Black & White

"Black & White" by Juice WRLD is a candid exploration of his life of excess, centered on heavy drug use and the party culture that defined his career. The song's meaning is built around the central metaphor of "black and white," which functions on multiple levels. On the surface, it refers to the black and white Mercedes-Benz cars he drives and the racial makeup of his friend groups with whom he partakes in different drugs—cocaine with his Black friends and codeine with his white friends. This creates a simple, stark duality that structures the narrative.

However, the phrase "It's black and white, but it's not a race" suggests a deeper meaning. While some interpret it as an anthem to end racism, the lyrical context points more toward a declaration of simplicity and nihilism. For Juice WRLD, the choice to do drugs is a straightforward, black-and-white decision, stripped of complex moral judgment. The addition "but it's not a race" subverts the expectation of a racial statement, instead suggesting his drug-fueled lifestyle transcends racial lines or that the focus isn't on race but on the universal experience of hedonism and escapism he's depicting.

The song delves into the harsh reality and internal conflict of addiction. Despite the upbeat tempo, the lyrics reveal a dark, self-destructive pattern. Lines like "I know that these Percys finna hurt me, aye / Sometimes I feel like they doin' surgery" are a raw admission of the physical pain and damage his addiction is causing. This creates a jarring dissonance between the celebratory sound and the grim lyrical content, a common technique in emo rap that forces the listener to confront the painful reality beneath the surface of a party anthem. Ultimately, the song is a portrait of a young artist grappling with fame, mental health struggles, and a dependency on substances to cope, presenting his reality in a way that is both unapologetically direct and deeply troubled.

The song chronicles a lifestyle of relentless partying and heavy substance use, portraying a world where the lines between celebration and self-destruction are blurred. The narrator describes his experiences, alternating between different social scenes and drugs, symbolized by the contrasting imagery of a black Mercedes-Benz and a white one. In the black Benz, he parties with his Black friends, using cocaine to reach a state of intense euphoria that lasts through the night. The scene then shifts to the white Benz, where he's with his white friends, consuming codeine, another substance that keeps them in a perpetual state of being high.

This duality extends beyond just the cars and friend groups; it reflects an internal conflict and a life of extremes. The lyrics openly acknowledge the physical toll of this lifestyle, with phrases like "Pills and the Hennessy, I might throw up," immediately followed by a dismissive "I'll be okay." There's a raw confession of the pain caused by Percocets, described with the line, "I know that these Percys finna hurt me, aye / Sometimes I feel like they doin' surgery." This vivid metaphor highlights the intense, invasive, and damaging effect of the drugs on his body, yet he continues to question if they are even working, suggesting a high tolerance and a desperate search for an effect.

Throughout the song, a defiant and hedonistic attitude prevails. The narrator declares that "Every day's a party, don't let no one tell you different" and warns others to keep their distance if they can't keep up. He embraces the label of a "party animal," comparing himself to a lion in a zoo, suggesting a feeling of being both wild and trapped within this lifestyle. There are also cultural references, such as a tribute to Prince with "purple rain on deck," a clear allusion to the codeine-based drink 'lean,' and a mention of Bobby Brown, an artist known for his own public battles with substance abuse, to justify keeping cocaine readily available. The repetition of being "high as hell before the night ends" reinforces the central theme of using drugs as the primary means of navigating his social life and existence, creating a continuous cycle of highs that mask a deeper, underlying turmoil.

"Black & White" was released on May 23, 2018, as a track on Juice WRLD's debut studio album, Goodbye & Good Riddance. The album was recorded between 2017 and 2018 and released by Grade A Productions and Interscope Records. The song was produced by Benny Blanco and Cashmere Cat, two prominent producers who contributed to the album's overall sound. The songwriting credits include Juice WRLD (Jarad Higgins), Benny Blanco (Benjamin Levin), and Cashmere Cat (Magnus Høiberg), along with Alexandra Yatchenko, Justin Tranter, and Nathan Perez.

