Late Chicago rapper Juice WRLD’s first posthumous album “Legends Never Die” hit streaming services on July 10. Boasting a whopping 21 songs, fans were given a mixed bag of songs and interludes that ranged from melodramatic ballads to pop-punk rock songs. The album also features many popular artists like Halsey, Polo G, and Trippie Redd, all of who provide more depth and differing sounds.
Going into my first listen of the album, I didn’t know what to expect. Coming off of “Goodbye and Good Riddance” and “Deathrace for Love”, which were both curated and put together by Juice WRLD, I didn’t know if this album would seem complete. Honestly, I thought it might’ve just been a strung together mix of songs Juice had in the vault, but Legends Never Die is just the opposite. It feels as if Juice had handpicked these 21 songs to be played on a posthumous album.
The album can be pretty much broken up into three sections: hard-hitters, big name features, and a final look into the versatility of Juice WRLD (more on that later). The first leg consists of catchy and smooth songs that get you back into the mood for Juice WRLD. Conversations, Titanic, and Bad Energy are all very solid songs that I’ve found myself going back to multiple times. The song Righteous is so chillingly accurate to Juice WRLD’s situation that it feels as though he is singing from beyond the grave.
Blood on My Jeans rounds off the first leg, and is one of the only songs on the album I tend to not enjoy. The bass seems to drown out the background vocals just a little too much, making it a tougher listen. The next leg is full of great features, all of which I really like. Tell Me U Luv Me is as catchy as they come, and the guitar guided beat has gotten stuck in my head too many times to count. Trippie Redd’s voice on the chorus blends very well with Juice’s verses, and I wish I could hear more collaborations from the two of them.
Hate the Other Side with Polo G, and Life’s a Mess with Halsey are both beautiful songs that illustrate how many different sides Juice WRLD had. Hate the Other Side is very impactful in a serious sense, while Life’s a Mess is lighter and features Halsey’s gorgeous voice. Rounding off the second leg is perhaps my favorite song on the record, Come and Go featuring Marshmello. The song is a memorable pop-punk banger, featuring a classic Marshmello beat that is indicative of his work. From the beat to the seemingly futuristic sound, the song is amazing.
The final leg is a true mixed bag of songs that I think show how versatile Juice WRLD was. Every song has something that sets it apart from the others and left an impression on me. Fighting Demons features a dreamy and emotional piano throughout, and highlights just how troubled Juice was. Juice sings “I run away, in fear of me dying today… my demons are breaking out of their cage, I pray I see another day.” It makes me wonder how long ago he wrote this song, or if it was near the end.
Wishing Well is up next, and it might be one of Juice’s best songs to date. Rapping about his problems with depression and addiction, Juice admits to his drug problem and literally says he’s crying for help. In true Juice WRLD fashion, it’s done over a cheerful and fun beat. It’s tragic, and made me appreciate his talent and drive more than I had before.
Screw Juice is a melodramatic hit that again highlights Juice’s addiction and problems with needing to stay high. I found this song similar to Fighting Demons, although I enjoyed it as much as the former. Up Up and Away is an airy and light song that features what seems to be a ukulele, again showing the different styles Juice WRLD had honed.
Rounding off the album is Man of The Year, which is my personal favorite. Another pop-punk song featuring smashing drums and very upbeat lyrics that made me want to get up and dance, as cheesy as that sounds. In this song Juice sings, “I know my lyrics saved you, I know I helped you break through.” In a tribute to his fans. As someone who benefited from Juice WRLD’s music to get through anxiety and depression, this song means a lot to me.
This record is just about as good as a posthumous record can get. It shows how much Juice had in store, and all of the different types of music he wanted to explore and get into. The only problems I had were a couple of dud tracks that didn’t seem to blend with the rest of the album, and a couple of tracks that seemed a tad repetitive. Barring those slip-ups, this is a very good record. The music world lost a legend last December, but as Juice says, Legends Never Die.
Echo Score: 4.5/5 Swoops
