Juice WRLD quickly amassed a dedicated following upon his entry into the music industry half a decade ago. Many individuals were introduced to his music through the immensely popular track “Lucid Dreams,” which played a pivotal role in his early triumphs. His initial project, Goodbye & Good Riddance, has now attained the status of a contemporary masterpiece. Juice WRLD’s subsequent releases demonstrated his adeptness at sustaining his momentum and expanding upon his initial accomplishments. Regrettably, his sudden demise in 2019 created a profound void in the realm of music that remains unfulfilled.
Since his untimely passing, Juice WRLD’s estate has unveiled numerous posthumous albums. However, these endeavors have generated mixed reactions among fans, who often perceive them as capitalizing on Juice WRLD and his artistic heritage. Nonetheless, Lil Bibby recently hinted at an undisclosed surprise awaiting Juice WRLD’s admirers, igniting a sense of anticipation. Last week, that surprise has materialized in the form of the fifth-anniversary deluxe edition of Goodbye & Good Riddance. The album aims to commemorate the milestone and offer enthusiasts fresh content to savor.
Juice Continues To Succeed After Passing
Juice WRLD has now surpassed 100 million RIAA certified units across albums, singles and features. pic.twitter.com/JT8kumgYNC
Despite his unfortunate and premature death, Juice WRLD continues to achieve remarkable milestones in his music career. Just last month, it was revealed that the rapper had surpassed an impressive 30 billion streams on Spotify alone, solidifying his position as one of the most streamed artists of all time. Recently, a close friend and collaborator of Juice, Cole Bennet, celebrated a personal milestone in their careers by sharing on Instagram that the first music video he ever directed for Juice had reached 300 million views on YouTube. Today, the RIAA revealed that Juice WRLD has officially passed 100 million units sold.
The music industry and the wider community were deeply affected by Juice’s untimely death, as he was emerging as one of the industry’s fastest-rising stars. However, his passing has only intensified the popularity of his music. In 2021, the RIAA announced that Juice had received an additional 50 platinum and gold song certifications posthumously. His 2018 single “Lucid Dreams” has achieved a remarkable 9x platinum status. Furthermore, Juice currently holds the record for the highest number of streams per song on Spotify.
Juice WRLD was SoundCloud’s biggest breakout rapper in recent history with his debut studio album Goodbye & Good Riddance, which shook up the world of hip-hop. Whether he was nailing freestyles on radio shows or raging on stage, it seemed he became an overnight sensation. After releasing several successful tapes on SoundCloud, he signed a $3 million deal with Interscope. Just prior to turning 20, he released “Lucid Dreams” and “All Girls Are The Same,” with each track landing near the top of the Billboard 100 charts. Juice WRLD could fit into just about any pocket of hip-hop, diving from a trap-based collaborative mixtape with Future to an emo-grunge banger with XXXTentacion.
His bratty songs would quickly become anthems throughout high school and college campuses. Juice WRLD would follow up the successful hit tracks with Goodbye & Good Riddance, which debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 charts. His album blended the underground trap sounds of SoundCloud with the rougher sounds of South Florida, drawing comparisons to the likes of XXXTentacion and Iann Dior. Releasing the project at only 19 years old, Juice raps about teenage heartbreak and loneliness throughout much of the project. Singing “Tell me what’s the secret to love, I don’t get” in a monotonous tone, his vulnerable naivety is genuine at its core.
Goodbye & Good Riddance Pictures A Depressed Juice WLRD
NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 18: Juice WRLD poses during rehearsals for the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall on August 18, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by John Shearer/WireImage)
While Juice WLRD blew up off of emo-rap encompassing hip-hop in the late 2010s, he’s not a one-trick pony rapping with his head down. He can be depressed and exhilarated or enraged and serene all at once. On “Armed and Dangerous,” he’s wielding a gun and a bottomless bank account, coming off as the most confident man in the world. However, “Scared of Love” gives us a completely different Juice WRLD, where he states, “I tell you that I don’t care / Really I do care.” This unpredictability aided his sudden popularity, as fans were kept on their toes from track to track. It’s easy to pity Juice WRLD by the record’s end.
Essentially, Juice WRLD’s Goodbye & Good Riddance popularized emo-rap heartbreak like never before. It shows in the numbers, recently surpassing 5 billion streams on Spotify. He turns to dark substances to cope with the reoccurring themes of heartbreak and loneliness. “I take prescriptions to make me feel okay / I know it’s all in my head.” They’re haunting lines to listen to in retrospect, as Juice WRLD would die of an accidental overdose of painkillers in December 2019. On the 2018 single “Legends,” he famously stated, “What’s the 27 club? We ain’t making it past 21.” He’s acutely aware of his downfalls. However, the lyricism of Goodbye & Good Riddance reads as someone falling into this unhealthy world rather than looking to pull themselves out.
