It’s been a longtime coming, but the talented Juice WRLD has finally come through with his sophomore studio effort. Already drawing lofty comparisons to Biggie and Jay-Z from a loyal Interscope A&R, Juice WRLD’s A Deathrace For Love clocks in at a staggering twenty-two tracks. A number befitting of the streaming era’s reigning prince.
With a vast array of vibes, Juice’s various skills are put on full display. The emo, voice-cracking charm of “Robbery” depicts his aptitude for inebriated love letters, while the hazy “10 Feet” displays his capable flow, oft-revealed through hour-long freestyle sessions. In a respectable move, Juice opts to fly primarily solo, with the lone guest appearances belonging to Brent Fayaiz, Young Thug, and Clever.
The subject matter largely centers around his usual favorite topics, which is to say drugs and heartbreak. And yet, in spite of the consistent hardship he seems to face, he remains somewhat of a romantic at heart. Though Juice WRLD’s quest for a soul-mate may be prolonged by his dependency on a cornucopia of substances, it remains strangely pure. Endearing, even. It might be difficult for to sympathize with such a self-destructive protagonist, but there’s much to unpack throughout the hour-plus Deathrace. Whether it resonates like the love it professes to covet or a tipsy game of Seven Minutes In Heaven…well, that’s another beast altogether.
