if u do sum herbs weed or maiujanina (which isnt a drug anymore thnks 2 cali :).. its great!! lol :)
Was this review useful?
Helped me decide (4) | Had useful details (2) | Read my mind (3)
Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 15 years old
May 22, 2011
AGE
14
 
Fun to Listen to
Kid Cudi raps about drugs and drinking but besides that and language the only song inappropriate for sexuality is Make Her Say. His songs are about being happy a lot of the time and his beats are mellow and the cd tells a story. I would recommend this album to any teen 14 and up.
Was this review useful?
Helped me decide (3) | Had useful details (2) | Read my mind (3)
Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 14 years old
March 18, 2011
AGE
14
 
Awesome Rapper and Singer
Great music any Kid would love it!!!
Was this review useful?
Helped me decide (3) | Had useful details (3) | Read my mind (2)
Flag as inappropriate 
See all user reviews
This review was written by Jacqueline Rupp
Artist:Kid Cudi
Release date:September 15, 2009
Label:Universal Motown
Genre:Hip-hop
Parental advisory:Yes
Edited version available:Yes
This review was written by Jacqueline Rupp
 

Review It

Share your review with others

Hang on! You need to be a member to post your review.
A safe community is important to us. Please observe our guidelines.
About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.
Our child development rating guidelines

Great alternatives handpicked by our editors

Hip Hop with heart
For kids who love Rap and thought-provoking jams
Browse more music
 

vote now

Will you add Man on the Moon: The End of Day to your playlist?

Absolutely
Maybe
No way

Already listened to it? What do you think?

I recommend it
It's a pass
 
More from Common Sense Media
Age-appropriate reviews
Top advice and articles

Been There? Tell us about it