The $uicideboy$ also known as $b are a hip hop duo from New Orleans, Louisiana founded by cousins Scott Arceneaux Jr. “Scrim” and Aristos Petrou “Ruby da Cherry” in 2013.
Scrim and Ruby initially veered down different paths, Ruby partaking in punk rock that was heavily inspired by the Misfits, Minor Threat, and Leftover Crack. All the while scrim was a DJ and Songwriter both of there careers starting on sound cloud where the initially released their first EP Kill Yourself Part I: The $uicide $aga.
“When we first started, we wanted to do the exact opposite of what everybody in rap was doing,” says Ruby da Cherry. “We didn’t have nice cars or gold chains, so we just flexed that we were losers” “We’re just trying to catch people’s attention.”
Besides that they had a pretty solemn start, stating “we would give ourselves ’til 30” to make this music career work “or we would kill ourselves,” as Ruby explains, giving them the name $uisideboy$.
The boys both struggled with addiction starting in their teen years. However the two were both very open and honest about this in their music. “It was never like, ‘Hey everybody, go do heroin, it was great.’ It was more like, ‘This is what we do…’ We were very unapologetic.”
The group almost ended when Ruby’s addiction took a turn for the worse. Ruby da Cherry: I went to rehab the night of October 26, 2020. It happened after we had a team meeting at $crim’s house and I kept going in the bathroom and snorting (stuff). Eventually I took so much I was falling asleep on them in the meeting. Then they had an intervention. I was kicking, fighting, cursing them out. I said I’d never talk to them again. Then I did go and it was one of the best experiences in my life… I thought I knew everything. I’ve been trying to rebel my whole life because I hated myself so much. To clarify, I’m not fully sober, but I don’t do any opiates.” Ruby is now five years sober.
As for Scrim, he made the decision to get clean after realizing how much his addiction was affecting him and those around him as he slipped into an months long drug induced psychosis
“It takes a lot of work for me to stay sober. I wish it was as easy as just waking up every day and making the choice. I’m involved in some 12-step programs that I do every day, and the people I trust to keep around me are a good support group.” $crim is now six years sober
If you or anyone you know is in crisis, call 988 or visit the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s website for free, confidential emotional support and resources 24/7.
