New Juice WRLD Album Was Unable To Secure Lil Wayne Sample

Juice WRLD passed away almost two years to the date before the release of his second posthumous album, “Fighting Demons.” On the new record, the late rapper waxes poetic about stardom, love, and the addiction that eventually led to his passing. The album has several features from major stars, including Justin Bieber, Eminem, and Polo G.

One of those major names was, unfortunately, unable to be included on the record. Lil Bibby told Complex that the original plan was to use a sample of Lil Wayne on the record. The clip, in which Wayne spoke about mental health, would’ve fit the album perfectly. Bibby was unable to get clearance for the audio, and it didn’t end up on the record.

“It’s always tough clearing everything. I had got this footage from this Lil Wayne interview, and it was really meaningful, really powerful. It was Lil Wayne talking about how he had mental health, and he shot himself. The cops saved him. So I felt like that was really meaningful. And up until yesterday, we were even trying to clear it, and we couldn’t clear it.”

Juice WRLD’s manager, Jideonwo, explained that it wasn’t Lil Wayne’s fault. The studio itself kept them from using the clip. He believes that its absence leaves a hole in the album.

“We got denied—not by Wayne, not the interviewer, but the actual studio that owns the content. And something like that puts a hole in the album… trying to get different clearances for all different things and getting people involved, and cleaning up different types of businesses… When working on something grand, you’re going to face multiple, multiple, multiple challenges, and from every angle that you may or may not expect.” 

Juice WRLD’s “Fighting Demons” dropped this morning (December 10, 2021). It’s available at all the normal streaming outlets. Fans will be left to wonder how Lil Wayne’s poignant sample could’ve really brought the album together.

What do you think of Juice WRLD’s new album? Let us know in the comments!