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The Unwavering Appeal of Juice WRLD Five Years After His Passing
How the young hip hop superstar normalized mental health and introspection across a generation
In one breath, Juice WRLD would recite a line about drinking codeine and abruptly shift to thoughts on heartbreak and mortality. He never used a pen to write down lyrics, which provided audiences with an unfiltered glimpse into his psyche. He had a desire for happiness, but instead found himself haunted by negative thoughts that he tried to cure with self-medication. And yet, Juice WRLD openly acknowledged this damaging behavior. He knew his flaws. He sang and rapped about those flaws. His music introduced us to a level of raw vulnerability and personal reflection rarely seen in mainstream hip hop.
Just over five years ago, Jarad Higgins — the artist better known as Juice WRLD — tragically passed away. He had been open about his struggles with anxiety and addiction, but no one could’ve prepared for this untimely ending to his career. Less than a week after his 21st birthday, the musician accidentally overdosed on a combination of codeine and oxycodone. If you listen to any interview with him, you can hear the pain in his voice when addressing his emotional challenges. However, he also maintained an immeasurable amount of gratitude, love and self-awareness.
