Pop-rap superstar Russ spent his early career courting controversy and attacking his enemies. He disregarded the unwritten rules of hip-hop, namely to avoid calling out OGs. He wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty, which resulted in more than a few flare-ups with other MCs. On his 2020 LP, SHAKE THE SNOW GLOBE (DELUXE), he reflects on his early outbursts with regret. But he balances these moments of introspection with songs of triumph, sharing how his outspokenness has inspired his fans to stand up for what they believe in. On his third major-label LP, Russ harnesses his sing-rap hybrid style with proficiency, imbuing his hard-hitting lyrics with infectious melodies. On the Bugus-assisted “A*****E,” Russ admits that even his brashness has its perks. He raps, “People tell me I'm an asshole/Tell me something that I don't know/Ask me how I'm so casual/I don't know, it comes natural.” This braggadocio finds him mirroring one of his chief inspirations, Eminem, who has a penchant for doubling down when critics come after him. Russ isn’t repentant here because he knows that shutting up will only result in more noise from the haters. He adds, “Sometimes I think if I was quiet, how much bigger I'd be/But then I'm livin' for y'all, not livin' for me.” On the powerful “NO TEARS LEFT”, he gets more emotional than ever before, reflecting on his relationship with the woman who birthed him and some of the losses they shared. “I don't think I know somebody prouder than my mother/So I gotta stay strong for me and her both/Took a couple losses, wish it hurt me the most, but it didn't/If you ask me what's wrong, I don't speak right/In the past week alone, watched her grieve twice.” On SHAKE THE SNOW GLOBE (DELUXE), Russ shows how complex it can be to balance personal humility with professional confidence.