Released: 2019
Label: Grade A Productions/Interscope Records
Featuring: Brent Faiyaz, YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Rvssian, Clever, Young Thug
Hailing from the Chi-Town drill scene, Juice WRLD was a melodic genius who used his music as an open diary for the world. In his sophomore project, ‘Death Race for Love,’ he cemented his legacy as one of hip-hop’s brightest stars. Putting his heart on his sleeve, he chronicled his inner battles with addiction, love, and fame through intoxicating harmonies and hard-hitting beats. Tracks like “Empty,” “Robbery,” and “Bandit (with YoungBoy Never Broke Again)” showcased Juice WRLD’s unique blend of rap and emo, as he deftly navigated emotional turmoil with a lyrical prowess far beyond his years.
This album is a testament to Juice WRLD’s ability to channel the raw authenticity of hip-hop, with a deeply personal voice that’s unafraid to expose the depths of his soul. While celebrating his artistic value, it’s critical to dissect his work for a fuller understanding of his contribution. The ‘Death Race for Love’ album stands as a musical monument to Juice WRLD’s creativity, displaying his distinctive sound, emotional depth, and lyrical complexities. From the frenetic energy of “Syphilis” to the haunting melancholy of “Who Shot Cupid?,” Juice speaks plainly and poetically about his mortality, existential angst, and the thrill of living on the edge.
So let’s get into it. From “Empty” to “Make Believe,” here are the Breakdown of the Lyrics on ‘Death Race For Love’ by ‘Juice WRLD.’
1. Empty
Juice spits on the struggle with mental health, addiction, his feeling of emptiness, and his accidents with fame. His lines, “My world revolves around a black hole/ The same black hole that’s in place of my soul, uh/ Empty, I feel so goddamn empty” speak volumes about his internal battle, embodying the dark abyss he got plunged into, substituting love and self-acceptance with drugs and loneliness. This piece is a testament of Juice’s unparalleled honesty in the face of despair. There’s a haunting kind of beauty in it, his stark narratives paying homage to his struggles. Truly, Juice WRLD navigates us through his corridors of melancholy, essentially becoming the Cartographer for the maudlin spirals of his soul.
2. Maze
His lyrics paint a bleak picture riddled with pain, insanity, and confusion – the maze he’s lost in. A standout line, “Everything’s okay but it’s not really okay,” hits hard, capturing the dichotomy of appearances versus harsh reality. The metaphor of numbing pain with “codeine rain” emphasizes his reliance on substances to cope with his crippling mental health issues. His call to his mother in the midst of the chaos, “Mama, I’m losing my mental,” represents a plea for help, adding a layer of vulnerability to the track. Juice WRLD uses his craft to expose his emotional psyche, fusing his tumultuous experiences into an intense, candid expression that pulls at heartstrings while making listeners tap their feet.
3. HeMotions
The track sees Juice wrestlin’ with feelings that are as muddled as they are intense—dope-drowned anguish and romance-gone-sour, his lyrics painting a portrait of a love addict, stuck in a toxic cycle. These complex frameworks of emotion are captured in the repetitious verse, “Going through motions, muddy emotions,” signaling his ongoing struggle. Standout line, “I’m not a drug addict, got it all wrong, I’m just a love addict ’til my heart gone,” hits especially hard, laying bare his internal battles. The sharp, genuine depiction of his emotional chaos, compounded by the pressure to keep up appearances in the blinding fast lane of fame, makes “HeMotions” a straight-up representation of Juice WRLD’s daily wrestle.
