Just a few days after turning 21-years-old, Chicago rapper Juice WRLD suffered an accidental drug overdose while traveling back to his hometown, which ended up taking his life. The world-renowned artist has been gone for the last couple of years but his music and artistic legacy have not been forgotten by his fans, who are anxiously looking forward to his upcoming posthumous album and documentary release.
This Thursday marks what would have been Juice WRLD’s twenty-third birthday, and as his mother, Carmella Wallace, continues to mourn, she has shared a birthday letter for her child, which you can read below:
Amy Sussman/Getty Images
“Dear Jarad,
When you were born 23 years ago, I never expected that you would not to be here today celebrating your birthday. Although it has been nearly two years since you’ve been gone, I still think about you every day and losing you has changed my life forever. I’m glad that we always made sure that we said goodbye when we left each other because we didn’t know when we would see each other again.
If you were here, I am sure that I would have said something like how it seemed like just yesterday that you were born. I know that I would have told you how proud I was of the man you became and your commitment to changing lives. I miss celebrating your birthday and all the good times that we shared. I have so many wonderful memories of you that will live in my heart forever.
I remember when you found your birthday gift the year that you turned nine. It was a white mp3 player that I hid in my closet. When you found it, you were too excited to hide the fact that you found it and proceeded to share with me how much you wanted a white mp3 player for your birthday. I thought about taking it back to the store and surprising you with something else, but I decided to give it to you anyway. As time passed and we talked about it, you realized that you would rather wait for the surprise than find your gifts early.
You and I would have reminisced about previous birthdays and I’m sure we would have laughed once again about the mp3 player. I would have tried to get as many birthday wishes in as possible like I always did on your birthday when we were together.
You touched the world through your music with honesty and transparency. You shared a message of healing and sincerely desired to make a difference in the lives of others. I still receive messages from fans saying how your music helped them with anxiety and depression. I promise to continue your message of healing and use Live Free 999 as an avenue to normalize the conversation around mental health and substance dependency and help those who suffer in silence.
Happy 23rd Birthday Jarad, I love you dearly. I’m thankful for the time that we had and will forever cherish every moment that we shared.
Love,
Mom”
Bennett Raglin/Getty Images
Juice WRLD passed away on December 8, 2019. A posthumous album called Fighting Demons will be released this month, as well as a documentary about the late rapper’s life and career.
Long Live Juice WRLD.