Lean wit Me

"Lean wit Me" is a song by American hip hop recording artist Juice Wrld. It was included as the seventh song on his debut studio album Goodbye & Good Riddance (2018). "Lean wit Me" was released as the third single from the album on May 22, 2018. The song was written by Juice Wrld and produced by Nick Mira.

"Lean wit Me"
Single by Juice Wrld
from the album Goodbye & Good Riddance
ReleasedMay 22, 2018
Recorded2018
StudioEnviyon Recording Studio
Genre
Length2:55
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Jarad Higgins
  • Nick Mira
Producer(s)Mira
Juice Wrld singles chronology
"Lucid Dreams"
(2018)		 "Lean wit Me"
(2018)		 "Wasted"
(2018)
Audio sample
  • file
  • help
Music video
"Lean wit Me" on YouTube

Upon its release, "Lean wit Me" received positive reviews from contemporary music critics. In the United States, it peaked at number sixty-eight on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. The single has since been certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). An accompanying music video was directed by Sherif Alabede and depicts Higgins's long battle with drug addiction alongside his girlfriend. It features a message promoting the National Drug and Alcohol Treatment Hotline (1-800-662-4357).

Background

"Lean wit Me" serves as the third single from debut studio album Goodbye & Good Riddance. As one of the more personal tracks on the album, the song is a reflection on addiction.[7] It addresses Juice Wrld's issues with substance abuse.[8]

Composition

"Lean wit Me" is a midtempo hip hop track that lasts for a duration of two minutes and fifty-five seconds.[9] Like his previous records, "Lean wit Me" is an agonizing melodic rap song.[8] The songwriting contains dark lyrical themes with a strong fixation on addiction and contemplations of mortality. The lyrics are laced with references pertaining to narcotics and binging, relating how substance abuse can lead to self-destruction and tragic romance.[10] As the lyrical narrative unfolds, Juice Wrlds suffers from the consequences of overindulgence as he rhymes, "Fucked up liver with some bad kidneys."[8] Throughout the musical composition, his melodic vocal style often verges on melancholic crooning.[11]

Critical reception

"Lean wit Me" received positive reviews from contemporary music journalists. Aaron Williams for Uproxx complimented Juice Wrld's lyricism, claiming that the songwriter "details substance abuse that could make Future think twice about his decisions."[8]

Chart performance

In the United States, "Lean wit Me" made its first chart appearance on the Billboard Hot 100, debuting at number 87 on August 17, 2018 with 10.9 million U.S. streams and 1,000 digital downloads.[12] That very same week, the single entered at number 44 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[13] The next week, "Lean wit Me" climbed three places to reach number 84 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[14] In the end, the song ascended to its peak position at number 68 on the Hot 100 for the issue dated September 1, 2018, which was its third week on the chart.[15] It eventually peaked at number 26 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for the issue dated September 1, 2018.[16] "Lean wit Me" entered and peaked at number 21 on the US Hot Rap Songs chart.[17] In Canada, the song debuted at number 93 on the Canadian Hot 100 chart, where it reached number 79.[18] [19] On December 11, 2018, "Lean wit Me" was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for sales of one million paid digital downloads.[20] As of April 4, 2020, the music video has 98,600,000 views.

Music video

Background

The accompanying music video for "Lean wit Me" was directed by Los Angeles filmmaker Sherif Alabede. Known for his narrative-driven visuals, Aladebe has a signature dark aesthetic that aims to leave a lasting impression on audiences.[21] Juice Wrld and Alabede sought to a create dark video which provided a cautionary tale regarding the consequences of recreational drug use.[8] The video features Juice Wrld attending a group therapy session. Alabede admitted that he was not very familiar with Juice Wrld's musical style prior to being contacted to direct the video. However, he was informed of Juice Wrld's emo rap approach and was impressed by his authenticity. Sherif Alabede used an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting to frame the visual narrative.[10] To further the feeling of authenticity, the extras included in the video weren't actors and are instead actual recovering alcoholics.[10]

Synopsis
A screenshot of Juice Wrld attending a twelve-step program group therapy session in the music video for "Lean wit Me"

