On the rappers first greatest-hits set. The Boy Who Flew to the Moon, Vol. 1, Kid Cudi presents a wealth of evidence that he was one of the most innovative and influential artist of the 2010s. Culled from each of his major-label releases, the collection kicks off with his multi-platinum hit singles "Day n Nite" and "Pursuit of Happiness" featuring indie alternative acts MGMT and Ratatat from his best-selling debut, 2009s Man on the Moon: The End of Day. From there, its a chronological trip through space, touching down on 2010s Man on the Moon II with "GHOST!" and "Mr. Rager" and flying all the way to 2020s Man on the Moon III. His mid-2010s forays into alternative rock also make the cut, with 2012s WZRD contributing "The Dream Time Machine" and "Upper Room" and 2015s Speedin Bullet 2 Heaven injects "CONFUSED!" and the title track to the mix. Packaged together, this compilation provides a fascinating peek into both Cudis evolution and artistic scope, presenting a figure that maybe doesnt get enough credit for the creative leaps hes taken and the inspiration that hes provided to contemporaries and up-and-coming artists alike. ~ Neil Z. Yeung

Rovi