4. Demonz – Interlude
Features: Brent Faiyaz
Juice WRLD brings an introspective perspective, channeling his inner struggles into a smooth flow, painting the battle with the inner demons that are seemingly winning. The guest appearance by Brent Faiyaz weaves in a raw vulnerability that complements Juice WRLD’s emotive style. The lyrics scream of an inner turmoil, a relentless combat with the demons inside. One hard-hitting verse that stands out is “Don’t wish me away, wish me luck, yeah yeah / I’ll be good either way / Who am I to say what good ain’t?” It’s a candid introspection, an acknowledgment of his troubled state, and an assertion of resilience. This track, in many ways, exemplifies the introspective narrative that Juice WRLD often weaves in his work, a frank conversation about mental health and personal growth that resonates with listeners across the globe.5. Fast
He spills his poetic vulnerability over hard-hitting beats, flipping cliches into emotive revelations. The lyric “I go through so much, I’m 19 years old / It’s been months since I felt at home / But it’s okay ’cause I’m rich” is a gut-punch in its honesty, Juice dismantling the facade of stardom to reveal a teenager still navigating life’s labyrinth. It’s a haunting foreshadowing, considering Juice’s untimely demise, and a testament to his prowess in wearing his heart on his sleeve. “Fast” becomes not just an exploration of speed in the literal sense but also the speed of emotions flickering fast in the caverns of one’s mind, the high-tempo life of a star coming at a hefty price.
6. Hear Me Calling
This straightforward love jam is candid, with Juice connecting emotions and relationship dynamics to raw, real-life moments. Sip the poignant brew in his lines, “A wine glass full of your emotions / Oh, Pinot Grigio, sipping,” as he portrays love as intoxicating and potentially overwhelming. Juice transposes his oft-expressed love for illicit substances onto his infatuation for a woman, suggesting that love can be just as potent. The driving beat and melodic refrain, “Do you hear me callin’?” display Juice’s emotive lyrical dexterity, underlining his desire to love and be loved without the drama. It’s the Chicago native painting his emotions in broad strokes, extracting universal truths from personal agonies and ecstasies.
7. Big
The lyrics are a telling roller-coaster, switching between bravado-laced commentary, elements of his intoxicant-fueled lifestyle, and references to his upbringing in a tough neighborhood. A standout line, “I done Meta Word Peace to myself like I’m Ron Artest”, brilliantly layers sports and music, reflecting Juice’s introspective struggle and metaphorically framing his journey of self-discovery. Ultimately, “Big” serves as a stark narration of his reality, teetering on the edge of opulence and controversy. It’s raw, uncensored, and authentically encapsulates the paradox that Juice WRLD often communicated through his art.
8. Robbery
His lyrics, draped in metaphoric brilliance, show a man running from love and falling into self-destructive patterns. “She told me put my heart in the bag / And nobody gets hurt,” Juice sings, illustrating a toxic relationship where love is leverage and emotion is held at ransom. This anguish is amplified by lines like, “Now I’m digging up a grave from my past / I’m a whole different person,” underscoring an identity crisis spurred by heartbreak. Yet, Juice’s exploratory saga of love and loss, despite its harrowing tone, remains resonant within the broader hip-hop landscape. Here’s an artist wearing his heart on his sleeve, gifting us not just confessional music, but also a lesson in vulnerability.
9. Flaws And Sins
A standout line, “I’m all, I’m really all in/In love with all your flaws and sins,” reveals the heart of a longing lover who sees beauty within scars. This cuts through any pretentious glamour, giving us a peek into the psyche of a complex artist. We can’t overlook the lyrical depth where he tackles personal struggles with substance abuse; they add a rawness to the track that resonates with listeners. But it’s the fusion of raw emotion and Juice’s vivid storytelling that amplifies the song’s impact. This track, while dealing with heavy themes, vibe on this joint definitely slaps in a melancholic, reflective kind of way – reinforcing the certitude that Juice WRLD was a distinct voice in the hip-hop landscape.
10. Feeling
The lyrics highlight his reliance on Percocets to mask his problems and feelings, “Percs give me a feeling, I feel it. Problems, I numb and conceal them.” We get a glimpse into Juice’s mind, his struggles with substance addiction, and his self-proclaimed economic worth, “Look like a million, but I’m worth more than a million.” The rapper masterfully blends bravado and vulnerability. At the heart of the track, the reference to Ritalin, a medication typically prescribed for ADHD, stands as a potent line, “I don’t need no Ritalin, I’m focused on the millions.” It’s an affirmation of his relentless pursuit of success, even when weighed down by his personal demons. With “Feeling,” Juice WRLD injects raw emotion into his verses, securing his status as a compelling storyteller in the hip-hop realm.
