"Moon" is a song by American rapper
Kanye West from his tenth studio album, Donda (2021). The song features fellow American rappers
Don Toliver and
Kid Cudi. It initially only had an appearance from Toliver, however Kid Cudi was added after the album's first listening event. The song peaked at number 17 on the US
Billboard Hot 100, also reaching number 7 on the US
Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart.
Background
"Moon" was debuted during the album's first listening event July 23, 2021, at
Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, though only
Don Toliver guested on the version played.[1][2] By the time the second listening party for Donda was held at the stadium on August 5, 2021, the song had been updated to include an appearance from
Kid Cudi alongside Toliver.[1][3][4] The rapper tweeted that the final version was new to him since he had not heard it before the event, clarifying that he knew of his presence on the album and only did not "hear final
mixes".[4] Kid Cudi also recalled he was not on the album when he tweeted he was not, admitting West contacted him the next week and they "made it work".[3] The rapper also recorded for fellow album track "
Remote Control", though his contributions were removed from the final version.[3][5] A new version of "Moon" was played for Donda's third listening event at
Soldier Field in Chicago on August 26, 2021, which replaced Kid Cudi with the
Sunday Service Choir.[1][6] The version of the track that was included on the album three days later restored his appearance.[1]
During a
Twitchlivestream on September 7, 2021, fellow rapper
Lil Yachty, who appears on Donda track "Ok Ok", revealed that he was behind Kid Cudi being included on "Moon". The rapper recalled an excerpt from the song being played on
TikTok after the album's first listening party, to which him and "everyone in the comments" responded by expressing that Kid Cudi "would sound great" on it. Lil Yachty said he contacted fellow rapper and Donda contributor
Vory after the excerpt gained popularity on TikTok, declaring that Kid Cudi "gotta get on 'Moon'". The rapper explained that Vory reached out to West, who then contacted Kid Cudi for the song; he concluded by joking, "Y'all can thank me."[1][5]
In an interview with Ebro on In The Morning on Hot 97, Don Toliver noted that the final version of "Moon" was completely different from what he initially recorded on.[7][8]
Commercial performance
Upon the release of Donda, "Moon" debuted at number 17 on the US
Billboard Hot 100.[9] The song simultaneously entered at number six on both the US
Christian Songs and
Gospel Songs charts.[10][11] It further reached number seven on the US
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, placing among West's seven simultaneous top-10 hits that led to him tying
Drake's record on the chart.[12] In Canada, the song charted at number 21 on the
Canadian Hot 100.[13]
^"
ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 202135 into search. Retrieved September 7, 2021.