$uicideBoy$, Stop Staring at the Shadows | Album Review 💿

$uicideBoy$ return with their potent sophomore LP, Stop Staring at the Shadows, characterized by awesome production and pessimistic rhymes.

“Kill me slow, slow / Curtains closed low / Fuck, I don’t see what’s the point of going on, no.” Can you say, morbid?  Honestly, that fits the sensibilities of the prolific $uicideBoy$, who returned in 2020 with their sophomore album, Stop Staring at the Shadows.  So, with only two studio albums to their name, how can you call Ruby Da Cherry and Scrim prolific? Well, they’ve released numerous projects prior to their two studio albums. The rap duo, comprised of two cousins are definitely pessimistic in their lyrical content, but, that’s part of the charm.  Although Stop Staring at the Shadows is only 27 minutes long, it’s a compelling and consistent affair.

“All Dogs Go to Heaven”

On the banging opener ✓ “All Dogs Go to Heaven,” Yung Christ (Scrim) drops the first verse, with no shortage of f-bombs, or unapologetic bars for that matter.  “Get the copper, pop a chopper, Dalai Lama / Feel like Silkk the Shocker, I’m a fucking problem.” Indeed! Similarly, Ruby (Oddy Nuff da Snow Leopard) is equally bold, whether he’s “Snorting blue sand with my cosmic ensemble” (prescription pills) or talking about bitches and hoes.  “All Dogs Go to Heaven” may not be transcendent, but damn, it’s one hell of a banger with bad ass production to match.

✓ “I Wanna Be Romanticized” is even briefer, trading Yung Christ and Oddy for Norman Atomic (Ruby Da Cherry) and Anthony Mars (Scrim).  As the title suggests, “I Wanna Be Romanticized” has more of a melodic sound.  Don’t get it twisted – there’s still a knocking trap beat – but it’s more tuneful than “All Dogs Go to Heaven.” Still, in the hands of the $uicideBoy$, don’t expect optimism.  Norman Atomic spits, on the first verse, “On the verge of suicide, I told the world it’s you or I / I have two sides / One that wants to see you all thrive and one that wants to see you die.” As for Anthony Mars, well, he’s also suicide driven as well:

“Fuckin’ all these hoes only left me with a bigger hole
Popping pills every night, rotten on the inside
Pain covered red eyes, don’t know how to get by
All they see is dollar signs (All they see is dollar signs)
Scott done got itemized, manifested suicide.”

“One Last Look at the Damage” 

The songs continue to have short runtimes on Stop Staring at the Shadows.  Even so, they remain intriguing, including the shortest record on the album, “One Last Look at the Damage.” First things first, a Juicy J sample kicks things off on the intro – “Play me some of that suicide pimpin’, man.” From there, Black Window (Scrim) does his thing, asserting, “When it comes to death, I like to flirt / My hills have eyes and a smirk / My cuz got blues and he got that syrup, boy.” Duck Boy (Ruby) follows, referencing imminent death: “If I keep it up, all these 30s gon kill me before thirty / Another day wasted up my nose and it’s still early.” And for good measure, much like on “All Dogs Go to Heaven,” Ruby “Snort(s) another blue.” “One Last Look at the Damage” – INDEED!

Another song, more alter egos! On “[whispers indistinctly],” $uicideBoy$ unveil OG Corpse (Scrim) and George Washington’s AR-15.  OG Corpse manages to reference Scrim’s alter ego, Yung Christ, rapping about guns (“Take my chances with the Glock / Cock it back and let Nina sing”) and drug abuse (“Get me the drugs, numb the pain”).  As for Ruby – rather George Washington’s AR015 – he cleverly references the first President of the United States, and himself:

“If mine is selected to night, I know the Devil’s sweating
‘You have until I count to seven to escape,’ he threatened
Please bury me under the cherry tree.”

“MEGA ZEPH” 

“MEGA ZEPH” welcomes Northside Shorty and Southside Shorty.  Ah, the $uicideBoy$ continue to be the gift that keeps on giving! The production is combination of eerie, enigmatic, and malicious.  The rhymes match, as Northside Shorty is “Going non-stop, aim the red dot / Shoot a motherfucker dead where he laying.” That’s savage.  Southside Shorty is equally savage, if not more so:

“I wanna see blood stains on the grill of the Mustang
Couple pills just to numb the pain
Six roads, one way
Flames arise, burned my eyes
I’m late for judgement day.”

