Jack Harlow is gearing up for a film debut just a month after the release of his last album. The rapper-turned-actor will appear in the new Hulu remake of the classic film White Men Can’t Jump. As such, it makes for an unexpected but fitting time for him to announce a surprise album titled Jackman. Harlow only announced the album a few days ago, so there was very little information before it dropped. We knew nothing. There was no information about the album’s production, features, tracklist, or even vague themes. His last album, Come Home The Kids Miss You, was not received so well. Perhaps the reason Harlow decided to keep things under wraps is that he didn’t want to deal with expectations.
This week, Jack Harlow has been giving back to fans quite a bit. More specifically, he’s been giving back to fans that live in his native Louisville. Harlow was spotted at 8 different high schools on Thursday. He surprised fans in an effort to promote his new album. The students seemed stunned to see him. They were able to take pictures with the rapper and even had some time to hang out with him. It makes sense that Harlow would want to do something like this on the eve of his new album’s release. He’s returning to his roots for an album that feels very human and very real.
One thing is for certain – this album definitely does not have any “First Class”-style songs on it. It does run extremely short with 10 songs coming in at only 25 minutes long. However, anybody who wanted something that felt extremely authentic from the rapper will be very pleased with the new release. Every song feels dreamy but the lyrics keep it grounded. He speaks on many important topics like white privilege, race relations, the realities of fame, and even finding out that your friends are horrible people.
One of the most surprisingly honest songs on the album is the opening track, “Common Ground.” As a white rapper, Jack Harlow is often set apart from his contemporaries by rap fans. However, the rapper speaks very openly about the realities of white privilege and obsession with black culture in white suburbia. “White girls squattin’ tryna get that a*s poppin’ / Caught back-talkin’ to their mom and dads often,” Harlow raps. “Recitin’ rap lyrics about murder and cash profit / Get to feel like a thug but don’t have to act on it.” It’s a refreshing look at the lack of “common ground” between communities and how one community’s culture is co-opted, dissected, and copied by the masses.
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