11. Bandit
Features: YoungBoy Never Broke Again
The lyrics depict a complex dance between danger, love, and drug-fueled savagery, with the protagonists declaring themselves as bandits who’ve stolen the hearts of women deemed as the epitomes of ‘bad.’ The imagery and metaphors bounce between the street life and romantic desire, highlighting the codependent relationship the artists have with these two worlds. A standout line, “She a killer and an eater, she a Jeffery Dahmer” draws a chilling parallel between the love interest and the infamous serial killer, magnifying the predatory allure that keeps pulling them in. The song unfolds like a narrative of modern love caught in the crossfire of grit, where the savagery is both a defense mechanism and a tender expression of affection.
12. Syphilis
The lyrics are a collision of drug metaphors and emotion, painting a picture of a young artist battling with his own contradictions. The line, “I take drugs when I’m copin’, uh / Mama told me it turned to a dope fiend, uh” hit hard, delivering an unflinching commentary on self-medication and the cycle of dependency. It’s a sonic embodiment of Juice’s self-awareness, placed against the backdrop of his own destructive behavior. The track also showcases his brash confidence and defiance, symbolizing his tumultuous relationship with fame, drugs, and their ensuing consequences. “Syphilis” isn’t just a song; it’s a documentation of Juice Wrld’s struggle against his inner demons, and ain’t nobody can say he didn’t lay it bare for the world to hear.
13. Who Shot Cupid?
His lyrics, “All the drugs I did, it was worth it […] Tell me why you had me feelin’ worthless” illuminate his troubled relationship with substance abuse and the paradox it creates in judging his own value. There’s a real cost to his actions, and it’s emotional rather than monetary. In a genre that often amplifies bravado, his introspection stands out, and his confessional tone makes him relatable. He’s a flawed protagonist trying to find forgiveness in a world that frequently overlooks sincerity in favor of bombast. The song’s poignant questions asks whether his love interest just knows him—or really understands him. The track becomes a deep exploration into self-doubt, a quest for genuine affection, and the fight against inner demons, making it a standout on ‘Death Race for Love’.
14. Ring Ring
Features: Rvssian, Clever
The lyrics are ever potent, a raw commentary on the struggle, bringing in the hustle from Rvssian and Clever to make an extraordinary cut.
15. Desire
Conveying this sense of urgency, he repeatedly states, “The girl in my dream…Is sittin’ right next to me.” This line captures the track’s theme of romantic desperation, emphasizing the profound impact that love, or the lack thereof, can have on an individual’s psyche. Juice paints a picture of an obsessed lover, desperately shouting his significant other’s name “in hills in the valley,” seeking validation and fulfillment from a love that might just exist in his dreams. The sonic palette, soaked in melancholy, amplifies the heart-wrenching narrative, reflecting the loneliness, longing, and desire embodied in his lyrics. “Desire” is an introspective dive into the complexities of romantic relationships, underlining Juice’s natural ability to fuse raw emotion with melodic brilliance.
16. Out My Way
The track’s braggadocious lyrics, filled with ominous threats and clever wordplay, present a Juice not afraid to flex his prowess or confront adversarial forces. The line “I’m on them niggas that’ll have an atheist screamin’ out to God” showcases Juice’s confidence and audacity, implying his domination is enough to shake anyone’s beliefs. Thematically, the song revolves around autonomy, dominance, and success, with Juice repeatedly demanding obstacles to move out of his path to glory. Behind these assertive demands lies a nuanced critique of society’s expectations and the pressures faced by artists in the eye of public scrutiny. The hard-hitting beats and Juice’s passionate delivery elevate the track, creating an anthem for those who refuse to bow to obstacles and are unafraid to carve out their own trajectories in an unforgiving world.
17. The Bees Knees
This track is an unfiltered dive into Juice’s psyche, unraveling the complications of fame, romance, and substance use. His repetitive refrain, “Chasing the lean, rotting my brain, honestly/Drugs the only thing that’s faithful to me,” is a raw confession of his reliance on substances, displaying a stark self-awareness. Yet, there’s the braggadocious side too, with lines such as, “Hoes wanna rape my wrist or something,” referring to his high-end watches, a show of wealth. The line “Just ’cause we black, that’s how they comin'” is an acute societal critique, tying his personal battles to wider issues. It’s a rollercoaster ride, a single track in Juice’s sonic manifesto – his Death Race for Love.
