If you’re reading this, it’s too late. I’m already a converted Jack Harlow die-hard. If you’re wondering why, hit play on “I’d Do Anything To Make You Smile” off his new record.
“I’mma check my schedule and then clear it all for you… Know I love them curves and how they veering all for you… Imma grip that body—power steering on for you…”
(Long exhale) … Now Jack Harlow is in the place he wanted to be all his life: the top. His sophomore LP “Come Home The Kids Miss You” is produced incredibly well, and Harlow’s vocal delivery is on point. Jack is carving out a new style for people craving damn good hybrid Hip-Hop. This is quite honestly one of the most dynamic records released this decade.
Harlow weaves through numerous genres and moods as he taps into diverse concepts on the new record. It’s crazy how he can go from a smooth, light-hearted vibe such as “Lil Secret” or “I Got A Shot” to his dark club bangers “Dua Lipa”, “Movie Star” and “Churchill Downs”, (the third of which contains some serious analytical content).
I also hear a subtle contrast between the groovy summertime hype tracks (“Young Harleezy”, “First Class”) and the funky foot-tappers (“I’d Do Anything To Make You Smile”, “Parent Trap”).
Lyrically, Jack displays cunning range as well, as his subject matter varies from love letters laden with risqué innuendo to self-touting celebration jams proclaiming Harlow’s rise to stardom.
It’s also interesting to note that the first and last tracks on the record act as a personal exposé, analyzing the way people started treating Jack differently after he began to succeed in the industry.
Lastly, you have to love how one of his main influences growing up (Lil Wayne) joins Harlow for a chill track—“Poison”—about heartbreak and bad bitches.
There were numerous notable lyrical moments that really stood out to me and impacted my mental heavily. In track three, “I’d Do Anything To Make You Smile”, he rattles off a one-time hook which goes: “I’m bouncing, I think I need some counselling”. Not only is this concept very relatable, Harlow exclaims it with this suave confidence which almost makes therapy seem cool.
In the following track “First Class”, there was one line that caught my ear: “You could do it too, believe it”. To me, this line is a testament to the underlying positivity which has helped Jack manifest his current status as a multi-platinum recording artist (not to mention a tremendous motivator to any aspiring artists who are undoubtedly listening carefully).
One of my favourites from the record is track six; “Side Piece” is a smooth jam for those of you into easy listening R&B. Honestly, I think we are hearing Harlow tap into his inner Mac Miller. Not only are Jack’s rhymes executed with precision, his lyrics are evolving to portray sentimental, thought-provoking concepts. “maybe it’s the fuel from the fossils… all I know is that the future is getting colossal”.
One last thing to note lyrically from this album is Jack’s continued subtle referencing to the global situation. In “Side Piece”, he calmly states “It don’t matter to me, if you vaxxed or not, either you come to me, or I come back to your block”. I wanted to mention this lyric out of appreciation for Harlow’s low-key effort to end the division between the pro and anti-vaccine parties.
But I digress… It seems an artist can go a lot further with a dank production team behind them, and Jack Harlow was backed with the dream team at Atlantic Records for “Come Home The Kids Miss You”. Not only was he supported by the best producers in the game (Angel “BabeTruth” Lopez – head engineer, and Rogét Chahayed, keyboardist), Jack was graced with the presence of featured artists who need no introduction: Drake, Pharrell, Lil Wayne, Justin Timberlake, and the unannounced guest Snoop Dogg.
May 2022 is the month Jack Harlow will always remember as the month he ascended to the top of the Hip-Hop industry, as every track on his new record hits just right. Is it just me, or did Drake purposely deliver a weak verse to make Jack’s rhymes stand out? Seems right though, as Drake ends his verse with “You know that boy Jack is going places”. I know.
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