It was June 2020. The world was still mostly stuck indoors, doom-scrolling and looking for something that felt real. Then, a kid from Waterloo, Australia, dropped a track that basically shifted the tectonic plates of melodic rap. That track was GO by The Kid LAROI, featuring the late Juice WRLD. It wasn't just a hit; it was a passing of the torch that felt heavy with both potential and grief.
Honestly, if you were around for that release, you remember the vibe. It was the first single from LAROI's debut mixtape Fck Love*. More importantly, it was the first posthumous appearance of Juice WRLD on a LAROI track after Juice’s tragic passing in December 2019.
People think it’s just another sad-boy anthem. They're wrong.
The Real Story Behind the Collaboration
The Kid LAROI wasn't just some random fan who got a Juice WRLD feature through a label deal. He was Juice’s protege. Grade A Productions' Lil Bibby saw the spark in LAROI early on and paired him with Juice during Juice’s Australian tour in 2019. They lived together. They recorded together. Juice was literally showing him the ropes of how to freestyle for hours and how to turn raw emotion into a hook that sticks in your brain like glue.
When GO by The Kid LAROI hit the airwaves, it was a literal birthday present. Juice had actually gifted LAROI that verse for his 16th birthday. Think about that for a second. While most 16-year-olds are trying to pass a driving test, LAROI was sitting on a verse from the biggest melodic rapper on the planet.
The song itself is surprisingly short. It’s a lean two minutes and 35 seconds. It doesn't overstay its welcome. It just hits you with that guitar-driven production by Omer Fedi, Nicco, and Neek, and then it's over. You're left hitting the replay button because the chemistry feels so organic. It doesn't sound like a "Frankenstein" track where a label stiched two verses together. You can hear the genuine friendship.
Why the Production of GO by The Kid LAROI Changed the Game
If you listen to the radio now, that "emo-rap" guitar sound is everywhere. But back then? It was still peaking. Omer Fedi, the producer behind the track, has this specific way of making a guitar sound like it’s crying. It’s bright but melancholic.
LAROI’s vocal performance on the hook is strained in the best way possible. He’s not hitting perfect, polished notes. He’s yelling. He’s frustrated. When he sings "Perks of the rethink, I should've left you," he sounds like every teenager who has ever had their heart ripped out and stepped on.
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Juice WRLD's verse is classic Juice. It’s effortless. He flows about his lifestyle, his struggles with substances ("I'm with the perky fans"), and his loyalty. The contrast between LAROI’s high-energy, desperate vocal and Juice’s laid-back, almost conversational flow is what makes the track work. It’s a masterclass in vocal layering.
The music video—directed by Steve Cannon—is probably one of the most intimate pieces of footage we have of that era. It’s a mix of vlogger-style home movies and professional shots. You see LAROI and Juice just being kids. Throwing money, laughing, recording in hotel rooms. It’s bittersweet. It turned GO by The Kid LAROI from a song into a tribute.
Breaking Down the Chart Success
Let's look at the numbers because they actually matter here. The song debuted at number 52 on the Billboard Hot 100. For a kid from Sydney who was virtually unknown in the States a year prior, that's insane. It eventually went multi-platinum.
In Australia, it was even bigger. It peaked at number 19 on the ARIA Charts. It stayed in the consciousness of the public for months. Why? Because it bridged the gap between the SoundCloud era and mainstream pop. It was the "gateway drug" for a lot of listeners to dive into the rest of the Fck Love* project.
What most people get wrong about this song is that they think it’s Juice WRLD’s song featuring LAROI. It’s actually the opposite. This was LAROI’s moment to prove he could hold his own next to a giant. And he did. He didn't get overshadowed. He used the momentum to catapult himself into collaborations with Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus later on. Without GO by The Kid LAROI, we might not have had "STAY."
The Cultural Impact and the "Juice WRLD Clone" Allegations
For a long time, LAROI had to deal with people calling him a "Juice WRLD clone." It’s a lazy critique. If you actually listen to the discography, LAROI leans much more into the pop-punk and traditional pop space, whereas Juice was rooted in freestyle-heavy rap and rock.
GO by The Kid LAROI was the peak of that comparison. Yes, the influence is there. How could it not be? Juice was his mentor. But the song shows the divergence. LAROI’s "whiny" (in a good way) vocal fry is distinct. He brings a certain Australian grit to the "sad boy" aesthetic that wasn't there before.
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The song also helped solidify Grade A Productions as a powerhouse. They proved they could develop a global superstar from scratch, using the blueprint Juice WRLD created but adapting it for a younger, more pop-centric audience.
Misconceptions About the Lyrics
A lot of fans debate who the song is actually about. Is it about a specific girl? Is it about the industry?
"I did it again, I relapsed on your love."
The lyrics are broad enough to be relatable to anyone going through a toxic cycle. But in the context of LAROI's life at the time, it was a reflection of the chaotic rise to fame. He was dealing with the loss of his father figure (Juice) while trying to navigate teenage relationships under a microscope.
The title "GO" is almost ironic. It’s about the struggle to let go, yet the song is titled with an imperative to leave. It’s that internal tug-of-war that makes it a staple on breakup playlists even years later.
Technical Elements You Might Have Missed
If you’re a music nerd, pay attention to the percussion. The hi-hats aren't your typical trap patterns. They’re slightly pulled back, giving the guitar more room to breathe. The 808s are distorted just enough to give it a "garage" feel without losing the low-end clarity needed for club speakers.
- Tempo: Approximately 75 BPM (or 150 BPM in double time).
- Key: F# Minor.
- Structure: Intro -> Chorus -> Verse 1 (LAROI) -> Chorus -> Verse 2 (Juice) -> Chorus -> Outro.
It follows a classic pop structure, which is why it had such high "sync" potential for TikTok and Instagram Reels. It was "Algorithm friendly" before we were all obsessed with the algorithm.
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How to Appreciate the Track Today
If you haven't listened to it in a while, go back and watch the music video first. Don't just stream it on Spotify. The visual context changes the weight of the lyrics.
See the way Juice looks at LAROI in those studio clips. It’s pride.
GO by The Kid LAROI remains a pivotal moment in music history because it represents the exact moment the "SoundCloud Rap" era evolved into something that could dominate Top 40 radio for the next decade. It was the bridge between the underground and the absolute peak of the music industry.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans and Creators
If you’re a fan of the track or an aspiring artist looking to capture that same energy, here is how you can actually apply the lessons from this release:
Analyze the Melodic Structure
Don't just listen to the lyrics; listen to the "vocal runs." LAROI often jumps an octave during the chorus to create artificial tension. If you're a creator, try layering a "clean" vocal with a "distorted" one to get that LAROI texture.
Study the Collaboration Model
Notice how LAROI didn't just take the verse and run. He built a narrative around the song through the music video and social media. He shared the "why" behind the song. If you're collaborating with someone, make sure the audience understands the relationship, not just the music.
Dive Deeper into the Discography
To see how much he's evolved, listen to GO and then immediately play "Thousand Miles" or "Kids Are Growing Up." You'll hear a singer who learned how to control his power. The raw energy of GO was the foundation, but the technical skill came later.
Check the Credits
Look up Omer Fedi. If you like the sound of this track, follow the producer. He is the secret sauce behind almost every major melodic hit of the last five years, from Lil Nas X to 24kGoldn. Understanding the producer's "voice" helps you find more music you'll actually like.
The track is more than just a song. It’s a time capsule. It captures a specific moment of grief, transition, and the birth of a new kind of pop star. It’s been years, but whenever that guitar riff starts, it still feels like the first time.