The SoundCloud era of music is a time many teenagers and young adults remember fondly. Spanning from 2016-2019, the SoundCloud era consisted of the rise of many different genres.
During this time, one person emerged as a prolific artist, rising in popularity and gaining a fan base that to this day is loyal to him: Juice WRLD. Even after his untimely death, Jarad Anthony Higgins, also known as Juice WRLD, continues to have a lasting impact. His newest album released on Nov. 28 adds to his legacy.
Gaining popularity in 2018 with the release of his debut album Goodbye & Good Riddance, Juice WRLD went on to gain a massive following. Two songs on his debut album – “Lucid Dreams” and “All Girls Are The Same” – gained over 2.6 and 1.7 billion streams, respectively.
After having a collaborative album with artist Future, Juice released his sophomore album Death Race For Love in March 2019. The album revolved around love and the feelings Juice felt about his new girlfriend at the time. However, 2019 would become a tragedy for rap fans all around the globe. On Dec. 8, 2019, just six days after his 21st birthday, Juice WRLD died.
It was a difficult time for fans of Juice and fans of rap, in general. At only 21 years old, we lost a rising star in the industry. Juice WRLD’s label, Grade-A, went on to release several albums with unreleased Juice WRLD songs that he had recorded prior to his death.
In 2020, we received Juice WRLD’s first posthumous album Legends Never Die. It was a beautiful tribute to the late artist, with tracks such as “Man of The Year” and “Wishing Well,” giving us a look into the ups and downs of Juice’s life. The album concluded with a beautiful outro.
After the release of Legends Never Die, one of Juice WRLD’s managers tweeted the phrase “The Party Never Ends” – a phrase Juice WRLD often used in his lyrics. Many people believed this to be the next studio album released by Grade-A. However, things would take a turn over the next year. In December 2021, we received the next posthumous album Fighting Demons, with a somber tone and heartbreaking melodies. It was a stark contrast to what the fans wanted with the exciting beats and upbeat lyrics people expected with The Party Never Ends.
After years of singles, hype, doubt and the album possibly being canceled, fans were ecstatic to learn that the long-awaited album would be released on Nov. 28.
Once the album was released, people began criticizing the album for its cover art, along with people not enjoying the missing songs that were said to be on the album such as “All Life Long,” or Juice WRLD’s most popular leaked song “Rental.” The album has 19 songs, all of which are packed with the classic Juice WRLD the fans know. It also includes new upbeat songs that the community wants the general public to see, in order for Juice WRLD to not be known as just a sad, emo rapper. The new album does that perfectly.
The album is a tribute to Juice’s legacy. It is mixed in a way to make you feel like you’re at a concert, with songs that make you feel hyped up such as “Celebrate” ft. Offset or the long awaited song “KTM Drip.” The album also captures classic melodic lyrics mixed with somber production fans will recognize from the Goodbye & Good Riddance era, such as “Party By Myself” and “Jeffrey.”
The album hits fans in the feels, playing snippets of audio from Juice WRLD concerts at the ending or beginning of songs, in order to immerse the audience in the setting. This method of blending the music with audio clips makes for a fantastic listening experience, for general audiences and for diehard fans.
Overall, the album was not received well at the start of its release but has grown to find its place into the hearts of Juice WRLD fans. With the beautiful production, meaningful lyrics, and a spectacular tracklist, the album features great unheard songs and songs that the community has been wanting for a long time.
When you combine this with the great rollout for the album before release, success is evident. The rollout included singles being released every other week and a collaboration with Fortnite, which ended with a concert that featured a gorgeously animated music video for “Empty Out Your Pockets.”
I listened to this album when it came out at 11 p.m. on Thanksgiving with my brother. Seeing him throw his AirPods across my coffee table when “Party By Myself” started playing is a memory I’ll never let go of. Hearing the transitioning of upbeat songs to melodic melodies made this album a truly wonderful listening experience – one that I’ll never forget.
Juice WRLD made an impact on people’s lives both when he was alive and after his untimely passing. His reach as an artist is still felt in the rap community, with music still releasing and him still being featured on other albums. His impact cannot be ignored.
His last album made a large impact. While he may not be here with us today, his presence can still be felt in the community, and his message still echoes through the ears of fans, a message that Juice pushed when he was alive, and a message that his label pushes after his passing.
“I wanna change the world.” -Jarad Anthony Higgins.
