This is the sophomore full-length solo LP from New Orleans, Louisiana rapper, producer & deejay $crim. Coming up as 1/2 of the $uicideboy$, the duo has been impeccably consistent since their formation over a decade ago & Wetto here was actually the first one to branch out on his own by dropping the solo debut A Man Rose to the Dead during the COVID-19 pandemic to mixed to negative reception including from myself. However since Ruby da Cherry’s been grinding with a couple of skate punk EPs since last summer, it’s only right for Budd Dwyer to introduce us to the Lonely Boy.
“destination: home” is a cloudy trap opener co-produced by G*59 Record$ in-house producer Dynox encouraging to dream on whereas “a boy whistling in the graveyard” displays a more melodic delivery over an atmospheric instrumental with some hi-hats hoping that he gets right. “maserati slick” shows off the new whip that he just copped accompanied by a psychedelic trap beat leading into “who saves the savior?” asking who could love what he’s become going for a Memphis-influenced sound this time.
Meanwhile, “night gallery” continues forward by working in this vast instrumental keeping the hi-hats into the fold just before “demo demon” looks to pull up on his opposition. The synth-heavy title track goes into territory addressing the loneliness that he feels, but then the meditative “don’t know why” rides around town so fucked up to the point where he can’t even see
“blam!” experiments with rage beats talking about unloading the chopper on anyone who goes against his set prior to “4muhslime #freethug” paying tribute to Young Thug & the beat giving off a solemn vibe. “devil’s revenge using god’s subjects” sets out blow all these racks with a bitch blowing his high shooting for a moodier aesthetic while “i just hope that my death makes more cents than my life” delves into hypertrap turf flexing that his money keeps going up.
Starting the 2nd leg, “new glock 4 my opps” continues to blend buzzing synths with repetitive chord progressions & melodic synth leads looking to make the block hot while “1st things first” admits that he doesn’t go outside much although everyone should pray whenever he does returning to a relaxed, dream-like & reverb-heavy production style. “north pontchartrain blues” suggests to come spend the night & never leave him over a slick trap instrumental while the bass-heavy lead single “paradise” describes his ideal place.
“just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean you’re wrong” atmospherically laces $crim’s feelings with drugs clarifying he can’t help but go when they call him while “a man touched the sky” talks about refusing to take any chances over another trillwave beat. “all graves go unvisited in the end” dejectedly confesses to people betraying him when he never thought they would while “nightmare on the northside 2” is a worthy sequel to a highlight off A Man Rose from the Dead.
Moving on to the final quarter of the LP, “chrome cowboy” looks to do whatever it takes to keep catching those Ws trying to give off a vibrant approach generally while the rage-inducing “die4me” asks if anyone’s loyal to him. “1-800-PAIN” is cloudy a reminder that shit ain’t sweet when you look in his eyes while the trippy “marlboro country” talks about a whole new vibe he’s been on. The angelic/trap crossover “a nice place to visit” heads back west & lastly, “levitate” ends Lonely Boy on an upbeat note riding & dying by his shawty.
Granted it kinda seems like $crim heard Destroy Lonely’s last album If Looks Could Kill since it was also 26 tracks & nearly 90 minutes long when we first got it last spring, yet Lonely Boy still shows significant improvements over A Man Rose from the Dead. It’s refreshing to hear Budd experimenting with new sounds & his performances actually sound invigorated as opposed to being monotonously boring on the predecessor.
Score: 3.5/5
Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!
Legends Will Never Die 