Although Juice WRLD sadly passed away a few months ago, the incredibly popular Chicago rapper caught up with Rolling Stone before his death to speak on a few first-time experiences that made his career.

Juice WRLD chats to Rolling Stone months before his death

The interview, a sad reminder of the potential lost when Juice died of an accidental overdose in December, is still an insightful look into a rising and inventive artist who once had to work hard to keep his mpm from hearing his music. The secretive song-making didn’t last for long though, as his mom’s colleague pulled the rug out from underneath him.

“He asked my mom what my rap name was, or something, and my mom knew my rap name, but she’d never heard none of my music before – this is before I had any type of Soundcloud following, any of that,” Juice WRLD says. “And then she listened to it and texted me and was like, ‘Yeah, I just heard all ya’ll music.’ Obviously she wasn’t rocking with it, but she ain’t got no choice but to rock with it now.

The “Lucid Dreams” singer also used the interview as a chance to look back at his first heartbreak with a bit of humour. “I look back now and I’m like, ‘Wow, that was not a serious situation bro’”.

Although he couldn’t remember the lyrics to other songs, Juice WRLD quickly learned how to rap and freestyle, as he says in the video. This led to him writing his first track in fifth grade during study hall. “I couldn’t just sit there and do my work, I did something else.”

Perhaps the biggest moment for fans is when Juice discusses music as a form of therapy; notable because his music has often been cited as therapy for the many people who adored his work. “Just listened to [music] was therapy, an escape from everything,” he says. “I always used to get lost in music.”

Love Hip Hop?

Get the latest Hip Hop news, features, updates and giveaways straight to your inbox Learn more

Get unlimited access to the coverage that shapes our culture.
to Rolling Stone magazine
to Rolling Stone magazine