On this day, Sept. 15, in hip-hop history...

Universal Motown Records
Universal Motown Records
loading...

2009: As his career started to bubble, Man on the Moon: The End of Day, the debut album from Cleveland native Kid Cudi, was released on Sept. 15, 2009. The rapper had signed to Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music imprint after delivering key contributions to Kanye's 808s & Heartbreak a year prior.

Man on the Moon: The End of Day, the first concept album in a planned trilogy of releases, pushed hip-hop into unique and unexpected directions that made the album an accomplished debut for a relative newcomer. The album experimented with psychedelic sounds, forays into indie pop and featured a loose lyrical structure that made it feel slightly different than anything else on the charts at the time.

The album was a commercial and critical success receiving positive reviews from critics while selling at a steady pace. Man on the Moon would feature three singles to achieve chart success, most notably lead single "Day 'N Nite" that would peak at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart and would go two-times platinum in the U.S.

Meanwhile, MGMT and Ratatat-assisted "Pursuit of Happiness" would also garner major success, going platinum. The album as a whole was highly successful, becoming certified gold by the RIAA.

Having his profile skyrocketed off such a strong debut, Cudi would go on to release five more albums including Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager (2010) and Satellite Flight: The Journey to Mother Moon(2014).

Cudi is no longer signed to G.O.O.D Music, but collaborates with the label's cohorts frequently. After dropping his seventh studio album, Passion, Pain and Demon Slayin' in December 2016, Cudder and Kanye were spotted in Japan and LA earlier this summer and are rumored to be working on a "secret project" together. Just about a year later, they unloaded Kids See Ghosts, an eponymous debut from their newly formed duo.

See 50 Great Albums From Rappers With Poetic Flows

More From XXL