Often known for his conversational flows and dry sense of humor, Homeboy Sandman does an about-face into dead-serious mode at the beginning of 2020's Don't Feed the Monster. On "Trauma," he unpacks his history of childhood physical and sexual abuse, which the nearly 40-year-old rapper had always kept locked up inside, to the detriment of his mental health. While jarring and unsettling, his determination to work through his injurious past in order to achieve inner peace is commendable, and the song's lyrics are brilliantly worded. The remainder of the album isn't quite as emotionally scarred, but it's still some of the most introspective, soul-baring work Sandman has ever written. "Alone Again" directly addresses his anxiety and fear following the breakup of a long-term relationship, as well as his concern for his former partner's wellbeing. "Stress" ("...is the number one killer") alludes to relationship troubles, but mostly concentrates on how nervous tension can happen to anyone, and that it's important to find a way to release it. "Triple Warmer" details his attempts at self-improvement, and tracks like "Don't Look Down" and "Gestation" are odes to self-determination and persistence. Quelle Chris handles the entirety of the album's production, in addition to providing a guest verse on "Hello Dancer" and raspy backup vocals elsewhere. His fractured beats and hazy textures help keep the record sounding loose and playful in a variety of ways, from the dark psychedelia of "Monument" to the wigged-out exotica of "Walk by Faith." The quick-paced acid rock rave-up "Straight" is the album's triumphant conclusion, with Sandman accepting his past and enjoying a renewed burst of confidence, while advising the listener to keep taking chances and never give up.