$uicideboy$: The Pioneers of Underground Hip-Hop

$uicideboy$ are an American hip-hop duo from New Orleans, Louisiana, consisting of cousins Ruby da Cherry and $crim. The pair have built a massive, dedicated following through their prolific output of dark, sample-heavy music, leading to significant commercial success in the underground scene.

Early career

Cousins Aristos Petrou (Ruby da Cherry) and Scott Arceneaux Jr. ($crim) formed $uicideboy$ in 2014. They began releasing music independently through the online platform SoundCloud, tapping into a growing audience for raw, emotive hip-hop with themes addressing depression, substance abuse, and nihilism.

Their early series of EPs, known as the "Kill Yourself" sagas, quickly garnered a cult following. This led to the founding of their own independent label, G*59 Records, in partnership with fellow rapper Pouya, creating a central hub for their dark aesthetic and relentless release schedule.

Breakthrough

The duo's breakthrough into mainstream recognition accelerated around 2017-2018. Their "I Want to Die in New Orleans" album debuted at number 9 on the Billboard 200 chart in 2018, a major milestone for an independently released project.

This commercial validation was solidified by their extensive global touring, which consistently sold out venues. Their independent model proved highly successful, with several projects achieving gold and platinum certifications from the RIAA, including the single "Paris" and the "I No Longer Fear the Razor Guarding My Heel" series.

Key tracks

Paris — This 2015 single became their first RIAA-certified platinum record, defining their signature lo-fi, melancholic sound for a global audience.

And to Those I Love, Thanks for Sticking Around — A viral hit on TikTok in 2020, this track propelled the $uicideboy$ to a new generation of listeners and achieved platinum status.

2nd Hand — Featured on the "I Want to Die in New Orleans" album, this track showcases their adept use of heavy metal and horror film samples within a hip-hop framework.

Antarctica — A fan favorite known for its bleak atmosphere and introspective lyrics, it remains a staple in their live performances.

Following their chart success, $uicideboy$ have continued to dominate the underground. They have collaborated with artists like Travis Barker, Germ, and Shakewell, while albums like "Long Term Effects of Suffering" (2021) continued their streak of top 10 Billboard 200 entries.

Their influence is heard in the work of contemporaries like Ghostemane, who blends hip-hop with industrial and metal elements. The raw, emotional delivery is shared by City Morgue, known for their aggressive trap-metal style. The DIY ethos and dark thematic content connect them to Bones, a pioneer of the underground cloud rap scene.

The music of $uicideboy$ is a regular feature on online radio streams and independent music radio stations that specialize in underground hip-hop and alternative sounds. Their distinct style provides a gritty counterpoint to mainstream playlists.

Listeners can discover the extensive catalog of $uicideboy$ by tuning into the underground hip-hop and alternative radio stations available on onairium.com, where their genre-defining tracks are frequently in rotation.