Man On the Moon: The End of Day

Kid Cudi was a key ally of Kanye West when the rapper/producer experimented with arty electronic pop on *808s & Heartbreak*, and his debut album, *Man on the Moon: The End of Day*, explores a similarly hazy and synth-heavy style of hip-hop. He captures the feeling of drug-induced isolation with the spooky riff of “Day ‘n’ Nite,” while both the intense electronic assault of “Pursuit of Happiness” and hook-laden, Lady Gaga-sampling “Make Her Say” encapsulate his desire to cross sonic boundaries.