The impact of Flores's death hit Onfroy with immense force. In the immediate wake of her death, he took to Instagram Live in an unvarnished state of distress, speaking through tears about the fragility of human life and his guilt over what had happened. He soon channelled that grief directly into his songwriting.
When 17 arrived in late August 2017, the opening track set a radically different tone from the violent, distorted punk-rap that had established his early reputation. Over a somber, downtempo beat produced by Onfroy and Potsu, the rapper spoke frankly about survivor guilt, insomnia, and suicidal ideation:
"I'm in pain, wanna put ten shots in my brain / I've been trippin' 'bout some things, can't change / Suicidal, same time I'm tame."
The song became an instant commercial juggernaut. It resonated deeply with millions of young listeners who were coping with their own psychological battles. By elevating her name to the title of the track, Onfroy made Jocelyn Flores a global symbol for the mental health struggles that afflicted the streaming generation.
