Fans will gather Saturday at the United Center to commemorate the life and work of Juice WRLD, the 21-year-old Chicago rapper who died of a drug overdose in 2019.
Local music writer Mark Braboy told the City Cast Chicago podcast about the young artist’s impact.
What made Juice WRLD stand out from other SoundCloud rappers circa 2017–2018?
“He knows how to make an instant hit. He knew how to make music beyond rap, to make music that everybody can appreciate. But as a pure lyricist, I don't think he ever really got the real credit for that because he was advanced — like songs like ‘Syphilis.’”
Why did Juice WRLD’s music resonate with so many young people?
“Because they’re dealing with the same issues he’s going through, but he's just honest about it. … Dealing with hustling while you're dealing with relationships, dealing with sadness, dealing with demons, even with drug addiction — the way he just so openly talked about it in a non-glamorous way, he gave a voice to a lot of people's emotions that they didn't know how to talk about.”
How can we celebrate the legacy of Juice WRLD while also letting it serve as a cautionary tale to young people?
“I think Juice WRLD wanted people to talk about [their] feelings. … Talk to your kids about what they're going through and have honest conversations and talk to them about what you're going through. And I think, ultimately, he wanted us to find a better way we could help each other.”
