Jack Harlow
Jackman LP (brown vinyl)

Released in April 2023, Jackman. is Jack Harlow’s third studio album and perhaps his most focused record to date. Coming after the polished pop-rap of Come Home the Kids Miss You, Harlow takes a noticeably stripped-back approach here: 10 tracks, just over 24 minutes, no guest features, and very little interest in chasing an obvious hit.

The album feels closer to a rap tape than a conventional major-label release. Harlow keeps the production warm and understated, drawing on soulful samples and crisp, uncluttered drums while putting the emphasis firmly on his writing and delivery. On “Common Ground,” he addresses cultural appropriation and his own position as a white artist in hip-hop; “They Don’t Love It” is pure competitive rap, while “Gang Gang Gang” and “Blame on Me” move into more personal territory, dealing with friendship, loyalty, family and responsibility.

What makes Jackman. interesting is the tension between Harlow’s pop-star status and his desire to be taken seriously as a rapper. The album doesn’t completely resolve that tension, but it gives him room to step away from the persona of the hitmaker and simply rap. Short, direct and occasionally vulnerable, Jackman. is a compact record that reveals a more thoughtful and self-aware side of Harlow — and one of his clearest attempts to put the rapper before the celebrity.

NEW /  Released in 2023

Tracklist:

A1 Common Ground

A2 They Don't Love It

A3 Ambitious

A4 Is That Ight?

A5 Gang Gang Gang

B1 Denver

B2 No Enchancers

B3 It Can't Be

B4 Blame On Me

B5 Questions