The music video opens with Juice Wrld at a twelve-step program meeting. He takes part in saying a Serenity Prayer in unison with the group and sits on a metal folding chair in a circle. The group leader requests the artist introduce himself and share his story, which segues into the song.[22] Juice sings his backstory as he dances around the circle.[10] It is revealed that his character found his way to therapy following the death of his girlfriend.[22] Throughout the video, there are shifts between segments of Juice Wrld at the meeting and flashback scenes where he is with his lover. The couple both revel in the ecstasy of substance abuse and struggle with their addiction. They are depicted in various states of dependency, from laying on the floor surrounded by pills to getting arrested in a convenience store. It culminates with Juice Wrld calling 911 to report that his girlfriend has overdosed on prescription drugs. The music video ends on a black screen with a message promoting the National Drug and Alcohol Treatment Hotline.[22][8] It reads: "RIP to too many young legends that left us early. If you or somebody you know is suffering from addiction call 1-800-662-HELP to take the first step."[22]

Reception

Upon its release, the music video was met with general acclaim praised for its dark imagery.[22] The music Aaron Williams from Uproxx stated that with the video, Juice Wrld delivered a harrowing statement on substance abuse.[8] Tosten Burks of XXL Magazine claimed, "The clip's tone and stakes match the self-destruction in Juice's writing."[10]

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[9]

  • Juice Wrld – writing
  • Nick Mira – writing, production
  • Lil Bibby – mixing

Charts

Weekly charts
Chart (2018–2019) Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[23] 72
US Billboard Hot 100[24] 68
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[25] 26
US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[26] 21
US Rolling Stone Top 100[27] 68

Year-end charts
Chart (2019) Position
Portugal (AFP)[28] 1119

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[29] Platinum 80,000
United States (RIAA)[30] Platinum 1,000,000

^shipments figures based on certification alone
sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

References
  1. https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/juice-wrld-is-wistful-and-melancholic-on-lean-wit-me-new-song.1978698.html
  2. https://lyricallemonade.com/p/lean-wit-me-juice-wrld
  3. https://rhymejunkie.com/2018/08/03/juice-wrld-drops-emo-driven-banger-lean-wit/
  4. http://relentlessbeats.com/2018/08/watch-it-wednesday-juice-wrld-lean-wit-me/
  5. https://uproxx.com/music/juice-wrld-lean-wit-me-video/
  6. https://theinterns.net/2018/05/23/juice-wrlds-lean-wit-dark-rap-finest/
  7. Espinoza, Joshua (2018-08-02). "Juice WRLD Reflects on Drug Addiction in New Video for "Lean wit Me"". Complex. Complex Media, LLC. Retrieved 2018-08-06.
  8. Williams, Aaron (2018-08-02). "Juice Wrld Delivers A Harrowing Statement On Substance Abuse In His ‘Lean wit Me’ Video". Uproxx. Uproxx Media Group, Inc. Retrieved 2018-08-06.
  9. "Goodbye & Good Riddance / Juice WRLD – TIDAL". Tidal. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
  10. Burks, Tosten (2018-08-02). "Juice Wrld Attends Group Therapy in New "Lean Wit Me" Video". XXL. Harris Publications Inc. Retrieved 2018-08-06.
  11. Lamarre, Carl (2018-10-29). "Juice WRLD Shrugs Off Michael Jackson Comparison, Calls Working With Future 'A Blessing': Exclusive". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2018-12-27.
  12. Trust, Gary (2018-08-17). "Hot 100 Chart Moves: Travis Scott Lands Two Top 10s, Ella Mai and Juice WRLD Debut". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media.
  13. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2018-08-25.
  14. "The Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2018-09-01.
  15. "The Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2018-09-08.
  16. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2018-09-08.
  17. "Hot Rap Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2018-09-01.
  18. "Billboard Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2018-09-01.
  19. "Billboard Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2018-09-01.
  20. "Search Results – Lean wit Me – Juice Wrld". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 2018-12-28.
  21. "About". The Films of Sherif Alabede.
  22. Spanos, Brittany (2018-08-02). "Watch Juice WRLD Battle Addiction in Dark 'Lean wit Me' Video". Rolling Stone. Jann Wenner. Retrieved 2018-08-06.
  23. "Juice WRLD Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
  24. "Juice WRLD Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  25. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: September 1, 2018". Billboard. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  26. "Hot Rap Songs: September 1, 2018". Billboard. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  27. "Top 100 Songs". Rolling Stone. December 6, 2019. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  28. "Top AFP - Audiogest - Top 3000 Singles + EPs Digitais" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  29. "Canadian single certifications – Juice Wrld – Lean wit Me". Music Canada. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  30. "American single certifications – Juice Wrld – Lean wit Me". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 28, 2018. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
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