Moon (Kanye West song)

"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.

"Moon"
Song by Kanye West featuring Kid Cudi and Don Toliver
from the album Donda
Released	August 29, 2021 (2021-08-29)
Recorded	July - August 2021
Length	2:36
Label	GOOD Def Jam
Songwriter(s)	Kanye West Caleb Zackery Toliver Scott Mescudi Evan Mast Jahmal Gwin Khalil Abdul-Rahman
Producer(s)	Kanye West E.Vax BoogzDaBeast DJ Khalil

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 Twitch livestream 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]

The song was most successful in New Zealand, reaching number nine on the NZ Singles Chart.^[14] In Australia, it entered the ARIA Singles Chart at number 15.^[15] The song performed similarly in Iceland, debuting at number 12 on the Icelandic Singles Chart.^[16] It reached numbers 22 and 23 on the Danish Track Top-40 and Norwegian Topp 20 Singles charts, respectively.^[17][18] Top-40 positions were also attained by the song in Lithuania, Ireland, and Portugal,^[19][20][21] while it charted at number 20 on the Billboard Global 200.^[22]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.^[23]

• Kanye West – producer, songwriter
• E. Vax – producer, songwriter
• BoogzDaBeast – co-producer, songwriter
• DJ Khalil – co-producer, songwriter
• Caleb Zackery Toliver – songwriter
• Scott Mescudi – songwriter
• Irko – mastering engineer, mix engineer
• Alejandro Rodriguez-Dawsøn – recording engineer
• Drrique Rendeer – recording engineer
• James Kelso – recording engineer
• Josh Berg – recording engineer
• Mikalai Skrobat – recording engineer
• Roark Bailey – recording engineer
• Will Chason – assistant recording engineer
• Louis Bell – vocal editing
• Patrick Hundley – vocal editing

Charts

Weekly charts Chart performance for "Moon" Chart (2021) Peak position Australia (ARIA)^[24] 15 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)^[25] 21 Denmark (Tracklisten)^[26] 22 France (SNEP)^[27] 103 Global 200 (Billboard)^[28] 20 Greece International Digital Singles (IFPI)^[29] 59 Iceland (Plötutíðindi)^[16] 12 Ireland (IRMA)^[30] 36 Lithuania (AGATA)^[19] 26 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[31] 9 Norway (VG-lista)^[32] 23 Portugal (AFP)^[21] 39 Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)^[33] 72 South Africa (RISA)^[34] 32 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[35] 45 UK Singles (OCC)^[36] 83 US Billboard Hot 100^[37] 17 US Christian Songs (Billboard)^[38] 6 US Gospel Songs (Billboard)^[39] 6 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)^[40] 7

Year-end charts 2021 year-end chart performance for "Moon" Chart (2021) Position US Christian Songs (Billboard)^[41] 10 US Gospel Songs (Billboard)^[42] 2

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)^[43]	Gold	40,000
United States (RIAA)^[44]	Platinum	1,000,000
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

1. Bustard, Andy (September 8, 2021). "Lil Yachty Explains How Kid Cudi Ended Up On Kanye West's 'Moon'". HipHopDX. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
2. Maria, Lewczyk (July 23, 2021). "On the scene at Kanye West's 'Donda' playback in Atlanta: 'It feels cathartic'". NME. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
3. Grant, Rindner (August 9, 2021). "11 Ways Kanye West's Donda Album Has Already Changed". GQ. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
4. White, Caitlyn (August 6, 2021). "Kid Cudi's 'Donda' Collab 'Moon' Wasn't Ready Until Last Night". Uproxx. from the original on August 15, 2021. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
5. Zidel, Alex (September 8, 2021). "Lil Yachty Explains He's The Reason Why Kid Cudi Is On Kanye West's 'Moon'". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
6. Caraan, Sophie (August 26, 2021). "Kanye West 'Donda' Chicago Listening Event". Hypebeast. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
7. Rose, Jordan (7 October 2021). "Don Toliver Talks About Collaborating With Kanye West on 'Donda'". Complex. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
8. McCloud, Taylor (7 October 2021). "Don Toliver Says Working With Kanye West Was A "Crazy Blessing"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
9. Zellner, Xander (September 7, 2021). "Kanye West Lands 23 Songs From 'Donda' on Billboard Hot 100, With Two in Top 10". Billboard. from the original on September 8, 2021. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
10. "Hot Christian Songs Chart – September 11, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
11. "Hot Gospel Songs Chart – September 11, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
12. Anderson, Trevor (September 9, 2021). "Kanye West's 'Hurricane' Lands at No. 1 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. from the original on September 10, 2021. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
13. "Canadian Music: Top 100 Songs – September 11, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
14. "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. September 6, 2021. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
15. "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 6 September 2021". No. 1644. Australian Recording Industry Association. September 6, 2021. p. 4. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
16. "Tónlistinn – Lög - Vika 35 – 2021". Plötutíðindi. Archived from the original on September 6, 2021. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
17. "Track Top-40 Uge 35, 2021". Hitlisten. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
18. "VG-lista – Topp 20 Single 2021-36". VG-lista. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
19. "2021 35-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. September 3, 2021. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
20. "Discography Kanye West". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
21. "Kanye West – Moon". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
22. "Top Global Songs Chart – September 11, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
23. "Donda / Kanye West – Credits". Tidal. Archived from the original on September 18, 2021. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
24. "Kanye West – Moon". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
25. "Kanye West Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
26. "Kanye West – Moon". Tracklisten. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
27. "Kanye West – Moon" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
28. "Kanye West Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
29. . IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on September 20, 2021. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
30. "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
31. "Kanye West – Moon". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
32. "Kanye West – Moon". VG-lista. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
33. "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.
34. . Recording Industry of South Africa. Archived from the original on September 9, 2021. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
35. "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 36". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
36. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
37. "Kanye West Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
38. "Kanye West Chart History (Hot Christian Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
39. "Kanye West Chart History (Hot Gospel Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
40. "Kanye West Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
41. "Hot Christian Songs – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
42. "Hot Gospel Songs – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
43. "Canadian single certifications – Kanye West – Moon". Music Canada. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
44. "American single certifications – Kanye West – Moon". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 11, 2021.