Memoirs of a Gorilla by $uicideboy$ Lyrics Meaning – Peeling Back the Layers of Grit and Vigor
Lyrics
If I take a bet you can guess who gon’ win
I walk in the ‘jects without no protection
I function in hoods every city I’m in
I’m that grey born gorilla out the concrete jungle
Ducking from the dope ’cause I just shot a bundle
Scarecrow make the chopper drum shots rumble
Scarecrow got the dope game from my uncle
Still prefer the drugs over bitches
Better watch your side that you picking
Snake start hissing
Heads go missing
Rest in piss to the ones I’m killing
Chief Keef drilling
Codeine spilling
Blood on my linen from the cuts never healing
Hot boys out the crypt with a mouth full of scripts
Body bags zip when the gun hammer clip
Ruby leveled up, Ruby leveled up
Ruby gon’ global
Epidemic proportion
I got the torch and now I’m lightin up gas on the porch
Kick back, now I’m bored
$lick asked for the short
Flick ash for the sport
Ruby wrestles several devils in the seventhth Ward
But Ruby can’t afford to move towards the hoard just yet
Seventh Ward dragon with a fiery sword through the neck
Engulfed in flames, engulfed in blood
As it rains from the red heaven that Yung Plague has escaped levitate, over Lake Pontchartrain
Set ’em straight
No we are not the same
Yeah it’s hard to remain when you’re self slain
Yeah it’s all that remains when you’re self made
Ruby ’bout to take a second breath
Embrace yourself because all that remains is the blood stains
Hip-hop duo $uicideboy$ commands a unique space in the musical landscape, riding the edge between raw storytelling and a nebulous celebration of the darker side of inner-city culture. Their track ‘Memoirs of a Gorilla’ epitomizes their ability to convey their experiences in the harsh environments they’ve traversed. In doing so, they make an indelible imprint on the psyche of their listeners.
The song isn’t merely a presentation of braggadocio or a glorification of the struggles the New Orleans natives have faced. Instead, it serves as a visceral memoir, a deep-cut commentary on the environment that molded them and the internal battles that come with street entrenchment.
Gorilla Warfare: The Savage Reality of the Streets
The opening lines ‘Serpents of Death crawling under your skin’ establishes the tone of the song — one of paranoia, hostility, and immediate danger. Through this metaphor, the duo paints a picture of a world where threats are omnipresent, reminiscent of war zones where soldiers must constantly watch their backs.
Moreover, boasting about walking unprotected in ‘the ‘jects’ and functioning in ‘hoods every city I’m in,’ the lyrics convey more than just courage. It’s a declaration of their status — they are the ‘grey born gorilla out the concrete jungle,’ surviving and thriving in an environment rampant with danger.
The Chemical Albatross: Substance Use as a Means and End
‘Ducking from the dope ’cause I just shot a bundle’ — these words illustrate the unsettling intersection of drug abuse and drug trade. The $uicideboy$ often touch on their personal experiences with substance use, acknowledging it as both a coping mechanism and an inescapable trap set by their surroundings.
This duality is evident as they express a preference for drugs over human connections. The song’s narrative underscores the cold calculus of survival in the streets, choosing allegiance to substances that provide escapist solace rather than potentially treacherous personal bonds.
A Symphony of Violence: The Power of Memorable Lines
The line, ‘Snake start hissing, Heads go missing, Rest in piss to the ones I’m killing,’ resonates with chilling effectiveness. This kind of evocative imagery excels in both its bluntness and its poeticism, creating an unforgettable mnemonic that underscores the song’s grim themes.
It’s a departure from diluted storytelling — these lyrics are a raw, unfiltered snapshot of life and death stakes. The grim humor of ‘Rest in piss’ adds a layer of defiance, a grim nod to the all-too-frequent outcome of such a merciless world.
Unearthed Sorrow: The Song’s Hidden Heartbeat
Beneath the braggadocio and overt demonstrations of aggression lies a hidden pulse of vulnerability in ‘Memoirs of a Gorilla.’ The ‘Blood on my linen from the cuts never healing’ is emblematic of the lasting trauma that violence and poverty inscribe on the individual.
It’s a confession of permanent scars, both physical and emotional, that never fully mend. The relentless cycle of violence leaves its mark on the psyche, with the artists showcasing the complex layering of bravado and buried ache.
Raging Against Fate: Self-Destruction in the Echoes of Sound
Ruby Da Cherry’s alter ego Yung Plague describes self-inflicted suffering as part of the hustle, with lines like, ‘Yeah it’s hard to remain when you’re self slain.’ This glimpse into the self-destructive nature of their lifestyles sheds light on the paradox of success in such dire circumstances.
The line ‘all that remains is the blood stains’ leaves listeners pondering the cost of survival in this context — a testament to the idea that even success soaked in such violence is pyrrhic at best.