The creation of Goodbye & Good Riddance marked Juice WRLD's rapid ascent from a SoundCloud artist to a mainstream figure. The album was a culmination of his emo rap and hip-hop influences, where he channeled his personal experiences with heartbreak, anxiety, and substance use into his music. "Black & White" fits squarely within the album's thematic framework, offering a raw, unfiltered look into the hedonistic and often destructive lifestyle that accompanied his newfound fame. The official music video, directed by R.J. Sanchez, was released later on October 3, 2018. The video visually captures the song's essence, depicting a non-stop party at a mansion, which poignantly ends with Juice WRLD witnessing his own memorial, a chilling piece of foreshadowing given his untimely death in 2019.

The rhyme and rhythm of "Black & White" are foundational to its catchy, yet melancholic, appeal.

Rhyme Scheme: The song primarily uses a simple, effective rhyme scheme built on couplets (AA, BB) and near rhymes, which is common in hip-hop and trap music. The chorus is a clear example:

"I'm in my black Benz, uh (A)
Doin' cocaine with my black friends, uh (A)
We'll be high as hell before the night ends, yeah (A)
...
Switch up to the white Benz, uh (B)
Doin' codeine with my white friends, uh (B)
Uh, we'll be high as hell before the night ends, yeah (B)"

This straightforward structure makes the lyrics easy to follow and highly memorable. Juice WRLD also employs internal rhymes within his verses (e.g., "Smokin' on loud, and that codeine I sip / Pourin' up this purple shit until it's in my piss"), which adds complexity and a smoother flow to his delivery.

Rhythm and Flow: Juice WRLD's rhythmic delivery is fluid and melodic, often blurring the line between rapping and singing. He flows effortlessly over the mid-tempo trap beat, syncopating his lyrics to play with the rhythm of the hi-hats and 808s. The cadence is steady and hypnotic, particularly in the chorus, which contributes to the song's anthem-like quality. The verses feature a more conversational and slightly faster pace, allowing him to pack in more narrative detail about his hedonistic lifestyle. This interplay between the laid-back, repetitive rhythm of the chorus and the more intricate verse delivery keeps the track dynamic and engaging.

"Black & White" showcases the stylistic hallmarks that defined Juice WRLD's sound and the emo rap genre.

• Vocal Delivery: Juice WRLD employs a melodic, sing-song rap style that glides over the beat. His delivery is both catchy and infused with an undercurrent of melancholy, creating a signature bittersweet tone. The ad-libs ("uh," "yeah," "woah") punctuate his lines, adding rhythmic texture and a sense of spontaneous energy that echoes his freestyling background.
• Musical Arrangement: The production, handled by Benny Blanco and Cashmere Cat, features a classic trap beat with prominent, hard-hitting 808s and crisp hi-hats. This is layered with atmospheric, synth-based melodies that give the song its infectious yet slightly mournful quality. This juxtaposition of an upbeat, party-ready beat with somber lyrical content is a key technique of dissonance used in the song.
• Lyrical Dissonance: A powerful stylistic choice is the clash between the song's vibrant, energetic sound and its dark, self-destructive lyrics. Lines about addiction and its painful consequences ("Sometimes I feel like they doin' surgery") are delivered with a catchy, melodic flow that makes the track sound like a celebration. This forces the listener to engage more deeply to grasp the song's tragic undertones.
• Repetition and Hook: The song is built around a highly repetitive and memorable chorus. The constant reiteration of the "black Benz" and "white Benz" scenarios drills the central theme of duality into the listener's mind, making it an effective and infectious hook.
• Allusion: Juice WRLD uses allusions to other figures in music, notably Prince ("Purple Rain") and Bobby Brown ("She love Bobby Brown so we keep the 'caine on deck"), to ground his narrative within a broader history of celebrity culture, indulgence, and substance use.

