Juice Wrld An Appreciation Five Key Songs And Features Beyond Lucid

Emily Johnson

-Mar 12, 2026, 11:33 AM

juice wrld an appreciation five key songs and features beyond lucid

From "Legends" to his gust spot on Halsey's "Without Me," here are five tracks that show off the star's range and roots. Moody emo-trap-pop hits such as “Lucid Dreams” are the tracks most associated with SoundCloud king Juice Wrld. But the 21-year-old Chicago rapper, who passed away Sunday morning after an apparent seizure, crafted a sizable, diverse catalog for his ever-so-shadowy lyrical mien, touching on depression, drugs, doom and death to go with... Wrld was a savvy lyricist and rapper beyond his forlorn hits, and someone who professed equal love for hip-hop legends like Wu Tang Clan, contemporaries like Kid Cudi and rockers from Black Sabbath to... On top of that, his rep for collaboration and crafting features that outshone each track’s name brand star — from BTS to Elle Goulding — was impeccable. Here are five songs that show off his range and roots:

1. “Legends” (2018) “This time it was so unexpected,” sang Juice in a high warble to the strains of a reverberating acoustic guitar while talking about the deaths of friends and fellow emo rappers XXXTentacion... Taken from his quickly released EP, “Too Soon,” Juice goes on to question the likes of Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix, in consideration of his just-passed pals (“What’s the ’27 Club’? / We ain’t making it past 21”) before taking on his own notion of what becomes a legend most: “I don’t want that title now.” As of this morning, he’s got it. 2. Kodak Black’s “MoshPit” (2018) Over a soulful, spacious, ambient track with clinking percussion, each rapper discusses the mayhem of his rise to fame with varying degrees of ultra-violence.

That the track also allows for silliness (“Rocking Tom Ford / Popping Molly / Eating calamari / No more Sloppy Joe”) shows that, despite their usual dour demeanor, these guys, Juice in particular, had... The music space mourns the tragic passing of Juice WRLD, whose abrupt demise at the tender age of 21 cut short a promising hip-hop career. Born Jarad Anthony Higgins, the vibrant artist, known for his refreshing blend of vulnerability and melody, gifted us a significant body of music during his brief but spectacular tenure in the industry. Rising to prominence in the mainstream with the melancholic hit “Lucid Dreams,” Juice WRLD captured listeners with his raw, emotive lyricism and unique sound. The track, a rehashed take on Sting’s “Shape of My Heart,” dominated radio airwaves and rose to a glorious No. 2 spot on the Hot 100 chart.

Throughout his music, Juice WRLD skillfully navigated themes of heartbreak, sadness, and addiction, offering solace to those struggling with similar demons. Notably, on the track “Bandit,” which serves as his final single, he and YoungBoy NBA explore an unusual blend of heartless love and ruthless aggression. Juice WRLD’s sophomore album, “Death Race for Love,” showcases his versatility, with tracks that defy genre limitations and delve into the dimensions of his complicated psyche. The album’s standout track, “Hear Me Calling,” presents an intriguing contrast, juxtaposing Juice WRLD’s typically gloomy aesthetics with a vibrant, tropical flair. Heritage plays a key role in the rapper’s sonic portfolio. Juice WRLD often acknowledged the impact of Kanye West and Kid Cudi on his music—his track “Used To,” with its warming hum, plays like an homage to the latter.

Moreover, his collaborations with other iconic figures, such as Future on “Fine China” and Benny Blanco on “Graduation,” add a layer of rich, interconnected history to his music. Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Roc Nation On the heels of Juice WRLD's final posthumous album, 'The Party Never Ends,' revisit some of the most compelling tracks that highlight his unwavering vulnerability and genre-bending mastery. Juice WRLD lived life fast, and he wasn't afraid to go off course. The Chicago rap star captured the hearts of fans who endured the same romantic and emotional storms, and was hopeful a more promising forecast would emerge from the clouded skies. Born Jarad Higgins, Juice WRLD broke out from the SoundCloud underground alongside Lil Peep, Trippie Redd and XXXTentacion, and soon became the face of emo rap.

Lauded for his ability to crank out punk-infused trap hits like "All Girls Are The Same" and "Lucid Dreams," Juice WRLD ascended to rap stardom upon his 2018 breakthrough. He bellowed in heart-soaked rhymes, unafraid to address his depressed thoughts, spells of heartache, and dependence on the very substances that fueled his music. But the latter would eventually stop him in his tracks. There will always be a special place in our hearts for Juice WRLD, who left us way before his time back in December of 2019. How did Juice WRLD die? The super-talented rapper, singer, and songwriter was born Jarad Anthony Higgins and had just turned 21 before he passed away in a drug-related accident.

