Death Race for Love


Death Race for Love is the second studio album by American rapper Juice Wrld and the last album to be released during his lifetime. It was released on March 8, 2019, through Grade A Productions and distributed by Interscope Records. It follows his two 2018 projects: his solo project, Goodbye & Good Riddance, and his collaborative mixtape with Future, Wrld on Drugs. The album's artwork and title is inspired by the Twisted Metal series of games for the original PlayStation console. The album features guest appearances from Brent Faiyaz, Clever, and Young Thug.
Death Race for Love includes the Nick Mira-produced lead single, "Robbery", which was released on February 13, and the Purps-produced "Hear Me Calling", which was released on March 1, 2019. The album received generally favorable reviews from critics and debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 with sales of 165,000 album-equivalent units. It is Juice Wrld's first US number-one album and became certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.

Promotion

On February 7, 2019, Juice Wrld announced the album on Twitter, writing: "I'm losing my mind and loving every minute of it... Just in time for the drop of the album... MARCH 8th..." On February 20, Wrld revealed he would be headlining a North America concert tour in support of the album, with fellow rapper Ski Mask the Slump God. On March 4, 2019, he revealed the official tracklist for the album. Juice Wrld appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to perform "Hear Me Calling" on April 8, 2019.

Singles

The album's lead single, "Robbery", was released on February 13, 2019. The song was produced by Nick Mira and peaked at number 27 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The album's second single, "Hear Me Calling", was released on March 1, 2019. The song was produced by Purps and peaked at number 38 on the Hot 100 following the album's release.

Artwork and title

The album's artwork and title is inspired by the Twisted Metal series of games for the original PlayStation console.

Critical reception

Death Race for Love was met with generally favorable reviews. At Metacritic, the album received an average score of 61, based on 11 reviews. Aggregator AnyDecentMusic? gave it 5.4 out of 10, based on their assessment of the critical consensus. Album of the Year assessed the critical consensus as 61 out of 100, based on 14 reviews.
Thomas Hobbs of NME gave a positive review, stating "Juice WRLD is far less indulgent than XXX, not getting lost in the idea that he's a messianic creative. This will be the moment that solidifies his status as one of rap's most exciting new stars." Scott Glaysher of HipHopDX said, "Genre-blending albums are not easy to pull off and for that, Juice WRLD should be given credit. From the seemingly sincere lyrics to the equally candid delivery, Juice truly goes with his gut in whichever way." Danny Schwartz of Rolling Stone saying "Death Race succeeded in its most fundamental mission, which was to prove that "Lucid Dreams" was not a fluke. Songs like "Fast", "Ring, Ring", "Hear Me Calling" strike a dynamic balance of raw charisma and profound anxiety.... While his melodrama tends to grow old over the course of a 22-track, 72-minute album, it is captivating in small doses." Pitchforks Alphonse Pierre wrote, "Fifty percent of the lyrics are bad and the other 50 percent are also bad, but then they get stuck in your head and ultimately turn good.... Death Race For Love feels like the real Juice WRLD, wearing his influences and heart on his sleeve, putting his ups and downs into the music in real time."
In a mixed review, The Guardians Kate Hutchinson stated: "It's slim on features but big on misanthropic head-nodders that put Juice's Fall Out Boy-style whine or raspy flow to the fore: he is more versatile than his peers and also more gifted.... But ultimately, the suicide references of songs such as Empty and casual misogyny in the tauntingly violent Syphilis leave an uncomfortable taste." PopMatters critic Mike Schiller said, "The ratio of bangers to duds, however, is not great, and Death Race for Love feels an awful lot like an unabridged teenage diary; while the occasional clever turn of phrase and moment of profundity is sure to bubble up, most of it is simple self-indulgence, an onslaught of pure emotion whose sincerity is never in question, but all of which starts to blur together after a mere few pages or songs." Fred Thomas was also critical of the album in the review for AllMusic, stating "There's no shortage of highlights, but the lack of editing or focus means every song goes on a little too long and leads to another one that struggles to connect stylistically or emotionally."

Accolades

Commercial performance

Death Race for Love debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 with 165,000 album-equivalent units, of which 43,000 were pure album sales in its first week. It is Juice Wrld's first US number-one album. In its second week, the album remained at number one on the chart, moving an additional 74,000 equivalent units that week. In its third week, the album dropped to number three on the chart, moving another 54,000 units that week. In its fourth week, the album dropped to number five on the chart, moving 44,000 units that week. As of May 2019, the album has earned 515,000 album-equivalent units and 53,000 copies in the United States. On June 20, 2019, the album was gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for combined sales and album-equivalent units of over 500,000 units.

Track listing

Track listing adapted from iTunes and Tidal.

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Decade-end charts

Certifications