| "Juice" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single byChance the Rapper | ||||
| from the albumAcid Rap | ||||
| Released | January 31, 2013 | |||
| Length | 3:35 (original) 0:30 (2019 streaming version) | |||
| Songwriters | ||||
| Producer | Nate Fox | |||
| Chance the Rapper singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Juice" onYouTube | ||||
"Juice" is a song by American rapperChance the Rapper, released on January 31, 2013 as the lead single from his second mixtapeAcid Rap (2013). It was written by Chance andNate Fox, who also produced the song. It was not only the first single from the project, but also the debut single from Chance as a lead artist, since no singles were released from his debut mixtape,10 Day.
"Juice" is a midtempo song, built around a loop ofDonny Hathaway's live performance of "Jealous Guy" byJohn Lennon.[1] Chance the Rapper sings and raps in a comedic manner;[2][3] his verses in the song have been described as having a "freewheeling, bluesy sway" that "gives way to raucous call-and-response choruses".[4] He references the 1992 filmJuice (of which the song's title originates) and playfully taunts theLos Angeles Lakers while warning about the pitfalls of being successful.[2][4]
The song received generally favorable reviews from music critics. Craig Jenkins ofPitchfork wrote that it "finds Chance displaying better control of his abilities and treating the gear shift from rapping to singing less like the flick of a switch, as older songs did, and more like a pendulous drift." In addition, Jenkins commented that "'Juice' sounds off-the-cuff, but the delivery is a touch too technical for that to be the case".[4] Similarly, Chris Martins ofSpin praised Chance's "striking delivery", writing that "He rhymes, sings, and shouts with exuberance, unafraid to get a little goofy if it'll make the song better, all while making good on his claim".[3] Writing forEarmilk, Aaron Thomas remarked that the song "may be one of his more accessible songs to date, with a fitting beat that doesn't distract from his strong lyrics and approach."[5]
The music video was directed by Austin Vesely. It sees Chance the Rapper bouncing aroundTimes Square at night. Neon signs of advertisements and department stores appear in the background, some of which provide imagery and visual references of the lyrics. For example, when Chance lyrically alludes to the filmJuice, a portrait of rapperTupac Shakur (who starred in the film) flashes across a billboard.[1][3]
WhenAcid Rap was first re-released on streaming services on June 28, 2019, "Juice" was replaced with a 30-second spoken message, in which Chance the Rapper explains the song is excluded from the mixtape because of an uncleared sample. Chance then adds that all streaming proceeds for the alternate version of "Juice" go directly toSocialWorks, a non-profit organization which he founded, and encourages listeners to replay the song all the way through for payment to be received.[6] The full version was later released on the 10th anniversaryComplete Edition.