Juice WRLD, whose real name was Jarad A. Higgins, tragically passed away on December 8, 2019, at the age of 21. He died from an accidental overdose of powerful painkillers, as confirmed by the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office.
The official cause of death was determined to be oxycodone and codeine toxicity, substances that are part of the opioid family.
These drugs, which are commonly used to treat severe pain, have been linked to the broader opioid crisis in the United States.
The rapper’s death occurred after he experienced a seizure during a search of his private jet at Chicago’s Midway International Airport.
Federal authorities had received a tip that illegal substances were on board, and upon landing, they discovered drugs and guns. Juice WRLD was immediately rushed to the hospital but was later pronounced dead.
Juice WRLD had just celebrated his 21st birthday shortly before his passing. He was known for his raw and emotional music, often discussing themes of mental health, drugs, and existential topics.
His breakout hit, “Lucid Dreams,” released in 2018, became a chart-topping success and earned him widespread recognition.
He often mentioned his struggles with substance abuse in his lyrics, with references to using lean (a combination of prescription-strength cough syrup and soda) and Xanax in interviews.
His death follows a tragic pattern in the music industry, with several high-profile artists losing their lives due to opioid overdoses in recent years.
These include Lil Peep (who passed away in 2017 due to a fentanyl and Xanax overdose), Mac Miller (who died in 2018 from a combination of fentanyl, cocaine, and alcohol), and Prince (who died in 2016 from a fentanyl overdose).
Juice WRLD’s passing highlights the dangerous impact of opioid misuse, particularly within the hip-hop community, where references to drugs are often a part of the culture.
Juice WRLD’s music continued to resonate with fans, with posthumous releases further cementing his legacy as one of the defining artists of his generation.
His untimely death at such a young age left a significant void in the music world, and his struggle with addiction became part of the broader conversation about the pressures faced by young artists and the dangers of substance abuse.
