$uicideboy$’s “THE_EVIL_THAT_MEN_DO” Single Review

A maybe little-known fact about me: I’m definitely a big fan of this duo, $uicideboy$. (For a certain couple of friends who may end up reading this and the semi-inside-joke it will be to them: “big Ruby fan here”)

While they seem to get jocked on a lot, or at least maybe ridiculed based on their fanbase (seems like artists such as Slipknot, ICP, and plenty others out there also suffer with this), they’ve made music that definitely impacts me. Having gotten the pleasure of seeing them with a bunch of other really cool artists belonging to their G59 roster during the Grey Day Tour last year, their live energy sealed the deal on my admiration towards them. A lot of what I love about them seems to come from their 2020 release, “STOP STARING AT THE SHADOWS,” but this is a duo of immensely talented dudes with quite the catalog under their belts.

Today, we’ll look at the latest drop to add to that catalog: “THE_EVIL_THAT_MEN_DO”

(Image taken from artist’s Spotify)

If you don’t know anything about Ruby or $crim, let me just summarize it like this: These two have absolutely been through it. Having both come from tough upbringings, especially in $crim’s case, it makes their music all the more authentic and compelling when you realize their entire career was built around the literal idea that “either we make it with our music, or we don’t make it at all,” more or less. (For purposes of not triggering any readers and keeping triggering details out of the conversation here, I will not further delve into the context or meaning of that statement. Again, just know these two have been through it.)

Needless to say, and as evidently as simply looking at their Spotify metrics, $uicideboy$ have created an entire community of their own with their music; Be it with fellow talents, fans, producers, acts outside their genre or style, friends, or more. An enormous following gathers for virtually anything the $uicideboy$ partake in, and the support they not only receive but give back and have historically given is something of a heartwarming reminder that even when we’re all at our most broken points, beautiful things can be found and a bright future still exists for us; You may be broken, but you’ll never truly be alone and broken, not for long, anyhow.

The emotional impact and confessions of the darkest recesses of a traumatized mind seem to be nearly most present in “STOP STARING AT THE SHADOWS,” but that doesn’t stop either Ruby or $crim from venting their personal struggles in other works as well. “THE_EVIL_THAT_MEN_DO” primarily feels like a return to roots for them, however. If I had to compare this new release to anything in their discography from before, it would likely be “Gray/Grey,” but otherwise, this 100% reminds me of the 90’s “gangsta rap” days. Yet, it still has a unique $uicideboy$ flavor of its own that sticks out from anything it could be speculated to draw influence from or “sound like.”

Black hoodies, camo cargo pants, and baseball caps, with buzzed, short blonde hair, hanging outside the local 7-11 with a black n mild and a 40 oz of malt liquor, getting ready to go do the dumbest and most depraved shit of their life; Throwing caution and morale to the wind and saying “I’m just trying to feel something tonight,” before walking off to get into a car with people they met just that night and have no real idea of what their true intentions may be. A sense recklessness, no-fear if you will, feels to be perhaps the element of the instrumental, and touches just a bit in-tune with the lyrical content.

This sort of sound reminds of when I was 7 years old and found certain songs “scary,” I suppose due to the nature of the note choices and maybe just the way they resonated with my still-developing brain. At any rate, this feels like something the likes of Biggie would have spit over had Ruby and $crim produced it and didn’t take the evil into their own hands. The song is filled with lyrical gut-punches at those who have betrayed either of the duo. Maybe we’re even getting some allusions to the weird, headache-inducing legal battle the two experienced (and as I recall reading, had to pay a settlement to conclude) back in 2020 and 2021. Even if, much of the meaning of who or what any of these lyrics are about or directed to is likely left to interpretation.

On top of grilling, “fuck you all!!!”-esque passages, we get the classic humorous angles of Ruby and $crim as well. Case in point: “Blame my absence on the fact that my dick got stuck,” or even ”I could sell Christ like I’m Judas.” The overall tone seems to say “Yeah, we’re fucked up people and we’ve had lots of fucked up things happen, but even through it all, we ain’t flipped yet and likely never will!” Truthfully, you could even summarize this song as almost a recap of facts about the duo. No matter what awful things may continue to hinder at them, mentally, physically, spiritually, or even business-related, $uicideboy$ appear virtually untouchable in terms of continued success and keeping their relevance. Must be that giant family of die-hard fans they’ve garnered from just being unapologetically authentic.

Take notes, all you upcoming artists who want to know a thing or two about “success,” an authentic image is always the best “image” to have!

(Image taken from Google, source unknown)

All the above said and examined, I’m not too sure how I exactly feel about this song. It’s definitely not bad at all. It’s definitely a $uicideboy$ song, one that probably even sounds more them than ever! But somehow I don’t find myself going after multiple re-listens on this one.

I wouldn’t say it feels lacking in any regard, but I think I’d rather hear the context it might fit in with a full-length album; Supposing, of course, there is any intention to release such a thing and include this on it. Given we just got “Long Term Effects of SUFFERING” less than a year ago, I’m not certain how adamant $B are to releasing another full-length effort any time soon, but to discount the work ethic of these two would truly be a denial of their history. So who knows what’s next!

I’m just not sure how to process this one as a single. It is enjoyable and teases us for something really cool possibly on the way. Even if not, though, this has just enough to hold us over for a bit. Banger? Not so sure about that one, yet. Solid track with traditional yet new-ish $uicideboy$ flair? Yeah, for sure!

8/10. This song should have been in Tony Hawk’s Underground. This song should also soundtrack every late-night, after-midnight drive you make up to the local 7-11 to overfill a slushee and just run away with it without paying while posting pictures of it on social media captioned “just stole this bih 😈😈😈😈👺👺👺👺 #whogonnastopme“ Oh by the way, it’s gotta also be the same 7-11 you work at and are due into at 8:00 AM the next day.

Keep up to date on everything $uicideboy$ at: https://www.twitter.com/SUICIDEBOYS?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor