Say what you will about trap darling Juelz and the “drama” he’s been embroiled in over the past month, but what remains undeniable is the power behind his latest album, Adrenochrome:Zero, released last week. The surprise mixtape, which consists of 7 old demos and unreleased IDs (similar to the concept of Skrillex’s F*ck U Skrillex), is Juelz’s follow-up to his highly acclaimed March EP Adrenochrome. Also like F*ck U Skrillex, each track on Adrenochrome:Zero flows seamlessly into the next like a continuous mix. “These are mostly songs I started way too long ago but I know some of you all have been wanting,” Juelz shared on his Instagram. “This one’s for anyone who misses the old Juelz.”
For those who have been listening to Juelz since he came up on the scene during the pandemic, Adrenochrome:Zero digs deep into the trap scene of the early 2020’s. The first track, “Robot Dancing ID,” was first dropped in RL Grime’s 2021 Halloween X mix and has been demanded ever since. “Sometimes” was debuted on a 2020 Brownies & Lemonade Twitch stream. The Covid era, while remembered for its virtual streams and dearth of in-person shows, can also be memorialized as a time of rebirth in trap history. RL Grime’s freshly launched Sable Valley label was building its incredible roster of new talent (Juelz included), IsoXo and Knock2 were playing their earliest sets on Instagram Live, and the line between “old” and “new” trap seemed to be deepening rapidly. With Adrenochrome:Zero, Juelz really calls and capitalizes on the memory of that exciting and explosive time.
Juelz has long been considered EDM’s resident jokester, and his trolling is evident on Adrenochrome:Zero. The album itself shares the same name as the viral QAnon conspiracy theory that popularized during the pandemic, and ‘brainrot titles’ like “SYBAU” and “One Time FYM” are included on the tracklist. He even recruited a Halo announcer to drop funny DJ Smokey-esque vocal samples like, “The most mid-tape you’ve ever heard!”
But don’t let the silliness fool you. In a time where everyone is either trying too hard to sound like IsoKnock or trying to move away from trap, Juelz has carved a completely fresh signature sound by incorporating multiple genres while remaining unapologetically trap. For instance, “SYBAU” features Juelz’s “vroomy” high-octane trap, bouncy bass house, jersey club, and even an Ice Spice sample. “Get Like Me” throws in some grime and a UK MC, and “Amphetamina” enlists fellow trap producer Lizdek for some dark wave and heavy 808’s.
“All gas, no brakes.” “All killer, no filler.” “Ridiculous.” “Never misses.” – all phrases pulled from the rave reviews netizens have written about Juelz and Adrenochrome:Zero. This release proves that, behind all the jokes, Juelz is still bringing serious talent.