Juice WRLD Posthumously Debuts Two Songs on Billboard’s Charts

Juice WRLD (born Jarad Higgins) died on Dec. 8, 2019 at age 21 due to an accidental oxycodone and codeine intoxication. Since then, his estate has consistently released new music from the late musician to the degree that he’s charted more songs since he died than he did while he was alive.

Juice WRLD’s estate released two new songs on Sept. 9 packaged together as part of the rapper’s The Pre-Party, titled “World Tour (Aquafina)” and “Lightyears” featuring Young Thug.

Both songs debut on Billboard’s latest Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart (dated Sept. 21) at Nos. 34 and 39, respectively. He’s now charted 87 total songs on the chart. Of those, only 29 debuted while he was living.

Juice WRLD teased both songs on social media while he was still living. In 2018, he previewed “World Tour (Aquafina)” on Instagram Live, rapping “I’m a real n—a, nah, I’m not an actor/ Double cup with that red lean, I’ma sip classy/ Dior on my feet, I feel classy.” Juice and Young Thug both teased “Lightyears” before the COVID shutdown in February 2020.

Both songs are slated to appear on Juice’s forthcoming The Party Never Ends album, which Billboard reported is expected to be the rapper’s third and final posthumous album. His first posthumous LP, Legends Never Die, spent two weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart in July 2020. His second, Fighting Demons, debuted and peaked at No. 2 on the chart in December 2021. While he was alive, Juice earned three top five albums on the Billboard 200: Goodbye & Good Riddance (No. 4; 2018), Future & Juice WRLD Present…WRLD on Drugs with Future (No. 2; 2018) and Death Race For Love (No. 1; 2019).

On the Billboard Hot 100, Juice has charted 80 total songs, most recently with “Lace It,” with Eminem and Benny Blanco, in December (No. 85 peak). Of those, 25 debuted while he was alive.

Of course, many other artists have posthumously debuted on Billboard’s charts. Eight artists even earned posthumous Hot 100 No. 1s, including: Otis Redding, Janis Joplin, Jim Croce, John Lennon, The Notorious B.I.G., Soulja Slim, Static Major and XXXTentacion. On the Billboard 200, the late Brooklyn rapper Pop Smoke landed his second No. 1 album in 2021 (with Faith) after he was murdered in 2020. 2Pac, who was murdered in 1996, earned eight top 10 albums following his death, including three No. 1s.

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