Juice WRLD was sitting on a staggering 3,000 unreleased songs before his tragic death in 2019. So when it came time to put together his first posthumous album, his team picked songs that told a story about his real life at the time.
Juice WRLD's mentor and label founder Lil Bibby told XXL, “The last talks that I had with Juice, I remember where his mind was at, and I wanted to explain exactly what he was going through at the time with the music. Somebody that was fighting addiction, anxiety, and detachment.”
What they ended up with was ‘Legends Never Die,’ an album that debuted at No. 1 and became one of the most successful releases of the decade.
5 years later, a special 5-year anniversary edition of the album has been pressed on pink vinyl, available only on Complex. Today, we’re diving deep on the album and breaking down what made Juice such a special artist.
Lyrics:
Juice was an incredibly honest songwriter, and ‘Legends Never Die’ is a raw look inside his mind as he dealt with issues like anxiety, addiction, and heartbreak.
He wasn’t afraid to be vulnerable in his music, writing from a relatable perspective that resonated with millions. He instinctually communicated his thoughts in a very poetic manner, which is even more impressive when you remember that most of these songs were freestyled off the top of his head. Like on “Righteous,” when he raps:
“Takin' medicine to fix all of the damage
My anxiety the size of a planet
Holes in my skull, over time
My heart's over ice”
Collaborators:
‘Legends Never Die’ features a lot of special guests, including The Weeknd, Trippie Redd, The Kid LAROI, Polo G, Marshmello, and Halsey.
As Lil Bibby revealed, these features were chosen because they were all very meaningful in Juice’s real life.
The Kid Laroi was so close to Juice that they even lived together for a while, and Juice was so important to Halsey that she got a tattoo in his memory. In a heartfelt note, Halsey called Juice "one of my fav artists of all time" and "one of the greatest people with the greatest smile."
Exclusive Vinyl:
If you love this album as much as we do, you’ll want it in your home. This pink vinyl variant is available exclusively on Complex, where you can also find this cool Zoetrope version of the iconic album.