We continue to honor Juice to this day, and for those who didn’t follow his career, we suggest going into the back catalog and gaining an appreciation for this amazing artist. Here are 5 Juice WRLD songs to start listening to: Although Juice wasn’t known for doing a ton of collaborations, the times he did team up with other rappers were memorable. On this single from 2019, Juice and NBA Youngboy go hard on an uptempo trap beat with some psychedelic flair. Both rappers deliver aggressive verses and a melodic chorus. NBA Youngboy hopefully still has a long career ahead of him, so Juice fans should check him out in concert and hope he does a tribute to the fallen star.

The most played track from his 2019 release Death Race for Love, this is a heart-wrenching song where Juice goes all out on the emotional vocals. Lyrically, the track captures the feelings of loss and love, as Juice feels like he had his heart robbed time and time again. The music video showcases some trippy nightmare sequences and a world engulfed in flame, which reflects the inner torment of Juice WRLD himself. Considered a crowd favorite at concerts, we will probably see this song remain on the top of the Juice Wrld playlists for years to come. When Goodbye & Good Riddance dropped back in 2018, this was the opening track that turned the whole rap world on its head. Fans were instantly hooked by Juice’s pained and powerful delivery and the real-world struggles of romance that came across in the lyrics of this track.

The song was certified 3X platinum by the RIAA and showed the industry that the young rapper was really resonating with the fanbase. It was this track alongside “Lucid Dreams” that put Juice on the map at the beginning of his career, and it will always be remembered as one of his definitive hits. The 2020 posthumous release of Legends Never Die was a massive success on Spotify, YouTube, and beyond. Zooming past Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, and other megastars, the popularity of this album shows just how much support Juice had from his fans. Leading the charge on this monumental album is “Wishing Well” which has a sparkly guitar instrumental track and cerebral lyrics. The production is fantastic, and it feels like Juice was there for the entire creative process.

We have to give credit to the masterminds behind this album fit for a legend. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Juice WRLD was an American rapper known for his freestyling ability and introspective lyrics. He was born in Chicago in 1998. Themes in Juice WRLD’s music included drug use, mental illness, and the normalization of discussions around anxiety and depression. Juice WRLD died in 2019 at age 21 from an accidental overdose of codeine and oxycodone.

The Live Free 999 foundation was created in 2020 in Juice WRLD’s honor to provide aid to youth struggling with mental illness and addiction. 20 Best Noname Songs of All Time (Greatest Hits) 20 Best Songs of Tierra Whack (Greatest Hits) 20 Best Songs of Ari Lennox (Greatest Hits) That Define Her Legacy 20 Best Songs of Summer Walker (Greatest Hits) 20 Best Songs of Jhene Aiko (Greatest Hits)

Moody emo-trap-pop hits such as “Lucid Dreams” are the tracks most associated with SoundCloud king Juice Wrld. But the 21-year-old Chicago rapper, who passed away Sunday morning after an apparent seizure, crafted a sizable, diverse catalog for his ever-so-shadowy lyrical mien, touching on depression, drugs, doom and death to go with... Wrld was a savvy lyricist and rapper beyond his forlorn hits, and someone who professed equal love for hip-hop legends like Wu Tang Clan, contemporaries like Kid Cudi and rockers from Black Sabbath to... On top of that, his rep for collaboration and crafting features that outshone each track’s name brand star — from BTS to Elle Goulding — was impeccable. Here are five songs that show off his range and roots: Drugs, Guns Confiscated From Juice Wrld's Plane

Juice Wrld Remembered by Collaborators and Friends, From Ellie Goulding to Lil Nas X Lizzo Talks Grammy Noms; BTS and Halsey Bring Down the House at Jingle Ball As often happens after an unexpected death, Juice Wrld’s music soared in popularity after his passing on Sunday, with streams climbing nearly 500% on that day alone. On-demand audio streams for the rapper, who died at the age of 21 after suffering a seizure at Chicago’s Midway Airport, climbed 487% on Sunday to more than 38.2 million in the U.S., according... Juice Wrld's Cause of Death Still Pending After Initial Autopsy Drugs, Guns Confiscated From Juice Wrld's Plane

Juice Wrld: An Appreciation -- Five Key Songs and Features Beyond 'Lucid Dreams'

Juice Wrld An Appreciation Five Key Songs And Features Beyond Lucid

People Also Search

From "Legends" To His Gust Spot On Halsey's "Without Me,"

1. “Legends” (2018) “This Time It Was So Unexpected,” Sang

That The Track Also Allows For Silliness (“Rocking Tom Ford

Throughout His Music, Juice WRLD Skillfully Navigated Themes Of Heartbreak,

Moreover, His Collaborations With Other Iconic Figures, Such As Future