All the young whippersnappers of the world are saying that Juice WRLD is a cat to pay attention to. He hasn’t really collaborated with any major players in the game yet, but already has two billboard 100 hits on his resume. With the release of his new project titled “Goodbye & Good Riddance,” I will do a deep dive into dude’s artistry, exploring whether or not he’s capable of being here for the long run. (Disclaimer: This is a review from 2018 that I updated)

TOP 5

HONORABLE MENTION. I’LL BE FINE

This is the one song on the album that isn’t about dealing with heartbreak… It’s about breaking hearts! 

Juice didn’t give me the impression that he was this cold-hearted savage until this very last song on the album. In “I’ll Be Fine,” he proudly totes his gun around, sounding like a dude that is ready to go to war with anyone that isn’t with his wave. Aside from that, he talks about his struggles coming from the hood and how that molded him into the man that he is today. 

If you aren’t with all the deep s**t the young Illinois rapper talks about in this song, at least enjoy the track for its memorable hook and explosive vibes.

HONORABLE MENTION. HURT ME

I appreciate a good melody like I appreciate a good cheesesteak. With that being said, the melody attached to “Hurt Me” is equivalent to one of those cheesesteaks that have oil dripping from the bottom of it.

OK, all jokes aside, “Hurt Me” was made for you to sing-a-long to from start to finish. It’s infectious, petty, and probably candid to a fault. I also think it’s radio-friendly and has these stops in the beat that makes it a potential club hit.

5. I’M STILL

“I’m Still” is easily the most daring song on Goodbye & Good Riddance. In it, Juice lets loose, showcasing his vocal abilities by harmonizing his ass off over this alternative trap beat.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, “I’m Still” talks about bouncing back from a relationship by living recklessly. Juice’s definition of reckless is using ‘Shrooms, BTW.

4. LEAN WITH ME

Somehow, Juice made me f**k with a song that reinvented Dem Franchise Boy’s wacky “Lean With It, Rock With it” jam.

If you like “Lucid Dreams,” you will definitely like “Lean With Me.” Both songs have this lonely feel attached to them but are also able to get you amped up with their bouncy vibes. However, content-wise, “Lean With Me” is a lot deeper, as Juice opens up about the many toxins he uses to overcome his issues in life. The song sorta reminds me of Kendrick’s “Swimming Pools” from back in the day, with the only difference being that Juice’s version is a lot less lyrical.

These cats are becoming drug addicts before they are even legal enough to drink. That’s sad.

3. WASTED

The moment I heard Juice WRLD for the first time, I thought he sounded very similar to Lil Uzi Vert. It’s good to know that these clones are friends.

In “Wasted,” both artists show lots of energy, but in different ways. Juice WRLD sounds like a dude that was fed up with his chick, decided to go out and have a couple of drinks, and is now walking out the bar sadder than the Senegalese national soccer team. As for Uzi, he has more of this intense energy to his verse — one that would only be used to its full potential if it was involved in some sort of violent act. Together, the two make a pretty damn good duo! (a weird duo, but still a good one)

2. ALL THE GIRLS ARE THE SAME

“All The Girls Are The Same” sounds like all of the other s**t that you hear on the radio production-wise; however, our guy Juice WRLD decided to approach the track in his own unique way. Correct, he gets his point across about all hoes being the same, but the way he does it feels all outerspacish and s**t.

Dammit, for the last three months, I thought this was an Uzi song…

1. LUCID DREAMS

“Lucid Dreams” is Juice WRLD’s biggest hit to date.

“Lucid Dreams” is the perfect break-up song. The base of the instrumental is all mushy, Juice’s words are youthfully defiant, and throughout, the young rapper shows lots of raw emotion. This song made me feel something in my heart, and it definitely wasn’t a palpitation.

SONG BY SONG BREAKDOWN

1. INTRO (N/A)

2. 734 (4/5)

3. ALL THE GIRLS THE SAME (5/5)

4. LUCID DREAMS (REMIX) (5/5)

5. LEAN WITH ME (5/5)

6. WASTED (4/5)

7. I’M STILL (4.8/5)

8. BETRAYAL (SKIT) (N/A)

9. CANDLES (4.7/5)

10. SCARED OF LOVE (4/5)

11. USED TO (4.3/5)

12. KARMA (SKIT) (N/A)

13. HURT ME (4.8/5)

13. BLACK & WHITE (4.8/5)

14. LONG GONE (4/5)

15. END OF THE ROAD (4.1/5)

16. I’LL BE FINE (4.7/5)

OVERALL RATING

(A-)

No one wants to say it, but I will: Juice WRLD is a more disciplined Lil Uzi Vert. Both artists rap over similar beats and have the same rebellious nature lyrically and vocally; however, where they differ is in their lyrics. While both focus a lot of their music on some heartbreak s**t, I believe Juice can channel his emotions a little better than Uzi does, as he typically finds a way to dig deep into the nooks and crannies on why he feels a certain way in his music. In other words, Juice tries to find a way to sound relatably vulnerable; something I think fans of his f**k with a lot.

I’m not going to lie, I’m going to hate when the mainstream finds out about Juice WRLD. It’s bound to happen, and when it does, expect a lot less artistry from him due to the pressure all the new people in his circle will foist (Ask Nav). Until then, I will appreciate the raw emotions he shows whenever he performs, his willingness to step outside of the box lyrically, and how he blends genres together that aren’t supposed to be blended. Until Juice gets brain-washed, I will bump this album over and over again and appreciate it for everything it currently is not.

Quincy

Quincy is the creator of Ratings Game Music. He loves writing about music, taking long walks on beaches, and spaghetti that fights him back.