Budd Dwyer (Scrim by the way) continues to give $uicideBoy$ kick ass production work on the short but potent ✓ “Putrid Pride,” which appeared on the playlist, 13 P Songs Selected with No Rhyme or Reason. Alter egos are definitely a big deal for $uicideBoy$, so, it’s no surprise we’re introduced Lil Cig ($crim), rapping the first verse and select portions of the chorus.  He doesn’t serve up anything particularly transcendent but give him credit for “Popping on pills like I pop cough drops” and being a “Multi-millionaire all from my laptop / Slob on my knob until your jaw lock.” As for Ruby, he’s 40 Blunts, handling the second verse and most of the chorus that precedes it. The chorus is pretty sweet:

“As the years go by
Another day closer to death
Time is ticking, hurry.”

40 Blunts also manage a couple of standout lines such as “The same fuck girls will be fucking the same fuck boys” and “The same heroes you once had have been reduced to a toy.” Sure, “Putrid Pride” may not reach two minutes in duration, but again, it’s quite potent.

“That Just Isn’t Empirically Possible”

Some stellar samples help to fuel the fire on ✓ “That Just Isn’t Empirically Possible,” one of my favorite song titles on Stop Staring at the Shadows.  Not only is the song title awesome, so is the record itself.  Besides Budd Dwyer continuing his production prowess, we get more electrifying rhymes on this two-minute gem.  Lord of Loneliness admits, “I’m at my breaking point, I cannot take this shit no more / I’m ready to fucking explode.” Yeah, the depression and mental unrest is totally real… Things remain unsettling from the perspective of Yung Mane, who opens the second verse by referencing “Percocet, Roxicodone, with some Xanax that I had crushed up in some dust…” Phew! 

“Glock to my fuckin’ back, a pill smacked to my head / I catch another, clutchin’ on the smoke from the marijuana…” What a way to commence the boldly titled, ✓ “What the Fuck is Happening.”  The lyrical sample serves as a hook of sorts, even though Stop Staring at the Shadows as a whole is devoid of them. Like most of Stop Staring at the Shadows, the backdrop is nasty AF, and Papa Pine and Yung Scarecrow eat it up.  Papa Pine raps about the come-up (“All of a sudden me and my cousin / Rich from pressing buttons) and drops the absolute jewel, “She asked if she could blow me / I said, ‘Bitch, I ain’t no trumpet.’” SAVAGE! Of course, it should come as no surprise Yung Scarecrow mentions pills – blue ones specifically.

“Bizarro” is the longest song on Stop Staring at the Shadows.  That said, it’s only three-and-a-half minutes in length – nothing too crazy.  The song is named after a villainous comic book character, though there’s no explicit mention of Bizarro.  Still, considering the content of the lyrics, they seem to embody, um, badness. Lil Remains and Yung Maraschino continue the consistency of the LP, and even drop a chorus for once: “Baby, fuck what they say / Full of drugs, can’t feel my face.”

“Scope Set”

Two more super short cuts arrive towards the end of the album. The first is the 10^th track of the album, “Scope Set.”  Not to sound repetitive, but the production – on-point.  Furthermore, the best verse comes from Ruby da Cherry, this time appearing as Yung $now, and rapping loudly and quite assertively. No worries, Scrim is on fire as YUNG $CARECROW on the penultimate banger, “Fuck Your Culture.” “Overdosed on heroin, too much Xanny, God can’t stand me,” he spits, adding, “Fuck a standard, fuck your culture, motherfuck a fuckin’ Grammy.” Amen… I think… maybe not… 

The 27-minute album concludes with “…And to Those I Love, Thanks for Sticking Around,” which is amazingly set in a major key.  Even so, it’s not, um, optimistic.  Romeo de Black Rose, who ‘questions his existence/decisions’ states at the end of his verse, “I’ll be dead by dawn…” Of course, that’s not the first reference to death on the album, or even that particular verse.  Lil Dark also seems to be onboard with the downward spiral: “Head fucked up and I’m sick / These old habits will kill me quick / quicker than I can blink.”   

Final Thoughts

Cutting straight to the chase, $uicideBoy$ bring the heat on Stop Staring at the Shadows, period. It’s merely 27-minutes in duration, but it’s a potent, worthwhile 27-minutes.  Sure, “All Dogs Go to Heaven” and “That Just Isn’t Empirically Possible” appear among the gems, but there are really no glaring misses or miscues.  Consistency is the key word.  Adding to the excellence is the production, which is utterly superb.  

✓ Gems: “All Dogs Go to Heaven,” “I Wanna Be Romanticized,” “Putrid Pride,” “That Just Isn’t Empirically Possible” & “What the Fuck is Happening”

$uicideBoy$ • Stop Staring at the Shadows • G*59 • Release: 2.14.20

Photo Credit: G*59