Jack Harlow made his mark in music in 2020 when his hit single, ‘WHATS POPPIN’ off of his album “Sweet Action” began to gain popularity on TikTok. Since then, Harlow has released three studio albums and had great success in the music industry. His third studio album JACKMAN aims for clarity with light beats and intimate storytelling while avoiding expensive bars and conspicuous features.
Opening with “Common Ground”, Harlow tackles the prerogative of white Americans appropriating black culture, while still cutting down the comfort of white supremacy.
“Recitin’ rap lyrics ‘bout murder and cash profit
Get to feel a thug but don’t have to act on it”
In the chorus, Harlow drops “Common ground ain’t that common”. In this, he appreciates the value of similar experiences but acknowledges that, in the end, we are all our own people with our own individual struggles and realities. Sampling “When Will I See You Again” by Jade, Harlow brings attention to the normalities brought to life by hip hop culture today.
Skipping through to track three titled “Ambitious”, Harlow raps about his success and how it didn’t come easy. Harlow describes how at age 14, 19, and 24, he had growing ambitions that looked different at each stage. Harlow humanizes himself in this track, showing his audience that his initial charm is that he is an ordinary guy.
Grades goin’ down as I’m stackin’ up zeros
Harlow’s captive, catchy delivery of his lyrics are intuitive and innate with him, very obviously not learned.
All two minutes and thirty nine seconds of the sixth track “Denver” uses clever rhyme schemes to add to the flow of the song. Harlow’s cadence throughout this track shows tremendous growth from his first studio album That’s What They All Say released in 2020. Harlow builds his reputation and shows his personality in this track by storytelling about his own struggles with depression and anxiety.
“But I don’t wanna do no press
I’ve seen enough of me on this lil’ screen
I’ve become so vain and insecure ’bout everything”
Harlow delves into his first verse talking about his fame and how when he wasn’t as popular, it provided more clarity for him; whereas, now, he is surrounded by press all the time.
“But deep down, I find myself wonderin’
If the people that write about me are right about me”
In comparison to today’s rap, Harlow’s entire album offsets the stigma surrounding what rap is normally about and gives hip hop a new meaning.
JACKMAN was a huge improvement from Harlow’s sophomore studio album, Come Home the Kids Miss You, released in 2022, captivating all 26,609,776 monthly Spotify listeners. “Everyone may know Jack, but not everyone knows Jackman.”
This album did everything it was supposed to. I give it a confident 10/10.
