WATCH: JUICE WRLD and The Weeknd Teamed Up To Create ‘Smile’
WATCH: JUICE WRLD and The Weeknd Teamed Up To Create ‘Smile’
Another iconic posthumous release from the late rapper
The Weeknd has dropped a very special collaboration, “Smile,” with late rapper JUICE WRLD, a first-time collaboration between the two artists. The highly anticipated collab was first teased by The Weeknd on his social media channels earlier this week, instantly catching the attention of fans. “XO + 999 Thursday night,” he posted along with a picture of JUICE WRLD. Before the sad and sudden loss of JUICE WRLD, he tweeted about making music with The Weeknd, stating that the two would “make a diamond record.”
In the official lyric video for the pensive track “Smile,” posted to JUICE WRLD’s YouTube channel, an artist paints a portrait of the late rapper appears upon the screen, as he raps a verse about wanting to make someone who he loves happy, even if he is not in that person’s life anymore. The irony of the video is that neither of the two artists are smiling in their portrait. “I’d do anything in my power to make you smile,” JUICE WRLD raps.
“I just want to see you smile,” The Weeknd continues with his verse as the artist moves on to paint a portrait of him. “Don’t Cry/Even though it means I gotta let you go/Dependent on you gotta learn to be alone.”
A haunting message was delivered through the song from JUICE WRLD “Devil on my shoulder telling me I’ll die soon.” This isn’t the first posthumous song made by the late rapper that mentions death and dying.
Although the song causes smiles, being full of upbeat synths and drops, it lacks the intimacy often found in The Weeknd’s music. Despite that, “Smile” is the perfect track to vibe to while driving down the highway at sunset – the time of day where it seems to be impossible not to smile and feel grateful for living during a time of great music.
“Smile” is the first release from The Weeknd since the drop of his fourth studio album After Hours earlier this year. The album contains three singles, “Heartless,” “Blinding Lights,” and “In Your Eyes,” the latter of which got a remix from Doja Cat.
The estate of JUICE WRLD released Legends Never Die last month to honor the legacy that the late rapper left behind. This record has become the most successful posthumous album in the last 20 years in America. In addition, JUICE’s mother, Carmela Wallace, announced the establishment of the Live Free 999 Foundation this past April. The foundation will receive additional support via Grade A and Interscope Records. The Live Free 999 Fund will honor the legacy of her son by supporting young people in their battles and to do so with love, joy, and emotional honesty.