"Black & White" played a significant role in cementing Juice WRLD's status as a leading figure in the emo rap and SoundCloud rap movements. Released on his highly successful debut album Goodbye & Good Riddance, the song contributed to the album's massive commercial success, which peaked at number four on the Billboard 200 and has remained on the chart for years. While not released as a primary single like "Lucid Dreams," "Black & White" became a fan favorite and an essential track in his discography.

The song received multi-platinum certifications in the United States (4× Platinum) and Canada (3× Platinum), indicating widespread and lasting popularity. Its music video has garnered over 232 million views on YouTube (as of early 2025), demonstrating its significant reach and cultural staying power. The track is a prime example of the emo rap genre's crossover appeal, blending hip-hop's swagger with emo's vulnerability and lyrical angst. Its candid discussion of drug use and mental health resonated deeply with a young audience and has been influential on a subsequent wave of artists. Even after Juice WRLD's death, the song remains a key part of his legacy, representing the raw honesty and tragic contradictions that defined his artistry.

"Black & White" is rich with symbolism and metaphors that illustrate the song's core themes of duality and addiction.

• The Black and White Benz: The primary symbol is the contrast between the black and white Mercedes-Benz cars. The black Benz is where he does "cocaine with my black friends," while in the white Benz, it's "codeine with my white friends." This duality represents two sides of his party lifestyle but also a simplistic, binary worldview where choices are clear-cut and without nuance. It strips the complexity out of his actions, reducing them to a simple either/or scenario.
• "It's black and white, but it's not a race": This key lyrical phrase is a multi-layered metaphor. On one level, it dismisses racial divisions within his social circle, suggesting unity in their shared hedonistic pursuits. On a deeper level, it signifies that the core issue isn't about race but about the straightforward, undeniable reality of his addiction. The choice to use drugs is the simple, "black and white" truth of his life.
• "Percys finna hurt me... doin' surgery": This metaphor vividly describes the physical agony of drug abuse. Comparing the effect of Percocet to surgery implies an invasive, painful, and damaging internal process, highlighting the severe physical cost of his addiction, even as he continues to use.
• "Party Animals / Lion in the Zoo": By calling himself and his friends "party animals," Juice WRLD embraces a wild, unrestrained identity. The specific metaphor of being a "lion in the zoo" adds another layer, suggesting a feeling of being both powerful and dominant (a lion) but also trapped and on display within the confines of his lifestyle and fame (a zoo).
• "Purple Rain": The reference "we got purple rain on deck" is a dual tribute. It honors the artist Prince, but it's also a clear slang term for "lean" (a mixture of codeine cough syrup and soda), linking his drug use to a legendary musical icon.

"Black & White" is built around several powerful recurring phrases and motifs that reinforce its central themes.

• The Chorus: The most significant recurring element is the entire chorus, which repeats the contrasting scenarios of the "black Benz" with "cocaine" and "black friends," and the "white Benz" with "codeine" and "white friends." This repetition hammers home the song's central duality and the cyclical, relentless nature of the artist's party lifestyle. Its constant return serves as the song's primary hook and thematic anchor.
• "We'll be high as hell before the night ends": This phrase, repeated in both halves of the chorus, acts as a definitive statement of intent. It underscores the primary goal of the social gatherings: achieving a state of extreme intoxication. Its recurrence highlights the dependency on substances as a prerequisite for the night's activities.
• "Party Animals": The motif of being a "party animal" is explicitly mentioned multiple times in the second verse. This repetition reinforces the wild, hedonistic identity Juice WRLD adopts. It's a declaration of a lifestyle lived without restraint, where every day is a party. The extension of this to being a "lion in the zoo" deepens the motif, adding a layer of feeling both dominant and caged.
• Drug References: Throughout the song, specific drugs like "cocaine," "codeine," "pills," and "Percocet" are repeatedly mentioned or alluded to. This recurring motif of substance use is the thematic thread that ties the entire song together, illustrating that these substances are not just part of the story but are central to the narrator's existence and perception of reality.