Self-proclaimed “emo” rapper Trippie Redd has sworn off the drug lifestyle following the death of fellow rapper and friend, Juice WRLD. Trippie posted a screenshot of he and Juice on Face Time, with the caption “I kinda hate life tbh I’m sick of this shit honestly.”
He went live on Instagram to make the announcement. “We ain’t doing it no more. Period. If it ain’t weed, we ain’t doing it no more.” He paused, “When I say ‘we’ I mean us as a group. Us as a whole, the whole emo music artists. No drugs.”
Several artists have spoken out about excessive drug use in the industry, especially among the younger rappers. Some even went on to blame the older generation of rappers that glorify drug use.
Joyner Lucas posted on Twitter:
“Juice wrld was 21. He was a product of our generation of rappers who glorified drugs and made it cool,” Joyner tweeted. “Im blaming Yal niggaz for this shit. ♂️ all that lean and pills niggaz glorify and talk about. You teaching the kids to do it. Smh you happy now?Rip @JuiceWorlddd. Gone too soon”
Juice wrld was 21. He was a product of our generation of rappers who glorified drugs and made it cool. Im blaming Yal niggaz for this shit. ♂️ all that lean and pills niggaz glorify and talk about. You teaching the kids to do it. Smh you happy now?Rip @JuiceWorlddd. Gone too soon
— Joyner Lucas (@JoynerLucas) December 9, 2019
Several fans posted comments. Some in agreement with the rappers post, but also some in disagreement. Some who attributed the drug and alcohol use to unresolved mental issues, depression and the need for open dialogue and counseling.
No offense but music has been glorifying drugs and violence for forever just like the movies. Kids aren’t the ones overdosing or getting locked up for gun possession. Need celebrities to stop living the life of the characters they portray in their art. We know it’s fake. No point
— Justin Chandler (@KOSDFF) December 9, 2019
You sound like a cop lol, blame the pharmaceutical companies, the DEA, and corrupt politicians
— Keep Right (@KeepRightX) December 9, 2019
We live in a world where they preach " do whatever you want that makes you happy " well…….
— Sinbad ⚔ (@Iam_Fouad) December 9, 2019
He did drugs to numb his pain. Mental illness is a struggle and a lot of us use drugs to make it stop. It’s a temporary fix but a lot of us who struggle use.
— (@alixxbrownn) December 9, 2019
In another IG Live, Trippie said “We look up to all these bigger artists, all these grown-ass men and all they do is talk about poppin’ pills and sippin’ codeine and all that shit… I’ll be the first to say I ain’t sippin’ no lean , I aint poppin’ no pills but Imma still talk about it in music. Maybe.”
Rapper Lil Mosey has also declared his sobriety. The 17 year-old posted on Twitter, “I asked God to help me. Drugs won’t take me I promise & Im done with them. I love y’all, pray for me ”
I asked God to help me. Drugs won’t take me I promise & Im done with them. I love y’all, pray for me
— lil Mosey (@lilmosey) December 9, 2019
