Legends Never Die - Juice Wrld: Review

The unfortunately tragic passing of Rapper/Singer Juice Wrld hit heavy amongst the music world. He was an artist on the rise with a ceiling that hasn't been passed. He was a rockstar in a hip hop artist's body.His newest release Legends Never Die continues to prove that and much more, even when it begins to lose traction in muddling repetition.

Though not completely familiar with most of the albums the artist has released. But the little I’ve heard through the years has shown immense potential. His features on tracks with Halsey and Ellie Goulding brought more to the table and his one hour freestyle on Tim Westwood TV was something special. Juice Wrld proved his capabilities as a rapper, but he always understoo his strengths. But Legends Never Die shines bright with the depths Juice Wrld goes in, in his music. From the thought provoking and synth heavy “Conversations*,” to the more somber percussion heavy “Fighting Demons,” his ears for instrumentals is special.

The production is lush with fluctuating transitions and sounds that evoke their own character, outside the rapper. Working with a lot of regulars, he brings some interesting outsiders in Skrillex, Marshmello, and Dr. Luke.

His work with Marshmello shines and it comes to no surprise. The producer has dabbled with artists in the EMO music stratosphere, like Lil Peep and A Day To Remember, perfectly blending the artist’s main genre with his style. Like his work with the latter artist, his songs with Juice Wrld is a unique blend of emo-rock and trip-hop.

The rockstar-like energy in Juice Wrld gets to shine in “Come & Go,” and “Tell Me U Luv Me,” and his sensitive side has a beautiful duet with Halsey on “Life’s A Mess.” And as phenomenal as these songs are, the themes in most of the songs codex are similar and transcribe the real pain, but not every track takes interesting twists and turns. At times leaves a feeling of ire for the lack of construct on the album. The artist has a lot in the vault, but at 20 tracks running almost hour does come with considerable slow pacing. It could have shaved a few and left them in the vault for loosies.

It weighs forgettable tracks - but even forgetting can remind you when the fire is delivered. And yet, Legends Never Die is a testament to all the strengths Juice Wrld had as an artist. His lyricism was always a step above artist in his area, like Lil Uzi Vert, Bones, and XXXtentation. Most of what Juice Wrld touches adds new layers that was probably never there before. This, taking into account that even on one Eminem’s more astute lyrical tracks wouldn’t be as elevated to the heights it could without Juice Wrld.

He has shown that he could elevate tracks as a featured artist and still be a proper leading man. And though it may be too soon, for the genre that he dominated (Emo-Rap) he will be remembered as a Legend and Legends Never Die.

7/10

*Producers and engineers with or who hear vocal tags please help us, help you by not misleading some of simpler folk. Prior to “Conversations,” Ronny J has the drop that sounds like a woman mid orgasm, but the track tackles deep themes. It becomes a bother and distraction. I personally love the drops when the song is meant for universal appeal. It makes me know this place about to be bumping - going wild, just know that not everything has to have it. After a while we know who you are. A lot of the base doesn’t have mass memory loss - c’mon. Or at least, I hope not.