Jack Harlow Reclaims His Identity

Almost a year after his sophomore studio album Come Home The Kids Miss You, Jack Harlow is back with a new album Jackman. No singles, no music videos, and no press - just a surprise post of the cover art - a shirtless Kentucky boy in his place of origin 🙏

Now up until this point, Jack’s career arch and rise to stardom is unlike any other, but those who were witnesses to pre-What’s Poppin Jack are aware of his roots. If watched any of his early interviews, you’ll know that Jack is a rappity rap, backpack rapper nerd who idolizes the likes of Drake, Kendrick, Lil Wayne and many more 🎤

He truly cares about the art of rapping and the craft of being an MC, and in my personal opinion, always had the intention of being someone who cultivated and appealed to a hyperactive core fan base filled with people who recognize him for those qualities, rather than ascending to a place where those core fans are diluted by casuals, who know him for things like his atrocious interpolation of a Fergie hit and his role in the new White Men Can’t Jump reboot 🎥

So with Jackman, I believe he sought out to reverse this seismic shift in his fan base and reclaim his identity as that rappity rap, backpack rapper nerd. And what better way to do that than drop a 10 track, 24 minute album with soul sample chops, no hooks and introspective bars? Sonically, Jackman is a safe haven for hip hop heads, and contains substance unlike the watered down Come Home The Kids Miss You

Lyrically, Jackman touches upon uncomfortable topics like white middle class suburbia “claiming” hip-hop on Common Ground and whether or not the “white rapper industry plant” label bestowed upon Jack holds any validity on It Can’t Be 🗣

And overall, Jackman was successful in its mission: providing a gift to that original hyperactive core fan base and once again proving to the world that Jack Harlow is no gimmick, holds a rightful place in hip hop and is a RAPPER’S RAPPER. After all, he did have the “Tribe and the Biggie and the Nas, the Outkast and the Missy in [his] iPod.”

🚨 MALIK ELIJAH INTERVIEW 🚨

One of my favorite new rising rappers, Malik Elijah, just stopped by the studio for an exclusive interview. He talked about being influenced by Griselda and Earl Sweatshirt, getting a Kenny Beats co-sign and 03 Adolescence being the song he wishes he could listen to again for the first time. Watch below 👇

@overtimesound

@Malik Elijah on the greatness of Cole’s storytelling in 03’ Adolescense 👑 @dreamville #jcole #malikelijah #03adolescence #

Lastly we have some new music. Here’s 5 new tracks you gotta add to your rotation ASAP 🎧

• Ambitious - Jack Harlow

• Just Like You - Slum Village, Larry June & The Dramatics

• Brick By Brick (feat. Blu) - Kota the Friend & Statik Selektah

• Lonrwrld (Freestyle) - jev.

• Insidious White Noise - Willyynova

Playlist here as always, enjoy your week fam 💜

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