"Go" (stylised as "GO" or "GO!") is a song by Australian rapper and singer

the Kid Laroi Charlton Kenneth Jeffrey Howard (born 17 August 2003), known professionally as the Kid Laroi (stylised as the Kid LAROI), is an Australian rapper, singer and songwriter. He originally gained recognition from his association and friendship with A ...

and American rapper and singer

Juice Wrld Jarad Anthony Higgins (December 2, 1998 – December 8, 2019), known professionally as Juice Wrld (pronounced "juice world"; stylized as Juice WRLD), was an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. He was a leading figure in the emo rap and So ...

, released on 12 June 2020 as the first single from Laroi's debut mixtape ''

F*ck Love ''F*ck Love'' (stylised in all caps) is the debut mixtape by Australian rapper and singer the Kid Laroi. It was released on 24 July 2020 by Grade A Productions and Columbia Records. Production was handled by twenty-one record producers over t ...

'', released on 24 July 2020. The song was recorded while the two, who were close friends, met up in

Greece Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders with ...

in 2019. That recording is included in the song's official video, with both the song and video serving as a tribute to Juice Wrld who died in December 2019.

Background

Prior to recording "Go", the Kid Laroi and Juice Wrld were already familiar with each other; Laroi considered Juice Wrld, who was his mentor, his "big brother" and had opened shows for Juice's final tour in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia, in 2019, and was subsequently signed by Juice's managers,

Grade A Productions Brandon George Dickinson (born July 18, 1994), better known by his stage name Lil Bibby, is an American rapper and record executive. Beginning his career in 2011, Bibby released his debut mixtape in 2013, titled ''Free Crack''. After signing wit ...

. On the night of Laroi's 16th birthday in August 2019, Laroi played Juice a demo, and Juice freestyled a verse, which would end being the verse heard on "Go". The song leaked a while before its release, and was described as "the first taste" of Laroi's debut commercial mixtape ''

'', which was released on 24 July 2020. "Go" was released as the seventh track out of fifteen on the mixtape. To accommodate for the song being leaked, Laroi remade his verse before the song's release as a single.
To coincide with the song's release, the Kid Laroi posted a photo on social media of himself and Juice, stating:

Composition

"Go" was produced by Tito Beats, Neek, and

Omer Fedi Omer Fedi ( he, עומר פדי; born 25 March 2000) is an Israeli record producer, songwriter and guitarist from Tel Aviv. He has co-written, produced and performed on " Mood" by 24kGoldn ft. Iann Dior, "Montero (Call Me By Your Name)" by Lil Na ...

and finds both rappers addressing their relationship issues. Eddie Fu of

Genius Genius is a characteristic of original and exceptional insight in the performance of some art or endeavor that surpasses expectations, sets new standards for future works, establishes better methods of operation, or remains outside the capabiliti ...

noted in Juice Wrld's verse, he "references his drug addictions before apologizing to his significant other", while Laroi "gives similar promises of loyalty on the pre-chorus".

Critical reception

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...

''s John Norris said the two artists' voices blend "effortlessly". Alex Zidel of ''HotNewHipHop'' said "Go" speaks to the Kid Laroi's potential as a melody-making star and, "so young, he has all the right tools to mold himself into one of the biggest artists in the world some day".

Triple J Triple J (stylised in all lowercase) is a government-funded, national Australian Radio in Australia, radio station intended to appeal to listeners of alternative music, which began broadcasting in January 1975. The station also places a greate ...

's Al Newstead found the two artists' chemistry works "so well, so it's a damn shame Laroi and Juice won't get to collab again". He further stated "It's still raw hearing Juice rap about ''perky with the lean'' given the circumstances of the 21-year-old's death, but there's beauty in hearing him vibe with his South Sydney protege, Laroi, who continues to flex star-in-the-making quality".

Chart performance

In the Kid Laroi's native Australia, "Go" debuted at number 23, the highest new entry on the

ARIA Singles Chart The ARIA Charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling songs and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA became the offici ...

for the chart dated 22 June 2020. On the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100, it debuted at number 52, becoming the Kid Laroi's first Hot 100 entry.

Music video

The official video, directed by Steve Cannon, premiered on 11 June 2020, the day before the song's release. Laroi said the whole concept of the video was "to capture and remember the moments me and Juice made together when we created this in Greece". The visual begins with Juice apologizing for not attending Laroi's 16th birthday party. He promises to gift his friend $200,000 in the form of a verse. Scenes of Juice WRLD are interspersed throughout the video, showing him in the studio, at a live show, and being casual. The video also alternates between "heart-rending" road footage of Juice and Laroi, and cuts to scenes shot in 2019, in Los Angeles, where Laroi is seen with a biker crew, and alone on a balcony, in front of a mic that recalls the one used by Juice at the beginning of the clip, as well as Juice also singing his verse in the studio in a few short parts of the video.

Response

''s John Norris described the visual as "melancholy and affecting, but somehow, also lighthearted". ''Amnplify Australia'' called the video nostalgic, noting how it features some of the intimate moments between the two rappers and "embodies the endearing dynamic that resulted in the creation of the song. The video is essentially an ode to friendship and closeness and a way for The Kid Laroi to honour his mentor".

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

References

{{Authority control 2020 singles 2020 songs Juice Wrld songs The Kid Laroi songs Songs written by the Kid Laroi Songs written by Juice Wrld Songs released posthumously Columbia Records singles Songs written by Omer Fedi Song recordings produced by Omer Fedi