Welcome to The Sports Fan Journal’s latest series: In The Rotation. Music fans are always trying to find the latest tunes to spin and our editor Mya Melody, a.k.a. the playlist virtuoso, is here to help. Whether you need a weekend turn up anthem or a smooth jam for a kickback, this series will highlight the week’s hottest song to add in your collection. Vibe out and enjoy! #MelodyPutYouOn
Over the years, fans have seen a shift in rap sub-genres, one in particular being emo rap. Listeners can thank hip-hop veterans like Kid Cudi and Drake for getting them into their feelings, along with rap's breakout star of 2018, Juice WRLD.
The "Lucid Dreams" rapper may have caught the mainstream fire with his debut album Goodbye & Good Riddance last year, but now he's ready to showcase his artistic growth on his latest album Death Race for Love. Although Juice WRLD released the album's lead single "Robbery" a few weeks ago, one of the album's standouts is "Maze."
Now let's be clear, sad rap is the premise of Juice WRLD's sound. Fans are used to his storytelling on love and heartbreak, but "Maze" focuses on how he feels stuck in his life. He's going through the motions and as life would have it, he's being taken through twists and turns without direction and elevation. The rapper talks about his attempts at numbing his feelings with drugs and substances, however, he realizes that abuse affects him mentally. As a listener, fans can only hope that Juice WRLD finds his light at the end of the tunnel.
If you're ready to get in your emo rap mode for the remainder of the week, put Juice WRLD's "Maze" in the rotation and be sure to check out this week's pertinent reading material:
Music Sermon: Why Ya'll Owe Queen Latifah More Credit - VIBE
Revisiting De La Soul's '3 Feet High and Rising' 30 Years Later - Still Crew
LeBron's Hip-Hop History: Road to Becoming an A&R - Complex
How to Pick a Music Festival When They All Sound the Same - GQ
How Kanye's EMI Lawsuit Could Change the Music Industry Forever - DJBooth
