Juice WRLD’s albums ranked.
A dive into the late Chicago rapper’s fascinating discography.
Jarad Higgins, a Chicago native who catapulted to fame in the late 2010s as Juice WRLD, was famous for his effortless flows, lyrics, and freestyling abilities. Unfortunately, he passed away at the age of 21 due to a seizure in December of 2019. Juice released three albums before his death and his label has since released two more, with additional music still potentially dropping down the road. Without a doubt, these are difficult albums to rank, each containing its own set of lyrical triumphs and musical heights. Here is my attempt at a ranking, nonetheless.
5. Future & Juice WRLD Present…WRLD ON DRUGS (2018)
WRLD ON DRUGS was a collaborative project between Higgins and fellow world-class rapper Future. The two had fairly good synergy throughout the album, creating a multitude of catchy and melodic songs like “Fine China” and “Hard Work Pays Off.” These tracks showed off Juice WRLD’s upbeat songwriting skills, which wasn’t really showcased on his debut album Goodbye & Good Riddance. However, despite its different speed, WRLD ON DRUGS fell short when it came to lyricism: the album seemed awfully superficial, lacking the deep and strong emotional sentiment of Juice’s other albums. Fitting with its name, a majority of the album focuses on substance abuse. Several of the most popular songs on the album, like “Jet Lag,” “Hard Work Pays Off,” and “Realer N Realer,” are filled with drug references throughout their verses. Listeners are left yearning for more, as this album showcases very few of the heartfelt lyrics that Juice was loved for.
4. Fighting Demons (2021)
Fighting Demons is Juice WRLD’s second and most recently released posthumous album. Supported by several hits such as “Cigarettes,” “Already Dead,” and “Doom,” the record largely shares the vibe of Juice’s previous albums. Fighting Demons showcases his lyrical proficiency, most notably on the track “You Wouldn’t Understand.” While WRLD ON DRUGS suffers from its lack of meaningful lyricism, Fighting Demons suffers from the opposite. It almost dives too deep into Higgins’ struggles with relationships and himself and others, making the songs feel somewhat dull when juxtaposed against his other work.
3. Goodbye & Good Riddance (2018)
As Juice WRLD’s debut album, Goodbye & Good Riddance was responsible for thrusting him into rap’s mainstream with undeniable tracks “All Girls Are the Same” and “Lucid Dreams” remaining iconic until this day. “All Girls Are The Same” showcased an unprecedented level of creativity, as the Chicago crooner weaves together a number of lighthearted lines and references that come together to form a song that mirrors the structure of a freestyle both in its abrupt vocals and chaotic lyrics. In contrast, “Lucid Dreams” is heavy-hearted, with a direct address of his ex-girlfriend. The fundamental appeal of Juice’s music is encapsulated in the simple yet memorable chorus:
I still see your shadows in my room
Can’t take back the love that I gave you
It’s to the point where I love and I hate you
And I cannot change you, so I must replace you, oh
Though “All Girls Are The Same” and “Lucid Dreams” are Goodbye & Good Riddance’s poster children, the album boasts several groundbreaking moments that go underappreciated. “Armed And Dangerous” showcases a breezy spirit that Juice rarely tapped into, not only through humorous rhymes, but also through his harmonious use of ad-libs. You also can’t forget “Candles,” a casual track that truly embodies the freestyle vibe of Juice WRLD’s music. The track features an unexpected flow switch in the second verse, a unique structure that isn’t commonly seen throughout the rest of his discography.
2. Legends Never Die (2020)
Higgins’ first posthumously released album certainly deserves a spot near the top of this list. Legends Never Die debuted “Bad Energy,” “Blood On My Jeans,” “Life’s A Mess,” “Come & Go,” “Wishing Well,” and “Stay High.” When it comes to critiquing the album, it's quite difficult to find anything noteworthy, even if there is somewhat of a lack of cohesion when looking at the tracklist as a whole. Each track showcases unique lyricism, especially next to his features. Most notably, on “Life’s A Mess” featuring Halsey, Juice puts his vocal talent on display through the track’s melodic structure. The striking power chords on “Come & Go” with Marshmello create a rock and metal vibe, something Juice definitely had potential to experiment with more. One notable solo track on the album is “Stay High,” featuring choppy verses, repetition, and elite rhyming in spades.
1. Death Race For Love (2019)
Juice WRLD’s third album comes in first place, and takes the spot by a slim margin due to its sheer number of hits and thematic cohesion. The album is home to global hits like “Empty,” “Fast,” “Robbery,” and “Bandit.” Perhaps not as iconic as the highlights of Goodbye & Good Riddance or as innovative as those on Legends Never Die, Death Race For Love holds a perfect mix of the two, produced at a time when Higgins truly found his own footing within the industry, intertwining his lyrical talent with refined melodic vocals. Most importantly, the album majors in melancholic heartbreak and soul-searching, underlined by tracks such as “Empty,” “Hear Me Calling,” “Robbery,” and “Make Believe.” Juice delivers effortlessly witty lines that speak to these inner demons: “She told me put my heart in a bag/And nobody gets hurt” (“Robbery”) and “My world revolves around a black hole/The same black hole that’s in place of my soul” (“Empty”). That consistency is occasionally broken by upbeat moments such as “Fast” and “Ring Ring,” creating a balance while still maintaining an overarching theme of struggling with heartbreak and identity.
edited by Nicole Millan Ortiz.
album artwork believed to belong to either the publisher of the work or the artist.