18. ON GOD
Features: Young Thug
Young Thug)”, Juice WRLD and Young Thug join forces to paint a vivid image of their lifestyles – marked by lavish spending, fast cars, and unapologetic womanizing. The track’s relentless 808 patterns and high-energy vibe mirrors the reckless abandon in their lyrics. Young Thug comes through with his signature cadence, dropping tongue-in-cheek lines like “I don’t fuck with niggas, I’m racist, uh/Get my dick sucked by a soultaker, uh.” However, Juice WRLD brings a deeper layer of introspection, strutting his success yet expressing a tinge of sadness over the materialistic emptiness it encompasses. A standout line, “Unlike you broke-ass niggas/I actually achieve my goals (That’s on God)” speaks volumes about his rise to fame and the determined grind that got him there.
19. 10 Feet
The track hits hard with lyrics drenched in drug references and a disdain for fraudulent personalities in hip hop, “These niggas lip-syncin’ like Milli Vanilli or somethin'”. He contrasts this savagery with an introspective exploration of despair and temporary relief, “Like I could find a little Heaven up in my Hell / Yeah, I know it never ever end well”. Juice WRLD’s knack for expressing such juxtaposing sentiments in his music was a defining factor in his meteoric rise, showcasing a depth that resonated deeply with his audience. His canvas may be bloody, but the picture he’s painting is universally human, illuminating the darkest corners of emotional struggle with raw, unflinching honesty.
20. Won’t Let Go
The lyrics dance along the fine line of infatuation and addiction; plunging deep into the rawness of love and the profound attachment it births. “No such thing as too close,” he repeatedly croons, emphasizing an intense, emotional bond. A standout line in the track is, “You are my dope, addiction soul, addictin’ soul, that’s you, my love.” Dressed in hip-hop’s tenacity, Juice WRLD artfully frames his experiences within a love-drug metaphor, rendering a potent mix of vulnerability and sensuality. His lyrical prowess in this track transforms complex human emotions into relatable anthems, reinforcing his credibility as a vital voice in the hip-hop community.
21. She’s The One
The lyric “She’s my tranquility (Uh) / I can’t go to sleep / Without her next to me” captures Juice’s intense longing, stripping away any facade of bravado to reveal a raw vulnerability that’s incredibly compelling. This is Juice at his most introspective, exposing the stark realities of his internal struggle through his adept wordplay. The Philadelphia reference, “Just like Meek Milly,” ties him into the broader hip-hop landscape and adds a layer of geographical context. He’s not just rapping about his feelings, but also about his place in the world and within the hip-hop culture. These complicated emotions give “She’s The One” its palpable intensity, making it a standout track in Juice’s catalogue.
22. Rider
Despite its deceptively upbeat melody, the lyrics detail a turbulent inner world, echoing Juice’s cry for authenticity in a partner amidst illusions of loyalty. His obsession with mortality and macabre thoughts, consistent with his overall discography, permeates the song – “Lay me down to sleep with my casket closed”. Unresolved paranoia and insecurities serve as a canvas for his demands for unabashed love, challenging his partner to bear the weight of his tormented existence. There’s a biting self-awareness in Juice’s confession to the toxic pull of his addictions, labeled as his twisted coping mechanism – “I’m codeine Cobain, I’ma pour a four / I don’t do cocaine, but it’s Perc in my nose”. The lyrical narrative of “Rider” is emblematic of the melancholic vulnerability that made Juice WRLD a standout in the emo-rap landscape.
23. Make Believe
The track’s edgy narrative captures the toxic descent of a love story into obsession and self-destruction. Juice’s emotionally raw outpouring flips between affection and bitterness, capturing the reckless freefall of a heart on the edge. The line, “Life isn’t real, love’s make believe,” drops like a gut-punch, reflecting Juice’s state of disillusionment and despair. The chorus’ allusion to Eminem’s “Stan” conjures up an image of a fatalistic love spiraling out of control. However, amid this murky universe of heightened emotions, Juice’s artistry shines, his evocative lyrics brilliantly mirroring the agonizing dance of love and hate, eternal desire and impending doom.
