$uicideboy$

$uicideboy$ are an American hip-hop duo from New Orleans, Louisiana. The group forms in 2014 and consists of cousins Ruby da Cherry and $crim. They release all of their music through their own label, G*59 Records.

Style and themes

The duo first gain attention on SoundCloud for abrasive self-produced beats and lyrics centred on substance use disorder and suicidal ideation. Their music moves across different rap sub-genres, with some tracks using melancholy, confessional writing about depression and suicidal thoughts, while others are more aggressive and include violence and sexual content. A number of songs also draw on life in New Orleans, with titles such as Audubon, Tulane, Elysian Fields and St. Bernard referring to streets and neighbourhoods associated with their upbringing.

A large part of their work focuses on depression and its symptoms. Ruby da Cherry describes it as music that connects with listeners and serves as therapy through music. The duo are regarded as one of the most popular acts in the underground rap scene.

Production and collaboration

Most of the duo’s catalogue is self-produced, apart from occasional guest producers. The main production work comes from $crim, who uses the pseudonym Budd Dwyer, a reference to the former politician of that name. Early attention comes from collaborations with underground rapper Bones.

They also work with fellow underground artist Black Smurf, South Florida rapper Pouya, g59 rapper RAMIREZ, GERM and EDM producer Getter.

Early releases and breakthrough

Their first release together is the three-track EP Kill Yourself Part I: The $uicide $aga, which appears in 2014 on SoundCloud and Bandcamp. This is followed by nine further instalments in the Kill Yourself series across the next months. After a run of collaboration EPs with Black Smurf, they issue their first full-length project, Gray/Grey, in 2015.

Their underground breakthrough comes with $outh $ide $uicide, a 2015 EP with Pouya. Other 2015 releases include 7th or St. Tammany, YUNGDEATHLILLIFE, High Tide in the Snake's Nest, Grey Sheep EP, I No Longer Fear The Razor Guarding My Heel parts I and II, My Liver Will Handle What My Heart Can't, Now The Moon's Rising and G.R.E.Y.G.O.D.S. with RAMIREZ.

Mainstream chart entry and later releases

Their first appearance on the mainstream charts comes in 2016 with Radical $uicide, a five-track EP produced by Getter that peaks at number 17 on the Billboard Rap chart. Their 2016 output also includes Dark Side of the Clouds, Grey Sheep II, Eternal Grey, I No Longer Fear The Razor Guarding My Heel part III, G.R.E.Y.G.O.D.S.I.I. with RAMIREZ, DIRTYNASTY$UICIDE with GERM and Black $uicide Side C with Black Smurf.

In 2017 they release another 10 instalments in the Kill Yourself series, along with DIRTIERNASTIER$UICIDE with GERM.

Debut studio album

The duo’s debut studio album, I Want to Die in New Orleans, appears in 2018. They begin recording it in early 2017 and describe it as reflecting their experiences on the road and how their lives have become more extravagant.

Later in 2018, rumours of a split circulate after a series of ominous tweets, but the pair state that the messages relate to personal issues facing $crim and that they have not broken up.

Members

$crim

$crim is Scott Arceneaux Jr., born in Marrero, Louisiana, on 11 April 1989. He starts making music after being inspired by T-Pain and Kanye West, and he buys his first laptop with money from selling drugs. He begins DJing, studies at Delgado Community College, and works DJ jobs at parties there. He also works selling used furniture and loses that job after three years because of his hand tattoos.

Ruby da Cherry

Ruby da Cherry is Aristos Petrou, born on 22 April 1990 to an American mother and a Greek Cypriot father. He grows up in Metairie, Louisiana. He starts with violin at seven, switches to drums at ten, and joins bands in middle school. He later plays drums in the punk band Vapo-Rats before leaving to focus on hip-hop with $crim. He also works as a waiter at his father’s restaurant until 2015.

Petrou and Arceneaux are cousins and grow up close to one another. Before forming the duo, they make a pact that if their music career fails they will both commit suicide.