Juice WRLD Was Heavily Influencing Emo-Rap
Juice WRLD’s untimely passing signed a death warrant for emo-rap itself. Named Jarad Higgins, Juice WRLD wasn’t just impersonating the subgenre with Goodbye & Good Riddance. Through his variety of manic states and soundscapes, he was driving the genre into a new era. This all became apparent with his posthumous releases, such as Legends Never Die, where he dabbled in the world of EDM. An imposing rapper and vocalist, he made a name for himself as one of the greatest freestylers in the industry before his passing.
Of course, Goodbye & Good Riddance is far from a perfect record. Juice WRLD’s unwavering self-deprecating tendencies sometimes read as downright cringy. This especially shows up on the outro skits, “Betrayal” and “Karma.” If you’re specifically grading Juice WRLD’s debut album for its lyrical prowess, it falls well short of the likes of Kendrick Lamar or Kanye West. However, Goodbye & Good Riddance stick in fans’ heads due to its catchy melodies. Taking cues from Young Thug or Lil Uzi Vert, the project is at its best when Juice stretches his vocals on a catchy beat.
Immediate Success
In essence, it’s difficult to capture the appeal of Goodbye & Good Riddance from a logical perspective. While the lyrics are depressive and angst-filled, it quickly induces feelings of freedom or downright joy in its listeners. The record lifted him from making $100 at a live performance at the Chicago Rec Center and posting small mixtapes on SoundCloud to a global personality. In retrospect, the fame may have hit him too quickly. With Juice WRLD delivering a voice where “I speak my own language,” it’s a tragedy for music that we weren’t able to hear him fully develop his unique sound. Even if Juice WRLD is at his lowest on Goodbye & Good Riddance, the posthumous personality has an understated sentiment to enjoy the ride while you can.
On May 18, Juice’s team released a 5th-anniversary edition of Goodbye & Good Riddance. Surprisingly, we’re getting new material on the project. “Glo’d Up” features a booming 808, as Juice fittingly screams, “Looking for closure.” In addition, we get a revamped version of “Lucid Dreams” with Lil Uzi Vert.
Juice WRLD is considered to be one of the most influential artists of the current generation of hip-hop. Overall, Juice was able to burst onto the scene with a distinct sound. His singing and beat selection had fans comparing him to pop punk artists of the mid-2000s. Moreover, he had an amazing ability to craft songs that could eventually become hits. Unfortunately, he passed away in 2019, and since that time, his estate has been putting out posthumous music, with varying degrees of success.
Today, however, his estate dropped a five-year anniversary edition of Goodbye & Good Riddance. This is easily his best project and the one that started it all for a whole lot of folks. Overall, this project is a classic and it inspired a lot of artists to make music. Furthermore, it remains one of the best albums to come out of the 2018 SoundCloud rap era. This new version of the album contains two completely new songs, including “Glo’d Up.”
Juice WRLD Had A Signature Sound
If you are a big Juice WRLD fan, then you have probably already heard this song before. However, it is now officially out on streaming services. Upon listening to this track, it is clear that it is meant to be more of a ballad. The song is a breath of fresh air, and it is clear that Juice was going through emotional turmoil while recording this. His emotions are all over the record, and fans will certainly appreciate that.
Overall, it is nice to have these songs on streaming services. They serve as a reminder of just how amazing of an artist Juice WRLD truly was. Be sure to let us know what you think of this song, in the comments section below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news and updates from around the music world. We will always be sure to keep you informed.
Quotable Lyrics:
I ain’t have a lot of words for the ladies But they knew I stayed dressed in the latest Now, I got more game than the players I done glowed up, I done growed up
Juice WRLD is an artist who has been beloved since bursting onto the scene five years ago. Of course, a lot of people were introduced to Juice through the song “Lucid Dreams.” Moreover, his debut project Goodbye & Good Riddance is a classic by today’s standards. Subsequently, Juice was able to follow up on his success on his next project. Unfortunately, his passing in 2019 was extremely hard to digest. It left a huge hole in the music world that has yet to be filled.
Since his passing, Juice WRLD’s estate has put out numerous posthumous albums. For the most part, fans have not loved this material. Overall, they feel as though it is taking advantage of Juice and his legacy. That said, Lil Bibby recently revealed that a surprise was in store for Juice WRLD fans. Well, that surprise has arrived with the fifth-anniversary deluxe edition of Goodbye & Good Riddance.
New Juice WRLD Music
As you can see in the tracklist above, the sequencing his different from what fans are used to. Additionally, you will see 20 tracks here as opposed to the original 17. The first addition is a song called “No Good” with the likes of Rvssian. Furthermore, the Lil Uzi Vert “Lucid Dreams” remix is here. Lastly, a song called “Glo’d Up” finishes off the project. If you are a Juice WRLD fan, these new songs are going to be must-listens.
Goodbye & Good Riddance is one of those albums that all music fans should be acquainted with. It ultimately set the tone for a lot of the rap we hear today. Moreover, these new tracks are enough to get fans to want to re-listen to the whole album in its entirety. Let us know what you think of these new tracks, in the comments section below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the music world.
