There are a few names that come to mind when thinking of artists who changed the world before their passing, and it’s abundantly obvious that Juice WRLD was a once in a lifetime talent. Today, December 2nd, would have been Juice’s 22nd birthday, and as we approach the anniversary of his devastating passing next week, this time of the year will just simply never be the same. Despite the sadness and gloom that lingers in the air around this time, fans are able to keep Juice’s name and legacy alive and well by constantly listening to the remarkable music he left behind, both humous and posthumous.
It’s no secret that Juice’s work ethic was unlike anyone else, and he seemed to make a hit out of any song, regardless of what he was given to start with. Due to his constant late-night sessions in the studio and tireless grind, he was able to leave us with countless verses and songs that will continue to please fans for decades to come. Most recently, super producer, songwriter, and executive Benny Blanco decided to treat fans to a brand-new collaboration with Juice on his birthday, gifting us something special just as Juice would have wanted.
As the production begins, resounding, echoing guitar plucks begin to take shape prior to the beat dropping and introducing us to some crisp percussion, bells, and booming drums that are as resilient as they are moving. Despite the fact that many of his older offerings were melancholic and somewhat dejected, Juice begins this track with a message that states how good life is as he lets out a joyful note prior to beginning the hook. During the chorus, he mentions how you should always be honest and never tell a lie, which leads him into the post-chorus where this message leads to his thankful charisma, mentioning how he can go anywhere on vacation with his lady, eat well, and how he makes the haters mad with his joyous success.
He continues this positivity into the first verse where he continues to speak on the blessings in life and how he is grateful for all the positive things coming his way. In his lengthier second verse, he touches on the demons and dark thoughts he has gone into heavy detail about in the past, but instead of dwelling on these things as we’ve heard before, he instead talks about cutting these things off and letting them go to focus mainly on the positive aspects of life he has worked so hard for throughout his career.
All in all, it’s never easy listening to new Juice music because it reminds you of just how incredible of an artist and person he was overall, but this song is an absolutely perfect tribute to keep him in our thoughts, especially on his birthday of all days. The way he sings about these positive parts of his life comes through with such abundant gratitude and appreciation, and it almost sounds as if he’s singing his lyrics into the microphone with a smile on his face, something that is as notable as it is commendable. Benny Blanco does an absolutely remarkable job making sure that this song does nothing less than justice for the late superstar, and the fact that he kept this in the vault while waiting for a perfect time to unleash it such as today is praiseworthy, to say the least. As always, the world will never be the same in Juice’s absence, but his name will stay alive and well for decades to come through his prevailing fans who will continue listening to his outstanding music religiously. If you’re having a tough time getting through this glum time of the year, make sure to tune into “Real Shit” right away to bring a little brightness back into your life, just like Juice WRLD would want for his fans.