The art of the posthumous album is incredibly difficult to get right. Without that central spirit to guide it, it’s almost impossible to know what an artist would have intended to complete or release. The intention is usually the same – to honour a voice taken too soon – but the results can be haphazard. Juice WRLD passed in 2019, with only two albums to his name; a trailblazer for the newgen, his family have spearheaded efforts to build his catalogue outwardsand bring studio sketches to completion.
‘The Party Never Ends’ is dubbed as the final posthumous Juice WRLD album, and it frames many of the positives and drawbacks of the phenomenon. It’s undoubtedly done with love – the rapper’s mother is involved – and it embarks on a great deal of fan service. Just look at the features here – Eminem on ‘Lace It’, Fall Out Boy on ‘Best Friend’, alongside Nicki Minaj, The Kid LAROI and Offset.
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Yet even in spite of those riches something doesn’t gel here. At 18 tracks it’s both exhaustive and exhausting, a record that sometimes lacks a cohesive identity. Equally, for all the fireworks and guest spots, the material itself can be sometimes lacking – ideas remain unfinished for a reason.
That said, there are sparks of Juice WRLD’s genius here. ‘Misfit’ should be a fan favourite, ‘Condone It’ highlights his inventive flows, and ‘Barbarian’ echoes with intent. When the record works, there isn’t really a problem – it’s more that ‘The Party Never Ends’ can be heavily inconsistent, and frequently creaks under the weight of its hour-long span.
Ultimately this era of American rap is defined by loss. This week alone saw another posthumous record announced from the Mac Miller estate, with countless young voices falling quiet all too early. Done right, and it can advance an artist’s legacy – ‘The Party Never Ends’ doesn’t fully sully Juice WRLD’s catalogue, but it equally doesn’t offer enough to fans.
5/10
Words: Robin Murray